The Rusty Pianist weekend with Pam Wedgwood – Intermediate – waiting list

We are thrilled to welcome one of the UK’s most successful and prolific music educators and composers, Pam Wedgwood to Finchcocks to lead a course for our Intermediate players!

An inspiration for teachers and pupils alike, Pam Wedgwood has been a staple diet for young musicians throughout the world for almost twenty years. Composer of the highly acclaimed series Jazzin’ About, followed by the Up-Grade! series and It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano, she will be presenting her latest publications The Rusty Pianist and The Rusty Pianist: Playable Pieces to pianists at around grades 4-6 playing level.

Whether you’re ‘rusty’, ‘returning’ or are just after some new repertoire to learn, these books are a must-have.

~ David Barton

“I wish I’d carried on playing the piano, but life got in the way” is a phrase Pam has often heard – as have we here at Finchcocks.

Inspired by all the people who used to play and stopped for whatever reason, this book aims to be a really friendly, informative book that the “returner” player can start again with, understand and not feel threatened by. It’s also accessible for those who have begun a new hobby later in life!

“Hello all Rusty or Not-So-Rusty pianists!

I am very much looking forward to spending time with you next May and will hopefully help you to enhance your love of the piano.

Whatever stage you are at, fear not! The purpose of my Rusty Piano series is to introduce new and stimulating repertoire for you to try. It doesn’t matter at what stage you are at in your piano playing.

There will be something for everyone, gaining confidence and enjoyment with new musical experiences.

I will cover the following items:

• Playing in different styles
• Coping with sight reading
• Dealing with nerves!
• Rhythm reading using percussion
• Learning to swing!
• Helpful hints on how to play and understand each piece
• Duet playing for fun

Think of this course as a personal piece of well-being and calm in this challenging world. This can’t be a bad thing!

Pam Wedgwood”

In between the workshop and performance class sessions there will be time for private practice on one of our beautiful grand pianos. During these sessions, Pam will give one-to-one lessons on our new Steinway to provide individual pointers and tips.

Guests will also:

• Have the chance to play in and observe two performance masterclasses.
• Will receive a one-to-one lesson with Pam.
• 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 private accompanied talk for course participants in the main hall of the family home, performed by Pam.
• 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.

Born in 1947, Pam’s musical career began with the recorder and piano, and Tenor Horn and Euphonium through the brass band tradition at her school. She then took up the Cello and French Horn, entering Trinity College of Music in London to study Piano, Horn, Cello and composition at the age of sixteen.

After graduating she began a career as a professional French Horn player, working with the Royal Ballet Touring Orchestra, The Royal Opera, the BBC Concert Orchestra and many West End shows. Marriage and a young family led her to take up an appointment as a peripatetic instrumental music teacher in Surrey in the late 1970s, and she began composing pieces for her pupils.

In 1988 her long association with Faber Music began with the publication of Jazzin’ About, a series that now numbers over 30 books and has featured on many an examination syllabus. Since then her output has grown to over 200 books including the successful Up-Grade! and After Hours instrumental series, the recorder method RecorderWorld and the adult piano method It’s Never Too Late to Play Piano. In the UK she has led many workshops for the European Piano Teachers’ Association and has inspired teachers in workshops as far afield as Singapore and Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Pam now concentrates on composing and teaching, though she is also a keen sportswoman and international traveller!

www.wedgwoodmusic.com

www.fabermusic.com/we-represent/pam-wedgwood

For booking enquiries, please contact us on 01580 428080 or fill in the form below.