Venue: Benslow Music, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 9RB
T: 01462 459446 E: info@benslowmusic.org W: www.benslowmusic.org

INTRODUCTION TO STRING CHAMBER MUSIC DAY
Sun 8 Feb 2015
Tutors: Nic Fallowfield and Jenny Curtis
Standard : Intermediate
Benslow Music regulars Nic Fallowfield and Jenny Curtis lead this new day course devoted to string chamber music. The course is designed for individual applicants who have reached around grade 4 standard (or higher) and would like to try playing with others for, perhaps, the first time. We are looking for violins, violas and cellos who are willing to mix and match to create small chamber groups. The tutors will specify some repertoire to prepare prior to the course so you can come well prepared. This course also leads nicely to one of the many longer string chamber music courses in our programme.
Fee: £75 Code: 15/102

PALM COURT ORCHESTRA
Fri 12 – Sun 14 Jun 2015
Tutors: Roger Moon and Miriam Kramer
Standard: Intermediate, Advanced
Pretty pieces, sentimental pieces, inspiring pieces, quirky novelties, dramatic juxtapositions. String players, woodwind soloists and (if balance allows) a few brass players and a pianist will enjoy the wide range of accessible music – light, popular and classical – which makes up a typical Palm Court programme. Our rehearsals, in chamber music style without conductor, will be concentrated and demanding but also great fun. Typical features of the style such as phrasing, rhythmic freedom and expressiveness will be emphasised. Violinists should be prepared to alternate between First and Second, and viola players may find the music technically challenging but also repetitive.
Resident: £265 Non-Resident: £190 Code: 15/251

SUMMER QUARTETS WITH NIC FALLOWFIELD AND FRIENDS (FULL WEEK, 2 AND 3 NIGHT OPTIONS AVAILABLE)
Fri 3 – Thu 9 Jul 2015
Fri 3 – Sun 5 Jul 2015
Mon 6 – Thu 9 Jul 2015
Tutors: Nic Fallowfield, Clare Bhabra, Jenny Curtis, Richard Muncey and Georgina Payne
Standard: Intermediate, Advanced
Nic Fallowfield returns to lead our well-established summer course for preformed string quartets and other small string chamber ensembles – trios, quintets and sextets also acceptable. He’s joined by his colleagues in the Tedesca Quartet and by the experienced viola player Georgina Payne. There will be at least two workshops as well as the usual expert advice offered to individual groups. We present three options – the whole course, the weekend only, or the weekdays only – but can devise other packages if your needs are different. Individual applicants will be kept on a list in the hope we are able to match you up with a suitable group, we make no guarantees that this will be possible but we will do our best.

Full Week (Mon 6 – Thu 9 July)
Resident: £650 Non-Resident: £475 Code: 15/602

Weekend (3 – 5 July)
Resident: £265 Non-Resident: £190 Code: 15261

Short Week (6 – 9 July)
Resident: £375 Non-Resident: £285 Code: 15/334

LATE STARTER VIOLINS AND VIOLA’S
Sun 12 – Wed 15 Jul 2015
Tutor: Sebastian Mueller
Standard : Elementary
Sebastian Müller leads a course designed to improve the confidence and technique of adult violinists of about Grade 1 or Grade 2 standards. We may also accept viola players at Sebastian’s discretion. Please note that this is not a course for absolute beginners.
Resident: £375 Non-Resident: £285 Code: 15/335

LATE STARTER STRING ORCHESTRA
Mon 23 – Thu 26 Feb 2015
Tutor: Sebastian Mueller
Standard: Elementary, Intermediate
Due to increasing popularity in the usual July slot, we’ve made the decision to offer a second chance for violin, viola and cello players to join Sebastian’s course in late February. We’re looking for players of at least a confident grade 3 and parts will be assigned to challenge to just the right degree. Included in the fee is the concert given by Sebastian and pianist Jakob Fichert on Monday 23 February.
Resident: £385 Non-Resident: £295 Code: 15/310

LATE STARTER STRING ORCHESTRA
Fri 10 – Sun 12 Jul 2015
Tutor: Sebastian Mueller
Standard: Elementary, Intermediate
Another chance for violin, viola and cello players to join Sebastian’s course focussing on the more manageable repertoire written for String Orchestra. We’re looking for players of at least a confident grade 3 and parts will be assigned to challenge to just the right degree. This is a popular course and early booking is advised.
Resident: £265 Non-Resident: £190 Code: 15/262

SUMMER QUARTETS WITH NIC FALLOWFIELD AND FRIENDS
Fri 3 – Thu 9 July Summer Quartets weekend
Fri 3 – Sun 5 July * summer quartets short week
Mon 6 – Thu 9 July**
Tutors: Nic Fallowfield, Clare Bhabra, Jenny Curtis, Richard Muncey, Georgina Payne Standard: Intermediate, Advanced
Nic Fallowfield returns to lead our well-established summer course for preformed string quartets and other small string chamber ensembles – trios, quintets and sextets also acceptable. He’s joined by his colleagues in the Tedesca Quartet and by the experienced viola player Georgina Payne. There will be at least two workshops as well as the usual expert advice offered to individual groups. We present three options – the whole course, the weekend only, or the weekdays only – but can devise other packages if your needs are different. Individual applicants will be kept on a list in the hope we are able to match you up with a suitable group, we make no guarantees that this will be possible but we will do our best.
Whole week Resident: £650 Non-Resident: £475 Code: 15/602
weekend* Resident: £265 Non-Resident: £190 Code: 15/261
Short week** Resident: £375 Non-Resident: £285 Code: 15/334

