I have just got back from the second week of the Chetham's Piano Summer School. It was simply wonderful. Nothing is perfect but from a musical point of view for a pianist this must come close. So many high points in only a week it is hard to remember them all. Here are just a few:

Peter Donohue's Liszt recital (my fingers hurt just watching!); Cesar Franck's Prelude Chorale & Fugue (one of several repertoire pieces I heard for the first time) played in a masterclass by a young man who has already won the Pretoria International Piano Competition; A recital of Debussy's 1st book of preludes interleaved with a premiere of new work by a composer who was in the audience and whose work, to my surprise, was delightful and dovetailed beautifully; Peter Donohue and Martin Roscoe playing The Rite Of Spring on 2 pianos; Noriko Ogawa stepping in at 90 minutes notice when another soloist fell ill and playing A Rachmanioff Etude, Prokofiev sonata no 7 and the solo piano arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue; A 17 year old girl who played (in the same week as one another and from memory) the Dante Sonata, Gaspard de la Nuit, The Appassionata and Liszt's Rigoletto Paraphrase; An 11 year old boy who played Chopin's Black Key Etude, beautifully . . . blindfold!!! Peter Donohue playing his own arrangement of the Black & White Rag (aka the theme tune for Pot Black) on a Xylophone accompanied on piano by Norika Ogawa . . . dressed as a policewoman!! Four of Chethams students who played La Campanella . . . with their noses!!!

As I said, so many high spots and this doesn't include any of my own piano playing & lessons. Every time I phoned home I was so exhilarated that my wife asked if I was drunk!

Recommended to any pianist - It was one of the best weeks I've ever spent.

Hmm I didn't realise...you must be the Dr Robert who played the (very nice) G minor 3-part invention

I'm on my way back home from Chets as well. Totally agree with Robodoc that it was such an amazing week - the evening concerts alone would be worth it (not to mention the playing-with-the-noses technique ) I'm not surprised that most people kept coming back years after years.

The standards were really really high, but still a struggler like me had a great time and learned a lot (despite feeling totally exhausted from the previous 2 turbulent weeks at work which left me not even wanting to speak )

Timing permits, will definitely go again next year (and hopefully by then I'll have mastered the art of playing in public without shaking like leaves and almost zero control of my hands )

That's me, and thank you

Ahh, so now I can put the face to the name!

Totally agree - it was a FANTASTIC week! Even better than last year!
The highlights for me would have to be Stevenson's Passacaglia that Murray played on the first night, the Liszt programme that Peter Donohoe played, The Debussy Preludes, The lecture by Jeremey Siepmann, the concert for 2 pianos, Noriko's concert and, of course, the Cabaret Don't think I've ever laughed so much as when Anton Kuerti read out that review!
And of course, the Eurhythmics class was great fun too!
I made amazing friends on this course, I'm missing them loads already!
Robodoc - I'm sure someone mentioned a Dr Robert....possibly in the Cabaret? I seem to remember it was Rosemary who mentioned you?

Yup: I tied the witch to her arm. I still can't get over that kid playing Chopin Blindfold!!!

I never mentioned Anton Keurtin's Diabelli variations recital!! Great stuff!

Oh I know! He was majorly talented! Do you remember when Peter Donohoe played it with an orange last year? It was awesome!
Ooh, the Diabelli variations were really something else! Shame we never got round to hearing the 2nd piece though!

Alas I wasn't there last year. I heard about it and I was hoping to see it but I suspect that after the kid played it blindfold he wouldn't have wanted to play the same piece again so gave it a miss!

Yeah, I guess you're right. Let's hope he'll do it next year though!
And that boy that sang his composition - stunning!
And, of course, William Cheung....

Well, just visited Robodoc this morning. Looks like I know where I'll be next year - past week of August! Anyone fancy coming along along to hear an ageing hopeful playing Beethoven, Bach, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff?

Sounds like a fantastic week! I was going to go this year, but i've been in france, and sadly can't go next year either, because i'm in Australia for 3 weeks! (not sure when in the summer holidays, so might be able to make it!?!?)
Hope you all had a great time!

