Chamber Music Programme players meeting the Marmen Quartet,
kindly arranged for us by Wiltshire Music Centre
kindly arranged for us by Wiltshire Music Centre
Chamber Music is for Everyone!
What is chamber music?
Chamber music means playing music in small groups, often with just one player per part and usually without a conductor. Everyone in the group is equally important and players really have to work as a team to make things run smoothly! It is often considered to be one of the most satisfying forms of musical expression and we believe that this joy should be available to everyone.
The social and intellectual benefits of playing in small groups are as significant as the musical benefits. Chamber music teaches us independence, confidence, empathy, teamwork and a highly attuned awareness of our peers. Players from the very beginning of their musical journey can start to develop these highly transferable skills. More advanced players can also explore the endless wonders of the chamber music repertoire.
Bath Strings Academy offers weekly coaching sessions for young chamber players, a Summer Music Academy with a specialist chamber music strand, as well as courses and coaching for adult players.
Chamber music means playing music in small groups, often with just one player per part and usually without a conductor. Everyone in the group is equally important and players really have to work as a team to make things run smoothly! It is often considered to be one of the most satisfying forms of musical expression and we believe that this joy should be available to everyone.
The social and intellectual benefits of playing in small groups are as significant as the musical benefits. Chamber music teaches us independence, confidence, empathy, teamwork and a highly attuned awareness of our peers. Players from the very beginning of their musical journey can start to develop these highly transferable skills. More advanced players can also explore the endless wonders of the chamber music repertoire.
Bath Strings Academy offers weekly coaching sessions for young chamber players, a Summer Music Academy with a specialist chamber music strand, as well as courses and coaching for adult players.
For Young People: Chamber Music Programme
Would you love to find your own musical voice?
String players and pianists are invited to join us for our weekly term-time Chamber Music Club, with regular coaches, Lucy, Michelle and Ruth as well as termly special guest tutors.
When? Monday evenings between 4pm & 8.30pm for 50 minute sessions
Where? The Paragon School, Bath BA2 4LT OR Weston Hub, Bath BA1 4EH
Who can join? Young People from Years 3 - 13 who play the violin, viola, cello or piano. We also sometimes have spaces for wind players, so please get in touch if you are interested.
You will be organised into small groups of similar ages and playing levels.
How much does it cost? £14 per session, invoiced per term in advance.
Thanks to the support of Bath and North East Somerset Music Education Hub, if you go to a State School in B&NES, you may be eligible for a Bursary to support your attendance. Please contact us for details.
Discounts: 25% Sibling discount (£10.50); 25% discount on membership of a second group (£10.50)
Terms and Conditions
Are there any performances? Concerts are generally given at the end of each term. Our groups also take part in the Mid-Somerset Festival and perform at foyer concerts in local venues. In addition, there are opportunities for Masterclasses and sessions where we Meet & Greet the Artists.
If you would like to join us for Chamber Music Programme please complete the Expression of Interest Form or contact us and we will do our best to find appropriate groupings for new players. Viola players and cellists are especially welcome and if there are any violinists out there who would like to try out a viola for the first time, we can arrange that too!
String players and pianists are invited to join us for our weekly term-time Chamber Music Club, with regular coaches, Lucy, Michelle and Ruth as well as termly special guest tutors.
When? Monday evenings between 4pm & 8.30pm for 50 minute sessions
Where? The Paragon School, Bath BA2 4LT OR Weston Hub, Bath BA1 4EH
Who can join? Young People from Years 3 - 13 who play the violin, viola, cello or piano. We also sometimes have spaces for wind players, so please get in touch if you are interested.
You will be organised into small groups of similar ages and playing levels.
How much does it cost? £14 per session, invoiced per term in advance.
Thanks to the support of Bath and North East Somerset Music Education Hub, if you go to a State School in B&NES, you may be eligible for a Bursary to support your attendance. Please contact us for details.
Discounts: 25% Sibling discount (£10.50); 25% discount on membership of a second group (£10.50)
Terms and Conditions
Are there any performances? Concerts are generally given at the end of each term. Our groups also take part in the Mid-Somerset Festival and perform at foyer concerts in local venues. In addition, there are opportunities for Masterclasses and sessions where we Meet & Greet the Artists.
If you would like to join us for Chamber Music Programme please complete the Expression of Interest Form or contact us and we will do our best to find appropriate groupings for new players. Viola players and cellists are especially welcome and if there are any violinists out there who would like to try out a viola for the first time, we can arrange that too!
