When do I arrive?
Registration is from 1pm to 4pm on the Saturday. You can arrive before that time and have a tea or coffee while waiting for registration to begin. If you are travelling from abroad and need to arrive a day early, it is possible to stay at the school in your bedroom (subject to availability), at a small additional cost.
Who is my teacher
All information regarding allocation of teacher, concerts, masterclasses etc will be given at registration.
What is the difference between the adult amateur course and the piano course.
The main difference is the much more informal performance opportunities to other participants on the Adult course. There are also daily discussions about subjects that are of particular interest to this course e.g performance anxiety, memory, how to practise, suitable repertoire. All of this happens in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.
How many lessons do I get
You will receive a total of three hours individual lessons. These can be taken as 3 one hour lessons, or as 6 half hour lessons which is particularly helpful for the younger members on the course.
Of course all lessons are open to watch, so you could in fact have a total of 33 hours of tuition if you attended all the lessons by the different faculty members! In addition, there are opportunities to play in masterclasses as well. If you do extra courses you will receive another 3 hours on each course.
I want to apply for other courses
Many people do 2 or 3 courses – last year some did 4! Each course gives you 3 hours of individual lessons so if you did 4 courses you would have 12 hours in the week. Each course costs an extra £110.
When will I know when my lessons take place
Your timetable will be given to you at registration. A list of all timetables will be on display throughout the week, so you can check when your next lesson is. You can also see when friends are having there lessons as well.
What do I do when I don’t have a lesson and I don’t want to practice.
All the lessons and classes are open to watch, so from 9am to 4pm you can watch any of the wonderfully inspiring faculty. At 4.30pm there are daily lectures and in the evening there are at least 3 concerts.
We have a lovely swimming pool, that is open daily for 2 hours. In addition there are a variety of activities organised in the week, such as table tennis and football. There are also opportunities to have lessons in Tai-Chi, Alexander and Eurythmics at a small extra cost. We also organise trips to the cinema, art galleries, shopping and the world famous historic Chetham’s library.
Will there be any children the same age as me
Each year there are many under 18’s and we are renowned for being an incredibly friendly summer school. Last year a rather shy teenager said that he couldn’t believe how friendly we all were and couldn’t wait to come back. We always try to team up children with others that have been on the course before and so they settle in quickly.
Will I get to know anyone
All newcomers to the course will be welcomed at the opening night reception so that friends can be made over a drink. There is always someone at reception during the day so anyone feeling a little lost is welcome to come for a chat!
Who looks after the under 18’s
This year we are very lucky to have a youth co-ordinator who will be the point of contact for participants and parents throughout the week. She will meet everyone on the opening night reception and her mobile telephone number will be given to all participants so contact can be made at any time of day. We also have a team of trained house parents, including Murray McLachlan and his wife, Kathryn ( who have 5 children of their own!) who are always happy to talk to anyone in confidence.
Where do we sleep
Chetham’s is a boarding school so it is possible to have a very large number of participants staying at the school. Everyone sleeps in the school, so you can have breakfast sat next to Peter Donohoe, or a glass of wine with Noriko Ogawa. Accommodation is in single, double or dormitory style rooms. Together with a 24 hour security guard this ensures a safe and happy environment. This fantastic social atmosphere ensures that the summer school will provide many happy memories. Many regulars say it is the highlight of their year!
Will everyone be more advanced than me
The Chetham’s Summer School is not competitive in any way and the artistic Director, Murray McLachlan, thinks of it as one big happy piano family. There are always a wide range of abilities, but the atmosphere is one of support and encouragement.
Do you audition for masterclasses
Everyone is given the chance to play in a masterclass, and no audition is necessary. Just tick the relevant box on the application form.
Do I have a practice room for the week
With over 100 practice rooms everyone is given a room for the week and they are open from 7am to 11pm. Some people share a room and sort out when to practise with each other.
What happens if I change my mind about playing in a concert/masterclass
This is fine and there will always be someone keen to take up the place.
There is so much going on – do I have to go to everything
Some people manage everything, but of course you can choose to only go to some of the events.
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