Jacob.

[quote name='Mad Tom' date='Aug 31 2008, 04:43 PM' post='737789']
Well, just visited Robodoc this morning. Looks like I know where I'll be next year - past week of August! Anyone fancy coming along along to hear an ageing hopeful playing Beethoven, Bach, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff?

I hope to.

Well I finally managed to catch up on a little sleep after the manic 2 weeks spent on the summer school! Glad you all enjoyed it so much - for me, it just gets better and better every year. It's a pianists' heaven isn't it? Full of quality - in every way shape and form! Just never enough hours in the day to fit everything in - but what's new! Every year I come back renewed with wonderful ideas and good intentions to fit more hours into practising each day - and every year something happens to interfere with my plans!! Ha Ha!! I've had excellent tips off Philip Fowke this year though - so guess I'll just try again this year - and see if I can get 3 WHOLE pieces ready for next year!

Happy practising all! (More sleep needed)

(Apologies for the digression but I couldn't help noticing that lizdew joined TWO YEARS AGO and has only just made her first post! Is this a record???!)

Well I was fortunate enough to be there for both weeks! It is truly the most amazing piano school. This was my sixth in a row and I'm thrilled it is now a two-week event.

The teaching one receives is astonishing and I must sing the praises of the brilliant Jonathan Middleton who is on the staff at Chets and with whom I've worked a number of times. I also received lessons from the highly knowledgable and extremely funny Bryce Morrisson during the first week.

Roll on next year!

Yeahyeahyeah - you should all come along next year! I'm so definitely going Possibly for two weeks, if I can get round my parents!
lizdew.....well done for the cabaret!

I had a fantastic time - I've only just got back, having detoured via Lincoln & Huntingdon. It was wonderful going for 2 weeks - I received so much inspiration & felt I started to improve, even during that short time. I had some wonderful teaching from Dina Parakhina on my Rachmaninov concerto in the 1st week, with lots of ideas of how to practise & I had an amazing lesson from Noriko Ogawa in the 2nd week on Takemitsu & a bit more help with the concerto. I was really stunned when she said I had a really natural feel for Takemitsu. I wasn't impressed by the teacher I had in between, sadly, but I got so much from these two that it didn't really matter.

I observed a lot of wonderful teaching - Dina, Noriko, Joan Havill, Patsy Toh & Murray McLachlan especially stand out & lots of excellent recitals. I particularly enjoyed Philip Fowke & Noriko & it was lovely hearing so many talented students. There was a lovely, friendly atmosphere. I worked very hard & came back exhausted, but it was so wonderful I'm already thinking about next year.

Sorry - yes - been a member for2 years, and that was my first post. Hopefully not my last - and 2 years late is better than never at all eh?

Absolutely!!

On another tack - it's interesting just how many forumites went on this course - did you all 'meet and identify' each other in 'real life' or did you keep your forum identities a mystery???

Just curious!

could have been interesting trying to work out who was who.
'aha! your hello_cello!'
'No i am!' *Everyone stands up*

Why am i here?
im going to bed.
*grabs coat*

... He plays Gershwin's "Liza" even better

MT

I met Robodoc & I already knew sbpiano & Yamaha from last year. I know who lizdew is, but I didn't know there were so many other forumites on the course & I don't know who they are. Perhaps next year we'll have to have some sort of meeting.

I couldn't make it this year, but I did attend in 2005. It was without doubt the best piano related experience I've had and as others have said here it is a must if you can manage it. The people, both attendees and staff are so friendly it's like being in one big happy family, and there is no pretentiousness or arrogance. I, hopefully, will be going next year.

