Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Written by ANDREW EALES
I am delighted to confirm that I have accepted an invitation to lead the Piano Teachers’ Course at this year’s Chethams International Piano Summer School.
Aimed at teachers looking for fresh ideas and direction, and to develop their professional confidence exploring new avenues of work, the course provides an intensive but varied menu of sessions, delivered in conjunction with an enviable list of superb educators from the UK and USA.
Read on for the full press release, details of who is taking part, the list of sessions and website links for booking and other information…
From the Chethams’ International Piano Summer School website:
In 2018 an exciting new course for piano teachers was established. Over 35 teachers enrolled on the course from all over the world. The varied programme proved thought-provoking and inspirational. The course is now firmly established as an integral part of the summer school.
We are delighted to welcome Andrew Eales to lead the course this year and he has put together a sensational programme with outstanding presenters.
Pathways for Piano Teachers invites and equips course attendees to explore new directions. Andrew will encourage teachers to put the PLAY back into piano playing!
With an emphasis on practical, real-world solutions to common issues, the course will include sessions on teaching adults, working in schools, encouraging talented youngsters, understanding ADHD, adapting Kodály, Dalcroze, Alexander and Taubman Technique, incorporating improvisation in lessons, and teaching all our students how to practise more effectively. See the schedule for the course HERE.
International Presenters:
Sondra Tammam and William Westney (USA)
Special Guest Presenters:
Ruth Aldred, James Crow, Emma Dixon, Louise Eales, Paul Harris, Murray McLachlan, Jason Rebello, Amy Wakefield Taylor.
It is possible to attend the course as a resident, non-resident, or as a day participant.
Course Content & Presenters
In terms of the Piano Teachers’ Course itself, these are the planned speakers and sessions:
- Ruth Aldred: Applying Kodály: Rhythm, Singing and Theory
- James Crow: Alexander Technique for Piano Teachers
- Emma Dixon: Start the Day with Dalcroze!
- Paul Harris: Pathways for Teaching Sight Reading
- Murray McLachlan: Pathways for Talented Classical Players
- Jason Rebello: Normalising Improvisation
- Sondra Tammam: Taubman Approach for Teachers
- William Westney: How can a wrong note be perfect?
- William Westney: The Perils of Pianissimo
In addition to this wonderful array of guest presenters, I will be delivering sessions on:
- Three Dimensions: Mind, Body and Soul
- Qigong for Pianists and Teachers
- Teaching our Students How to Practise
- Pathways for teaching Adult Beginners
- Putting the PLAY Back Into Playing the Piano
- Piano Teaching and ADHD (with Louise Eales RMN)
- Pathways for Peripatetic Teaching (with Amy Wakefield Taylor)
- A Repertoire Rich Pathway for Piano Education
Whether coming for the full course, which runs from Tuesday 13th August to Sunday 18th August 2024, or just for a single day, each day includes sessions for teachers from 08.45 to 17.00.
Each day this is followed by the opportunity to join participants in the main Summer School for three faculty recitals (given by world-class concert pianists) in the Stoller Hall, and one other additional lecture per day.
For Piano Players…
The Piano Teachers’ Course which I will be leading takes place within a much larger, and incredibly impressive event.
I visited the Chethams’ International Piano Summer School in 2019 and published this report of the course.
You may also be interested in this video introduction by the Summer School’s rounder and artistic director Murray McLachlin:
I very much hope to see you at the course in Summer 2024.