Tonight’s string concert was truly spectacular. What’s there to be said beyond that? You are both either utterly accomplished, passionate teachers or a pair of magicians. Possibly both. To see how chamber music can be introduced to such young musicians and then excelled at the way it was showcased tonight was truly a feat to behold. I am delighted that Bath Strings Academy has found a welcome home at Prior and that as many young string players who want, can be accommodated. To be honest, emailed feedback can only get you so far. I’ve heard the results of your endeavour tonight and that really speaks for itself. Your students were incredible. Thank you for your hard work and dedication."
Parent of a Chamber Music Monday student commenting on our first concert hosted at Prior Park College
Summer Music Academy Chamber Strand
Each summer at the end of August, we run our Summer Music Academy where we offer three days of coaching to players of all ages and levels. For string players of Grade 5+ we run a specialist chamber music strand, coached by top UK professionals. In previous years these have included Nick Stringfellow and James Dickenson from the Villiers Quartet, Nick Roberts from the Coull Quartet, Dan Shilladay from the Berkeley Ensemble and Simon Chalk from Southern Sinfonia.
String students from across the region are invited to join us. The course is non-residential though we often have students attending from far flung counties whilst parents enjoy a short-break to Bath in one of the local B&B. Click here for further information about our Holiday Courses.
String students from across the region are invited to join us. The course is non-residential though we often have students attending from far flung counties whilst parents enjoy a short-break to Bath in one of the local B&B. Click here for further information about our Holiday Courses.
Chamber music students at our Summer Music Academy 2019
Brahms Sextet with Simon Chalk, Ruth O'Shea, Michelle Falcon, Dan Shilladay, Rachel Watson, Nick Roberts at Summer Academy 2019 Tutors Concert
For Adults: Chamber Music Workshops and Retreats
Our courses are open to individual players and pre-formed groups and are designed to give an overview of the studied work. Workshops will usually take the format of a string quartet, learning together and building confidence with multiple players per part, splitting into smaller groups later in the day during longer retreats.
The starting level is at around Grade 5+ and although you can prepare your music in advance, we’re not expecting you to be note perfect! You can gain a lot from the tuition, taking it at your own pace.
The starting level is at around Grade 5+ and although you can prepare your music in advance, we’re not expecting you to be note perfect! You can gain a lot from the tuition, taking it at your own pace.
Next up:
Coaching Sessions for Adult Groups
For pre-formed groups wishing to study independently and in greater detail, follow-up coaching sessions can be arranged. For additional sessions and/or to arrange a chamber retreat in your area, please enquire here.
Your Participation Supports Music Education
BSA is a self-funded community interest company, relying on donations from the public to fund our work. All profits made from our Adult Chamber Retreats and Follow-Up Coaching go directly towards our educational projects and bursary fund for young musicians. By booking your ticket for our next adult course, you can help us to fund and create chamber music experiences for State-educated children, who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
For pre-formed groups wishing to study independently and in greater detail, follow-up coaching sessions can be arranged. For additional sessions and/or to arrange a chamber retreat in your area, please enquire here.
Your Participation Supports Music Education
BSA is a self-funded community interest company, relying on donations from the public to fund our work. All profits made from our Adult Chamber Retreats and Follow-Up Coaching go directly towards our educational projects and bursary fund for young musicians. By booking your ticket for our next adult course, you can help us to fund and create chamber music experiences for State-educated children, who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
"We thoroughly enjoyed our coaching session with you. Your technical bowing tips were illuminating. You were able to put us all at ease and we really appreciated your skill in doing so.”
Cellist from adult amateur string quartet commenting after a private coaching session
Thank you so much for a really enjoyable quartet day on Sunday - a lovely setting, a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, plenty of helpful hints and some beautiful music to play. i'm sure we all learned a lot from your gentle and patient coaching - I know I certainly did.
I would definitely encourage any string player to go along, however good or bad they think they are. As long as the idea of working on a string quartet for a day with a group of like-minded people sounds appealing, then it's definitely worth giving it a try. We always went at a manageable speed, had great fun and it was really satisfying to be able to play the quartet through at the end of the day and hear how it had improved. Thank you for putting the day together - I look forward to the next one."
Amateur viola player who attended an Adult Chamber Music One Day Retreat