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Music to Prepare
About the tutors
       Bridget Cunningham
       Steven Devine
       Julian Perkins
       Micaela Schmitz
Getting here
     The Teaching/Lecture Venue: St. Swithun's School
      Public Lectures and Showcase: Milner Hall
Accommodation and Dining
Schedule (please check back for updates)
What to Bring
Tourism in Winchester
Booking Form  and Parent/Carer Consent Form
How to Pay (including coming soon: Online using ‘Nochex’) -
Terms and Conditions

 

Music to Prepare
Participants will have the opportunity to play harpsichord, clavichord, and fortepiano. Previous experience with an early keyboard in helpful but not necessary; in fact we welcome players/teachers of modern piano, as well as duet partners. We know that repertoire is often a reason for choosing a course, and we are hoping to link your study with our public lectures.  Do have a look at that section below also.

With three different types of instruments available, we want you to feel encouraged to explore. On your booking form we will ask your preferences as main instrument, second instrument or one you’d like to try…You are not required to play on all three instruments or to remain only with one, but we hope you will take care to match the repertoire to the instruments you do play.

The guide below will show what we hope you will bring. If you play two instruments equally, we’d suggest you bring pieces that may be playable on both, so you can explore alternate interpretations, for a total of four works each. We do not want to restrict you unnecessarily, so if you find you'd like to something that may not quite fit, let us know on your form and we can discuss it.  If you are very keen on new music, for example, you may wish to bring something new for the clavichord, but if you are new to the clavichord, then we'd recommend you stick to the list given below.

Or, you may wish to split your time evenly among two instruments; for example, if you play harpsichord and clavichord, use the same virginalist piece and the same Iberian work, and so on.

Some time will be spent in group sessions, others in individual practice time, where we will rotate around to coach you. There will be lectures that will deepen our understanding and encourage us to explore and some sessions on improvisation. At all times we will treat each other with respect and a spirit of exploration.
 

Some examples and descriptions of what we mean follow:

Virginalists: a pavan and galliard, or a variation set in The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, (Byrd), My Ladye Nevells Book, other pieces by Morley, Gibbons, Farnaby, etc. also Dutch composers such as Sweelinck

Iberian: Italian or Spanish repertoire, may include items such as intabulations, sonatas, toccatas, etc. by early composers: Ortiz, Cabezon, Rossi, Frescobaldi, with items that can be used as a basis for divisions and later works (can be fortepiano): Giustini, Seixas, Coelho, Antonio Soler, Domenico Scarlatti, Zipoli (this is verging on early classical).

Early Italian: a toccata, capriccio, ricercar, partita, or variation set, by Mayone, Trabaci, Rossi, Frescobaldi, and his student Froberger.

German contrapuntal: J.S. Bach: a contrapuntal work, from his inventions or sinfonias; North Germans such as Scheidt, Fischer, Kerll, Kuhnau, Matteson. Also Handel.

Transitional /late baroque/early Classical: since by nature these are hard to define, we’ll give some examples: fantasias/rondos by C.P.E. Bach, W.F. Bach, Wolff, free works by J.S. Bach (fantasias), etc., sonatas, or other galant works by Schobert, Eckard, Zipoli, Galuppi, Durante…. Some of these may work on harpsichord or on Fortepiano.

You can throw in some late French Baroque, such as some Rameau or Balbastre.

Classical: a middle period Haydn sonata (to try on clavichord) A sonata by Haydn after 1771, Mozart or early Beethoven to 1805. We will have a Viennese 5-octave fortepiano available.

Suggestions for free choices:  If you are very keen on French harpsichord music, we won't stop you, but will caution you that much may not work on the clavichord, especially passages with port de voix on a fretted clavichord or stile brise!  However, you may find sections that work quite well such as the fugal section of a Louis Couperin prelude.

Repeating Bass Patterns: often Italian works are based on a repeating bass pattern such as Ruggerio, Romanesca, etc.… these can be very useful in learning and absorbing improvisation patterns.

New Music:  If you are a Ligeti or Steve Reich fan, by all means bring something.  Also for clavichord, you may find Howells, Bartok, Dodgson and others inspiring works.

Fortepianists and claivchordists may of course feel free to include variation sets.

