MINI SESSIONS
Instrumental Teachers
Click on the month to see what’s on

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.
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Tutor: Rachel Cooper and David Munn
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Participants: All instrumental teachers
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Registration Fee: £6 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form
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Closing Date: Tuesday 12 January
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Information will be sent by Wednesday 13 January
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
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Tutor: Alex Laing and Arlene Macfarlane
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Participants: All instrumental teachers
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Registration Fee: £6 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Monday 18 January
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Information will be sent by: Tuesday 19 January
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
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Tutor: Natalia Luis-Bassa and Alex Laing
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Participants: Young Musicians aged 15+, music students, recent graduates and teachers
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Registration Fee: £12 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Thursday 21 January
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Information will be sent by: Friday 22 January
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
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Tutor: Andrea Gajic (violin) and Jenny Lewisohn (viola)
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Participants: Violin and viola teachers
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Registration Fee: £12 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Sunday 24 January
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Information will be sent by: Monday 25 January
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

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Tutor: Elena Urioste and Tom Poster
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Participants: Advanced Violinists and Pianists – young people aged 15+, music students, recent graduates and teachers
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Registration Fee: £12 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Thursday 28 January
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Information will be sent by: Friday 29 January
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
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Tutors: Lucy Drever and Abimaro Gunnell
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Participants: All teachers, teaching assistants, home schoolers and all other educators
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Registration Fee: £6 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date to Apply: Thursday 28 January
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Information will be sent by: Friday 29 January
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.
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Tutors: Lee Holland
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Participants: All teachers, students, recent graduates and adult learners
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Registration Fee: £6 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Tuesday 9 February
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Information will be sent on: Wednesday 10 February
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

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Tutors: Alex Laing
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Participants: Advanced Violinists (age 15+), music students, recent graduates and instrumental teachers
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Registration Fee: £12 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Friday 26 February
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Information will be sent on: Monday 1 March
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.
Please note it is not necessary to have played these pieces to attend the sessions

Robin Michael
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Tutor: Robin Michael
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Participants: Advanced Cellists (age 15+), music students, recent graduates and instrumental teachers
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Registration Fee: £12 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date to Apply: Friday 26 February
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Information will be sent by: Monday 1 March
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
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Tutors: Richard Michael
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Participants: All instrumental teachers
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Registration Fee: £6 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Thursday 4 March
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Information will be sent on: Friday 5 March
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
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Tutor: Francis Cummings and Andrea Gajic
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Participants: All instrumental teachers
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Registration Fee: £6 (financial support is available – please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date to Apply: Thursday 4 March
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Information will be sent by: Friday 5 March
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
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Tutors: Leonard Elschenbroich (cello) and Alexei Grynyuk (piano)
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Participants: Advanced Cellists and Pianists - young people aged 15+, music students, recent graduates, teachers and advanced adult players
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Registration Fee: £15 (financial support is available - please indicate on the registration form)
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Closing Date: Tuesday 2 March
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Information will be sent on: Wednesday 3 March