The Pianists' Workshop - I



Overview

This practical class is an opportunity to explore the piano's vast repertoire and to improve both your interpretation and technique. The format of the class is a lively mixture of talks and workshops, in which all students have regular opportunities to play in a relaxed, friendly and very supportive atmosphere.

In the workshop sessions advice will be given on interpretation appropriate to each composer. On the technical side, students will be helped with the selection of fingerings, the identification and resolution of technical problems and the choice of appropriate technical exercises. The emphasis of this aspect of the course is to give students the knowledge and experience to make best use of their practice time.

The first three talks this term will cover some basic principles of piano technique. The other talks aim to broaden students' knowledge of the piano and its world, looking this term at the piano music of Mozart and one of his foremost modern interpreters, Mitsuko Uchida.

This class is open to players of all levels, including beginners, and students may join the class in any term.

Programme details

Course starts: 2nd Oct 2024

Week 1: Repertoire workshop - Special topic: The basic principles of piano playing.

Week 2: Repertoire workshop.

Week 3: Repertoire workshop - Special topic: The basic principles of fingering.

Week 4: Repertoire workshop.

Week 5: Repertoire workshop - Special topic: Negotiating big leaps.

Week 6: Repertoire workshop.

Week 7: Repertoire workshop - Special topic: The keyboard music of Mozart.

Week 8: Repertoire workshop.

Week 9: Repertoire workshop - Pianist profile: Mitsuko Uchida.

Week 10: Performance week.

Digital Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Mr Jonathan Darnborough

Jonathan Darnborough is Director of Studies in Music and Departmental Lecturer in Music at Oxford University Department for Continuing Education.  He is a composer and pianist and has worked in continuing education throughout his career.

Course aims

To give students the ability to prepare a piece of piano music for performance from the initial choice of the piece through the technical preparation to the final interpretation.

Course Objectives:

  • To increase the students’ technical command of the piano.
  • To improve their interpretation of repertoire from different periods and styles.
  • To make the students aware of a broader range of piano repertoire.

Teaching methods

A mixture of lecture and workshop. The tutor will outline each topic with live demonstrations from the keyboard. Students will play pieces or extracts from pieces to the class and work on these with the tutor. In all classes the score of the music being worked on will be projected on to one screen and live video from a webcam over the piano keyboard will be projected on to another.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • understand how basic piano technique is developed;
  • apply that technical understanding to specific pieces of piano music;
  • appreciate the issues involved in interpreting the piano music of different periods.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

This class is open to players of all levels, including beginners.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support