Duets on one keyboard can also be very useful.  We recommend Mozart's piano duets but there are also some early virginalist examples.

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Getting here

The Teaching/Lecture Venue
St Swithun's School, Alresford Road, Winchester, S021 1HA
Telephone: 01962 835 700 http://www.stswithuns.com/

By Car:
The school’s website below has directions by car, a map showing the airports in the area, and a closer map of the area.
Directions to St. Swithun's (car): map and directions.
          If their site does not load click here.
St Swithun's School layout (of buildings)

Rail users: The School is about 1 mile from the rail station; Milner Hall is
.4 miles from the rail station and about .7 miles from the school on foot
(.9 mi. by car).

Trains arrive from London Waterloo roughly  4-5 times per hour  Check National Rail please or the trainline for times and booking. In many cases a 'Saver Return' can be economical but there may be other special offers.

Cabs for transfer to accommodation (use at your own risk):
Twyford Cars: Wessex Catering
Tonawanda, Manor Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1RJ
Telephone: 01962-712238

Airways Private Hire Taxi, 2 Mount Pleasant, Kings Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7QU Telephone: 01962-843923

Public Lectures and Showcase Venue
Milner Hall.  Please click here for full directions to the hall.

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Accommodation and Dining

Accommodation:
 You will be responsible for arranging your own accommodation, breakfast and evening meals.  Normally B & B's will include breakfast in the fee. (The course will provide lunch and hot drinks at breaks.) We will be receiving an updated brochure from Winchester City’s Tourist Office and will send it to any who book.
Click here to access the Tourist Office's accommodation webpage. It can be searched based on your requirements and you can contact establishments directly or use the Tourist's Office's booking service (available via phone or email).

If you want to, you are welcome to contact them directly on +44(0)1962 840500 tourism@winchester.gov.uk

Dining Guide: The tourist office has a webpage listing restaurants and pubs with links to them here.  

For everyday supplies:

Grocery:
Tesco, Easton Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7RS
Telephone: 0845-677-9723 

Iceland Foods, 10 Middlebrook Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8AQ Telephone: 01962-851014

Pharmacy:
Boots, 35-38 High Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9BL
Telephone: 01962 852020

Superdrug Store, 55-56 High Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9BX
Telephone: 01962-863103

Post Office:
Middle Brook Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8WA 0845-722-3344

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Schedule (Please check back for updates.  This schedule is a draft. It is slightly more detailed than our booking form, as it includes meal times as well as hall opening times for you to plan practice.

Some details may change but generally the check in and departure time will hold true.

We advise you to check in with your accommodation before coming to the school, if possible.

The periods labelled Sessions are only open to fully paid up participants.  During these, students will meet together, play for each other (in an informal discussion or master class setting), learn related skills such as dance related to the music and improvisation exercises, or will be able to use the practice rooms and the tutors will rotate through to offer one-to-one coaching. While the tutors will plan these, they are open to suggestions for amendments should participants wish for more group time or more private practice time.

The Public Lectures are included in participants' course fees, but are open to members of the public (space permitting) for a nominal fee, most likely £4.
The lectures and showcase are intended to link with the course content, showcasing the possibilities with different keyboard instruments, repertoires, styles, and combinations.  Possible topics include 'Accompanying Handel arias', 'The vocal elements of toccatas', 'Instrumental Possibilities: Late Baroque/Pre-Classical Music,'  and 'What Original Instruments Can Teach us.'  

The Showcase is included in participants' course fees, but additional tickets are available to the public for £9/£8.  Those who book a partner, friend or family member a ticket at the time of booking their place on the course can buy these additional tickets at the concessionary rate.

