BENEDETTI FOUNDATION

MINI SESSIONS

Instrumental Teachers

Click on the month to see what’s on

March

January

February

January

Instrumental Teacher Start of Term Check In and Q&A

Thursday 14 January

7.30-8.30pm GMT

Rachel Cooper

David Munn

Join us for a start of term check in and Q&A session. This session is an opportunity to refresh and look to the term ahead. Ahead of the session, teachers are invited to send in any questions or topics they wish to discuss in this open session.

Rehearsing Ensembles Online - All Instrumental Teachers

Tuesday 19 January

7.30 - 8.30pm GMT

In this session, we will discuss how to lead a successful ensemble rehearsal online and the possibilities it can open for wider engagement. Join Alex Laing and Arlene Macfarlane for an open discussion as we share the positives and the pitfalls of rehearsing online and how to try to overcome the difficulties it presents.

Alex Laing

Arlene Macfarlane

Introduction to Conducting

Saturday 23 and 30 January

3-4pm GMT

Working with Natalia Luis-Bassa and Alex Laing, these sessions will introduce and explore basic conducting technique. Ideal for older teenagers, music students, recent graduates and teachers.

Natalia Luis-Bassa

Alex Laing

Teaching Upper Strings Bowing Technique – Violin & Viola Teachers

Tuesday 26 January and 2 February

7.30-8.30pm GMT

In these two sessions we will share some ideas on teaching techniques and exercises for developing your student’s bowing technique on both violin and viola. We’ll begin by looking at beginner basics, then working on martele and detache before progressing through to more advanced spiccato, sautille, ricochet and more. We will also be discussing the similarities and differences in teaching these techniques to violinists and violists.

Jenny Lewisohn

Andrea Gajic

Exploring Duo Sonatas for Violin and Piano

Saturday 30 January and 6 February

4.30-5.30pm GMT

Join violinist Elena Urioste and pianist Tom Poster for the first part of a new series exploring sonatas for violin and piano. We’ll be exploring the give-and-take, collaborative phrasing and beauty of sound in Brahms Sonata for Piano and Violin in G major. Then on week two discovering more about Debussy Sonata for Violin and Piano as we look at creative use of tone colour, characterisation and different approaches to French and German music. These sessions are aimed at advanced violinists and pianists and are open to older teenagers (recommended approx. age 15+), students and teachers.

Elena Urioste

Tom Poster

February

Developing Confidence Singing when Teaching – All Teachers

Monday 1 February

6-7pm GMT

Lucy Drever

Led by singers, educators and workshop leaders, Lucy Drever and Abimaro Gunnell, this session aims to help and support all teachers to develop the confidence to sing when teaching. Whether this be in the classroom, or in individual music lessons, we hope there will be something for everyone in this session.

Abimaro Gunnell

Music and Mindfulness

Thursday 11 February

7.30-8.30pm GMT

Lee Holland

In this session, we will be working with flautist and mindfulness expert, Lee Holland, looking at music and mindfulness. For teachers, this will provide you the opportunity not only to experience the benefits for yourself, but also how to pass this on to your students. Music students, recent graduates and adult learners are all invited to join this session.

March

Interpretation and Analysis – Violin Teachers

Tuesday 2 and 9 March

7.30-8.30pm GMT

These sessions are suitable for young people approximately age 15+, music students, recent graduates and instrumental teachers. In these sessions we will be focusing on two pieces of violin repertoire: Allemande from Bach’s D minor Partita and Mozart Violin Concerto in G major, movement 1. Through these two pieces of repertoire, we will share how simple musical analysis and understanding of context can shape ideas of interpretation and improve a performer’s ability to memorise and tell a convincing story.

Please note: it is not necessary to have played these pieces to attend the sessions

Alex Laing

Interpretation and Analysis – Cello Teachers

Tuesday 2 and 9 March

6-7pm GMT

These sessions are suitable for young people approximately age 15+, music students, recent graduates and instrumental teachers. In these sessions, we will be focusing on two pieces of cello repertoire: Prelude, Sarabande and Gigue from Bach’s 1st Cello Suite and Haydn Cello Concerto in C major, movement 1. Through these two pieces of repertoire, Robin will explore how simple musical analysis and understanding of context can shape ideas of interpretation and improve a performer’s ability to memorise and tell a convincing story.

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Please note it is not necessary to have played these pieces to attend the sessions

Robin Michael

Developing Confidence Teaching Improvisation – All Instrumental Teachers

Saturday 6 March

3-4pm GMT

Led by jazz expert, pianist Richard Michael, this session will support teachers to develop their own confidence with improvisation and how to teach this to your students.

Richard Michael

Instrumental Teacher Check In and Q&A

Monday 8 March

7.30-8.30pm GMT

Francis Cummings

Join us for a mid-term check in and Q&A session. This session is an opportunity to refresh and look at what has been achieved so far this term, as well as what lies ahead. In advance of the session, teachers are invited to send in any questions or topics they wish to discuss in this open session.

Andrea Gajic

Exploring Brahms' Cello and Piano Sonatas

Thursday 4 and 11 March 

7.30-8.30pm GMT

Join cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and pianist Alexei Grynyuk for a two part series exploring Brahms' Piano and Cello sonatas. During these sessions, we'll be delving into the relationship between piano and cello, the context and character of the repertoire, interpretation and analysis of some chosen movements, as well as hearing performances from Leonard and Alexei. These sessions are for advanced cellists and pianists and are open to older teenages (recommended approx. age 15+), students, teachers and advanced adult players. 

Leonard Elschenbroich

Alexei Grynyuk