Our first meeting held at an outside venue was a great success.
We were able to accommodate everyone who wanted to come and the playing was first class with a very interesting and varied programme. The timing worked well too. We started just after 11.15 hrs, had a break for lunch and everyone had played their pieces by 14.30, so that left some time for some people to play again and we finished at around 15.00hrs.
A big thank you to everyone who came along to support this new venture.
Some feedback from members.
“excellent venue” “catering very smooth” “nice piano” “comfy seats” “plenty of space”
Tuesday 11 June 2024, 10:30–16:00 Stoke Bishop, Bristol (venue details provided on booking) Fee: £45, (inc. contribution to Club insurance costs) Lunch: participants should bring a packed lunch
Join other Bristol Piano Club members for an informal masterclass to be led by William Howard, one of Britain’s leading classical pianists.
Up to eight places are available for pianists who will perform a piece of prepared repertoire. The teaching sessions will be approximately 30 minutes long per pianist, and will focus on interpretation, performance, and technique, but all participants are welcome to offer other topics for discussion during the day.
William Howard (see https://www.williamhoward.co.uk/biography) has a wide range of musical interests and repertoire, and in particular is passionate about 19th century piano repertoire, especially Schubert, Chopin, Schumann and Fauré. He also has a strong interest in Czech piano music and has been particularly acclaimed for his performance of Janáček. He has recorded over 40 CDs as a soloist or chamber musician.
To book a place or for further details, contact Club member Mark Ware at mark@markwareconsulting.com or 07973 824378.
(NB, the fee shown assumes 8 participants; it may need to be varied slightly depending on the final numbers, and will be confirmed as soon as numbers are known)
Brenda McDermott started her career early, playing for BBC radio and appearing on television while still at school. She developed her skills at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying under Harold Craxton and Max Pirani.
While still a student Brenda met and married the established pianist Denis Matthews, and together they became known for their partnership in four-hand duets and two piano duets and concertos. They worked with many of the world’s finest orchestras, establishing a particular relationship with the London Symphony Orchestra, and had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with performers from many disciplines, including a memorable performance of the Carnival of the Animals narrated by Johnnie Morris.
Her first solo Wigmore Hall recital confirmed her place as one of the country’s most versatile and articulate pianists, with a highly-praised programme ranging from early Beethoven to Stravinsky. Her ability to cope with the most technically demanding and emotionally complex of pieces drew the attention of Tyne Tees Television, for whom she recorded three highly-regarded series of recitals.
She shows an obvious affinity for the Viennese classics and the romantic virtuoso composers, especially notable in her performances of Liszt’s B minor Sonata and the Brahms concertos, and while touring Latin America won particular praise for her performance of Chopin. A review in the Scotsman said her approach to Chopin was “more poetic than many of her Warsaw trained contemporaries”.
In next Wednesday’s recital, here on 24th April at 1.10p.m.,
VICTORIA ZGOLKA (Violin)(aged 16) &
JAMES WILLSHIRE (Piano) (Stars of the Future Series)
will play Mozart Sonata in E minor, and Wieniawski ‘Fantaisie Brillante sur Faust’
Admission free Retiring Collection
(Coffee and tea are available before and after the recital.
Chris – Beethoven: Sonata in C minor Op.13 “Pathétique”, 2nd movement Anne K – Jennifer Bowman: Nocturne Leonora – Beethoven: Sonata in C sharp minor Op.27 No.2 “Moonlight”, 1st movement Graham and Kirsty – Peter Warlock: Basse Danse, Pavane, Pieds-en-l’air from Capriol Suite Kirsty – Debussy: Pagodes Kay – J S Bach: Prelude from Partita No.1 in B flat Steve – J S Bach: Toccata E minor BMV 914 Peter – Chopin: Mazurka in A minor Op 59 No 1 Simon S – Charles Ancliffe: Sorrento Jean W – Walter Niemann: Evening in Seville Jean W – Malcolm Arnold: The Buccaneer Kathryn – Prokofiev: Harp Prelude Op.12 No.7 Stefanie – Ludovico Einaudi: Nuvole Bianche Simon H – H. Okumura: Ondo no Funata
Many thanks to Chris and Karen for hosting a wonderful meeting and thanks to everyone that came for their very enjoyable musical and culinary contributions.
Next meeting – Saturday 20th April – 11.00 hrs at Henleaze United Reform Church BS9 4BT.
Alton Chan’s piano course at Jackdaws is currently discounted from £336 to £252 with the use of the code ‘SPRING OFFER’. The offer expires on April 1st.
The course runs from the evening of Friday August 23rd to the afternoon of Sunday 25th August
Booking is made directly with Jackdaws – details below.
Have you ever been intimidated by a composer’s piece and felt reluctant to study or perform it because you just didn’t feel competent or equipped enough to tackle it? For example, a favorite Chopin or Liszt’s Transcendental Etude or a very famous sonata or concerto.
Good news! the purpose of this short piano course is to focus on both the essential technical and musical skills that cannot be easily verbalized or articulated, which either you have not covered in your previous learnings, or simply do not know how to apply systematically. The emphasis is to empower the performers and pedagogues with practical tools for continual growth in musicianship and performing skills at the piano. The course is open to all levels and serious piano pedagogues.
Each learning session will focus on one or more individual topics such as tone productions, techniques, pedaling, phrasing, composers’ intentions, and performance practices. The contents will be organized and presented in a simple and easily understood manner that have not been elucidated anywhere before. Moreover, attendees will be given guidelines on how to approach and learn a new piece beyond their ability successfully, as well as to share the difficulties of pieces they are currently working on.
Session 1: Tone Productions and Voicings
Session 2: Technical Movements
Session 3: Phrasing/Composers’ Intentions
Session 4: PedalingPerformance Practice
Session 5: Effective and Efficient Approaches to Learning a New Piece
Session 6: Open Discussions on Attendees’ Current Studying Pieces
A £70 deposit is required to secure your place on this course. The balance of fees, including accommodation, is due 3 weeks before the course start date.
Address:Jackdaws Music Education Trust, Great Elm, Frome, Somerset, BA11 3NY, United Kingdom
Description:
Course Information
Is this Course right for me?
The answer is probably yes as we welcome musicians of all abilities and backgrounds on our courses but if you would like to find out more before you book please do email or call our office manager Karolyn on 01373812383 / music@jackdaws.org and she will be able to offer further guidance.
Observer places may also be bookable subject to availability call/email the office for more information.
Our Courses are for adult musicians (except where stated) and take place at Jackdaws in Great Elm, near Frome in Somerset. The Course Fee includes all tuition, meals and refreshments at Jackdaws. Courses take place in the main studio, with Steinway piano, and generally follow a masterclass format. There are several practice rooms here, too.
Repertoire
For Voice, Piano & Wind courses; participants are usually requested to prepare 2 – 3 pieces in advance. We will ask you to provide a repertoire list for the tutor (& accompanist) ahead of the course.
For Ensemble courses; direction will be given by the course leaders.
Accommodation
If you require B&B, we can arrange that for you; accommodation fees are payable in addition to the course fee.
Meals and Refreshments
Lunch, Supper and morning/afternoon refreshments will be prepared on site by our dedicated Cooks. If you are vegetarian/vegan, or have a food allergy, you must let us know in advance, so that our cooks can plan the meals for the weekend accordingly. We are ‘allergy aware’, but we rely on participants letting us know if they have specific food allergies. Please also let us know if you carry any emergency medication.
By booking onto a Jackdaws course you agree to abide by our Terms and Conditions and understand the Privacy Policy regarding our handling of your data.
Bristol Piano Club 
