The Art Of Chamber Music
Chamber Music is often considered to be one of the most satisfying forms of musical expression. The social and intellectual benefits of this type of playing are as significant as the musical benefits. Chamber music teaches us independence, confidence, empathy, teamwork and a highly attuned awareness of our colleagues. More advanced players can explore the chamber repertoire to develop these highly transferable skills.
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.
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.
Brahms Sextet with Simon Chalk, Ruth O'Shea, Michelle Falcon, Dan Shilladay, Rachel Watson, Nick Roberts at Summer Academy 2019 Tutors Concert
Chamber Music Mondays
String players from across the city of Bath (and further afield) are invited to join us on a Monday evening between 5 – 7pm during term time for our Chamber Music Club, hosted at Prior Park College. Children of Years 3 - 13 can enjoy up to an hour of professional coaching organised into small chamber music groups of similar ages and playing levels.
We currently have in combination 1 violin duo and 4 string quartets:
Quartettino Grade 6 -8, Year 6 - 9
Senior Quartet Grades 7 - 8, Years 9 - 12
Bowdelaires Grades 5 - 6, Year 8
BSA Paragon Players Grades 1 -4, Years 3 – 6
Violin Duo Grades 5 - 6, Years 7 - 8
If you would like to join us for Chamber Music Mondays please contact us and we will do our best to find appropriate groupings for new players. As chamber music playing has an intimate dynamic where each player’s part is vital, commitment to attendance is essential. Viola players and cellos 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!
Fees: £12 per week per player (billed per term in advance)
Sessions per year: 30 – 33 with dates given in advance each term
Course Times: 5 – 6pm or 6 - 7pm depending on group allocation
Venue: Prior Park College, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH
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.
We currently have in combination 1 violin duo and 4 string quartets:
Quartettino Grade 6 -8, Year 6 - 9
Senior Quartet Grades 7 - 8, Years 9 - 12
Bowdelaires Grades 5 - 6, Year 8
BSA Paragon Players Grades 1 -4, Years 3 – 6
Violin Duo Grades 5 - 6, Years 7 - 8
If you would like to join us for Chamber Music Mondays please contact us and we will do our best to find appropriate groupings for new players. As chamber music playing has an intimate dynamic where each player’s part is vital, commitment to attendance is essential. Viola players and cellos 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!
Fees: £12 per week per player (billed per term in advance)
Sessions per year: 30 – 33 with dates given in advance each term
Course Times: 5 – 6pm or 6 - 7pm depending on group allocation
Venue: Prior Park College, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH
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.
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
Chamber Music Monday players meeting the Marmen Quartet, kindly arranged for us by Wiltshire Music Centre
Adult Chamber Music One Day Retreats
Our Adult Chamber Music One-Day Retreats take place in the beautiful surroundings of Rudge Hall, 12 miles from Bath. 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, before splitting into smaller groups later in the day.
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.
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
Chamber Coaching for Adult Amateurs
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.
Support Us
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.
Support Us
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
Cellist from adult amateur string quartet commenting after a private coaching session
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