5-day Advanced Autumn School with Florian Mitrea

We know advanced pianists will be absolutely delighted to have another opportunity to spend five days learning from and being inspired by the inimitable Florian Mitrea. Below, he describes his plan for the Finchcocks 2025 autumn school course for advanced pianists (beyond grade 8, preparing for – or at – diploma standard, or higher).

Our 5-day courses are a well established highlight of the Finchcocks calendar. To ensure a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, places are open to those who have attended at least one weekend Finchcocks course previously.

“To put it very simply, this course is about rediscovering or nurturing the joy of piano playing. We are offering an immersive experience, tailored specifically for participants looking to enhance their playing by focusing on what makes piano playing such an enriching experience – the pleasure of revisiting the old classics and discovering new repertoire, the thrill of mastering a difficult passage, or the excitement of sharing your music-making with others.

Comprising workshops, performance masterclass type tuition, and personalised individual lessons, the course will also offer the chance to perform in front of a supportive group, as a way to bolster your confidence. My teaching will be channelled on giving clear and practical technical guidance (including discussing practice methodology, exercises and etudes, or repertoire planning), while also fostering your interpretative skills, artistic freedom, and stylistic awareness. My ultimate aim is to create a supportive, nurturing environment for you to focus on your musical journey.”

Like our weekend courses, formal tuition takes place in workshops, performance classes and one-to-one lessons.

• Workshop 1: Discovering the language of Beethoven This workshop dives deep into the intricacies of Beethoven’s piano works, focusing on the art of interpreting his revolutionary notation and transforming it into expressive live performances. Through demonstrations and individual exercises, you will develop a thorough understanding of Beethoven’s musical intentions as expressed in his notation. No prior preparation of any Beethoven repertoire is required, as the course highlights how mastering his notational style can enrich your approach to music by any other composer, given his pivotal influence on modern music notation.
• Workshop 2: Mozart, between the voice and the piano We will be exploring the profound connection between Mozart’s operas —his pinnacle artistic achievements— and his piano repertoire, revealing how his vocal mastery shaped his keyboard compositions. Together, we will analyse Mozart’s notation to uncover its vocal qualities, discussing essential topics such as pedalling, fingering, phrasing, and stylistic nuance. Drawing inspiration from recordings of celebrated opera singers, you will learn to infuse your piano playing with the expressive depth and clarity of Mozart’s vocal writing. The course will involve prior learning of a simple 8-bar passage by Mozart and bringing it to the class for discussion.
• Workshop 3: It’s about time! Unlocking the secrets of rhythm, this course is designed to deepen your understanding of timing and rhythmic patterns across classical music’s diverse eras. Explore how composers from different periods used rhythm uniquely to shape their musical language. Through hands-on exercises, this course will help you internalise pulse, enhancing your ability to feel and maintain a steady tempo. By developing a strong internal sense of rhythm, you will gain greater control over the speed and flow of your piano playing.
• Workshop 4: The technique of the soul When we think of piano technique, we often picture fast, accurate finger movements—but true artistry goes beyond mechanics. The Technique of the Soul invites you to explore a deeper dimension of musical expression: the ability to channel your emotions with purpose and precision. This course focuses on transforming instinctive feelings into deliberate interpretations that resonate with both you and your audience. Discover how to bridge the gap between raw emotion and a moving performance.

As usual, everyone will have access to their own grand piano for the week including our new Steinway, and have plenty of time to practise in our vaulted piano cellar.

We’ll also plan in some downtime for you! Weather permitting, we’ll exploring the private gardens at Finchcocks, discover the beautiful Kentish countryside or exploring nearby Scotney Castle.

And of course, it goes without saying that you can expect the usual!

Guests will:

• Have the chance to play in and observe multiple performance masterclasses.
• Will receive one-to-one lessons with Florian.
• Enjoy access to play on our 9 grand pianos anytime between 7am and 8pm. (There are enough pianos to go round that everyone can play a piano at any given time.)
• Experience a salon-style concert performed by Florian exclusively for guests.
• Have the chance to take part in a recital on the Bosendorfer in the main hall of the family home.
• Join and socialise with a group 8 fellow piano enthusiasts during lunch and dinner.
• Dine in style with lunches and three course dinners prepared by our fabulous chef.
• Experience the Finchcocks bubble, hailed as a “paradise for pianists” by BBC Music Magazine and stay in a grade 1 listed country manor.

Plus ones are very welcome on our courses, with a room surcharge dependant on whether they are a playing or non-playing guest. Please ask for further details.

This is a unique, luxury UK-based piano gem and an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon. Many guests continue friendships made on these courses, encouraging each other on in the piano playing on Whatsapp, organising private piano meet ups further down the line… and bumping into each other again on future courses!

For booking enquiries, please fill in the form below.