I want to go back too as I went four times in a row then had a break. I must get my playing back on track though, as it is more fun to join in rather than observe all week without a proper focus. I must say I have sorely missed everyone and I'm looking forward to next year

Could be very busy next year as, apart from the Ribble Valley International Piano week in July and the Beverley Chamber Music Festival in late September (both with Martin Roscoe as musical Director), it is also the year of the Leeds International Piano Competition. I've been to every session of this since year 2000 and enjoyed every minute, I can recommend it. But, I also intend to go to Chets. Reading the posts it sounds even better than I had been led to believe. Only one snag. I understand one has to pass G5 before being accepted and although I did pass (and 6 I believe), it was more than 60 years ago! So, I have today bought the G5 books with the intention of taking it again in December or Spring, to make sure I qualify for Chets next year, wish me luck please.

I also went to Chethams, but the first week. It was AMAZING! Like Liz, I had piano lessons with Philip Fowke, who was very relaxed and very encouraging. I practised for hours at strange hours of the day, and night. THe afternoon group with Kathryn was great, interesting, challenging and lots of fun. I watched master classes with amazing young students, learned strange ways of playing scales with hands crossed, eyes shut, upside down etc. We heard stories of mishaps that concert pianists have experienced such a dog coming and weeing on the piano leg, the lights going in the middle of a recital (I had wondered why Martino T played most of his Schubert with eyes shut... just in case). Phillipe Cassard's recital was brilliant, as was Phillip Fowke's and there was some hilarious sketches on the last night - when the meaning of performer took on a different light! We also had a talk the future of schools such as Chethams. It was sad to hear that although at festivals around the country there are many talented pianists between the ages of 8 - 11, they vanish after that. What happens to them? Is is just that playing the piano loses its appeal, or is it that the GCSE - A level system allows no time for practising, and that teenagers are teased for wanting to play a classical instrument. Are the only options home education or specialist music schools? Why cant or dont schools value classical pianists (and other instrumentalists)? An easy solution would be to allow pupils to give up a GCSE subject and to be allowed to practise in that time. What do other people think?

They don't ask for proof, oldnotes, so unless you're keen on taking the exam, it's not necessary for Chets. I rang up before applying this year (since my G8 was many years ago and in no way reflect my current ability as a recent restarter) and was told the only reason they asked for G5 was simply to ensure a participant can make the most of all events on offer; say, a total beginner may not fully benefit from the masterclasses. Also, in the application form you have to provide a list of repertoire studied in the past year, so they'll be able to figure out the standard you are anyway.

I also went for the first week, and had a fabulous time - I will definately go again next year (which will make it 5 years in a row!). I had lessons with Peter Lawson and a masterclass with Margaret Fingerhut. Both were fantastic teachers - I learnt so much, not least of all the unusual scales. My warm up routine now includes the Russian scale, and I am steadily working my way through all the keys in this fashion. The afternoon workshops were informative, and gave everyone the chance to play in a supportive environment. Great to meet up with all my friends again and catch up on their news. It seems such a long time now until next year, but it will come round very quickly and when we return it will feel like we have not been away. Perhaps next year we should have a forumites workshop.

pianocrazy

Thanks for that Panthera, I might take it anyway. It already seems a long time since we met in Leeds, life and music continue to move on! Good to hear from you.

Interesting. Please tell more

Have a look at www.rvipw.org.uk , all of this year's recitals are on the home page starting with Paul Lewis, 6th July. It is a top quality week which we go to every year.

I went to 3 recitals last year - Ronald Brautigam, Ben Grosvenor and Grace someone-who's-surname-I-can't-remember. Excellent entertainment but I can only remember the encores and not the main programs for the last two. Couldn't go this year as it was the week before my grade 8 and I was up the ears practicing. Next year, mind you, I hope to go again.

Is the Ribble Valley Week a course like the Chets summer school? What age group is it aimed at?
Ahh I miss Chets! Shame I didn't meet any of you, or maybe I did but haven't realised it?

No, the ribble valley week is a series of recitals - one each day. They alternate between lunchtime and evening, which leaves plenty of time to visit the Dales, etc. All the recitals are in the Centenaries Theatre at Stoneyhurst College, just outside Clitheroe. We usually stay in Clitheroe for the week where there is plenty of reasonably priced accommodation. By the way Robodoc, the Grace was Huang. Ben Grosvenor played the Scarlatti, k466, which you also heard from me in Stalybridge this year.