LATE STARTER STRING ORCHESTRA
Fri 10 – Sun 12 July
Tutor: Sebastian Müller
Standard: Elementary, Intermediate
Another chance for violin, viola and cello players to join Sebastian’s course focussing on the more manageable repertoire written for String Orchestra. We’re looking for players of at least a confident grade 3 and parts will be assigned to challenge to just the right degree. This is a popular course and early booking is advised.
Resident: £265 Non-Resident: £190 Code: 15/262

LATE STARTER VIOLINS
Sun 12 – Wed 15 July
Tutor: Sebastian Müller
Standard: elementary
Sebastian Müller leads a course designed to improve the confidence and technique of adult violinists of about Grade 1 or Grade 2 standards. We may also accept viola players at Sebastian’s discretion. Please note that this is not a course for absolute beginners.
Resident: £375 Non-Resident: £285 Code: 15/335

INTERNATIONAL VIOLA SUMMER SCHOOL
Mon 27 – Fri 31 July
Tutors: Martin Outram, Julian Rolton piano
STANDARD: DIPLOMA
This is a course for players at the most advanced level, from conservatoire entry standard upwards. Martin will guide participants in all areas of technique and interpretation in friendly, informal masterclasses and private lessons. In addition to the lessons with Martin, Julian Rolton will also be available to rehearse repertoire of your choice for viola and piano. This is an ideal opportunity to work with a pianist who is a recognised specialist in this repertoire. There might also be ensemble work and open discussion, and there will be a session led by a leading practitioner on baroque performance practice. We encourage participants to perform informally with pianist Julian Rolton on the final day and also to collaborate with other courses on campus out of timetabled hours. Don’t forget our automatic 25% reduction (excluding supplements) for under 27s.
Resident: £480 Non-Resident: £375 Code: 15/IS1

STRING ORCHESTRA
Fri 14 – Mon 17 August
Tutors: Jonathan Trout, Clare Morgan, Elizabeth Watson
STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED
Another alluring summer Benslow String Orchestra course. This time Jonathan Trout, aided by Clare Morgan and Elizabeth Watson, offers participants the chance to work on Holst’s Brook Green Suite, Tchaikovsky’s Adagio con moto from Souvenir de Florence (arranged for string orchestra), Nielsen’s Little Suite, Tchaikovsky’s Andante cantabile from String Quartet Op 11 No 1 (arranged for solo cello and string orchestra with Peter Crowther on cello), Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 3 and Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik. Jonathan and his team will help with both musical and technical matters in informal but intensive group sessions and sectionals. Ideally, you’ll have some experience of playing in an orchestra and to get the most out of the course you should be of at least Grade 5 standard – and game for some exciting challenges! This course will run alongside our International Conducting Summer School, and we are offering the chance for collaboration during the afternoon break for those who wish to work with some aspiring conductors.
Resident: £380 Non-Resident: £290 Code: 15/336

INTERMEDIATE STRING ORCHESTRA
Mon 14 – Thu 17 September
Tutors: Janet Hicks, Jen Lynch
Standard: intermediate Gain more experience and confidence at playing in ensembles, and above all enjoy your music making in this course designed for those of an intermediate standard. You need to know how to shift positions, and you may be required to play music in two or three sharps or flats. Please note that on this course we’ll be playing all together for all of the time. If you want to know what music is going to be worked on, please ask us nearer the time of the course.
Resident: £270 Non-Resident: £195 Code: 15/341

STRING QUARTETS WITH THE MAGGINI
2 night option Tue 22 – Thu 24 September
3 night option Tue 22 – Fri 25 September
Tutors: Members of the Maggini String Quartet
Standard: Advanced
We welcome back our good friends the Maggini Quartet for another of their popular courses in which they pass on their wisdom – and no doubt some of their deeply infectious humour – to up to ten pre-formed string quartets or other small string groups. As is now the trend, we are offering the possibility of staying for an extra day (subject to enough ensembles taking up the offer). As usual there will be a public concert on the first night for which all participants automatically receive entry. Please note that any quartets wishing to practice before supper will need to book a pre-course playing room to avoid disappointment
2 night option Resident: £280 Non-Resident: £205 Code: 15/280
3 night option Resident: £390 Non-Resident: £300 Code: 15/342

GROUP QUARTETS WITH JONATHAN TROUT
Mon 5 – Thu 8 October
Tutor: Jonathan Trout
Standard: Intermediate, Advanced
Jonathan Trout leads another of our popular Group Quartet courses, designed for those who are reluctant to tackle the string quartet repertoire one to a part or who just enjoy playing the repertoire en masse, as if a string orchestra. We’d like you to be of at least Associated Board Grade 6 standard. We’ll work with Jonathan’s usual thoroughness on two pieces, Mozart’s Quartet in D minor K173 and Schubert’s Quartet No 14 in D minor, ‘Death and the Maiden’. Please note that you need to bring your own music and we’d like you to number the bars yourself before you arrive. Start with the first complete bar and ignore “first time only” repeat bars in your calculations.
Resident: £380 Non-Resident: £290 Code: 15/345

SPEED DATING FOR STRINGS AND PIANO
Mon 16 – Thu 19 November
Tutors: Nic Fallowfield, Jenny Curtis Standard: advanced
Now an established part of our programme, this course is designed to serve those musicians who seek their perfect musical partners. Nearer to the time we’ll be suggesting a few works to look at if you can before you arrive – just for purposes of familiarisation – and once we know who is coming we’ll draw up a timetable of hour-long sessions, guaranteeing that you will never play with the same combination of people twice. We can also accept one or two good pianists so that we can add perhaps the odd piano trio, quartet or quintet into the mix. Participants should be of an advanced standard with strong sight-reading skills in order to cope with the variety of repertoire we will be covering.
Resident: £380 Non-Resident: £290 Code: 15/355