Draft Schedule
Friday
6pm Arrivals/Registration/tea
6:30pm orientation/tour, introductions with group, ground rules
7-8:30pm Free Time for supper/practice
8:30-9:30 Session 1
9:30pm-10:30pm late night Public Lecture I / clavichord demo at the school, (not Bridget).
Doors shut by 11pm

Saturday
9am school opens for tuning/practice
9:30-11 Session 2 [coffee ad hoc]
11am-11:45 Public Lecture II
11:45-1:15 Session 3
1:15-2:10 sandwich lunch provided; (No use of foyer until 2:10)
2:00-3:30 Session 4 coaching rotation through practice rooms
3:30-4:15 Session 5 (together)
4:15-4:45 tea break
4:45-5:45pm Tuning and maintenance lesson
5:45-7:30pm free time for food, etc. (school is locked until Sunday)
6:45-7:20 Public (Pre Concert) Lecture III (at Milner Hall)
7:30-9:30/10pm Concert

Sunday
9:30am school opens for practice,
10am private coaching available
10:30 Session 6
11:30-12:15 Public lecture IV
12:15-1 informal student concert at the school
1pm-1:45 sandwich lunch and goodbyes.  (Those who have brought their own instruments should move them out during this period.)

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What to Bring  

-Your clothing and toiletries. (There is no need to dress up for the student
           concert. )
-Money for evening meals.
-Paper, pencils for taking notes.
-Recording devices may only be used for your own coaching/practice
-Please bring  5 copies of each piece you will play in group sessions.
and...
-Your instrument. While we will provide instruments, you may also wish to consider bringing a personal instrument. You must have insurance to cover it against damage or theft. The entire music wing will be used by the course.

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Tourism in Winchester
Winchester City’s Tourist Office has information about other things you can do while in the city.  From their website you can find about things to see and do, and request that they send you their leaflets, maps and money saving vouchers.  We recommend the 'Pocket Guide' which is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. 

Highlights in Winchester include the Cathedral, The Great hall and Arthur's Round Table, City Museum, The City Mill, The Westgate, Wolvesey Castle, Winchester Military Museums (which include six collections), in the immediate areas, plus outlying attractions including Jane Austen's house.
Keyboard enthusiasts who come by auto may also want to visit Finchcocks Music Museum, in Kent, which has a keyboard collection and lecture/demonstrations.

Tourist Information Centre
Winchester Guildhall
High Street
Winchester
Hampshire SO23 9GH
United Kingdom
Tel:+44 (0) 1962 840 500
email

Places of Worship:
 Visitors may wish to attend Winchester Cathedral for Anglican services (check this as times of services vary).  1, The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LS.  01962 857200   or

Christchurch C of E Church, Christchurch Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9SR Telephone: 01962-854454

St. Peter's Catholic Church  (Mass  Sat. 6pm, Sun 8am, 10:30am, 7pm)
01962-852804 is next door to Milner Hall, our Showcase concert venue, in St. Peter Street, Winchester SO23 8BW.

The United Church, Jewry Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8RZ 
01962-849559 

Colden Common Methodist Church, Spring Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1SB  01962-713368

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Booking Form
You can download it here in pdf or word. Please note the leaflet was finished in January 2007 and additions to the draft schedule as well as further guidance will have been added after this, so if in doubt, consult this website or the course organisers.  Please try to book by 1April 2007.

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How to Pay

By Cheque or International Money Order in pounds sterling (GBP)
payable to: ‘Early Music in the Vale’

The course fee is £130 but you may also wish to purchase additional showcase tickets. 

Sorry- no wiring of funds. Those on the Continent will be better off using a credit card to get the best exchange rate.  To see exchange rates, click here for a currency conversion website.

If you are booking from the U.S. and have no credit card (or email), let us know, and we may be able to arrange payment in U.S. currency.

By Credit card:
The booking form has a space to enter your credit card details.  This will only work if you can provide a valid email address. Be sure you've signed this if you send it by post.

In coming weeks we hope to have set up the same  No-chex credit card payment facility here so you can input all the information yourself.

By paying you signify that you have read and understood the Terms and Conditions on this website. You may request a copy in print from us. We are able to run with a select number of students, but if a minimum number is not met, we may have to cancel. If so we will inform you as soon as possible, but no later than 4 May 2007, and your fee will be refunded less £30.

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Terms and Conditions (full)
We are able to run with a select number of students, but if this minimum number is not met, we may have to cancel the course. If we do have to cancel the course, we will inform you as soon as possible, but no later than 4 May 2007 and your fee will be refunded less an administrative charge of £30. We cannot be responsible for any costs incurred by you for travel or accommodation in the event of cancellation by yourselves or ourselves. Do check, as many guest houses will accept a cancellation if it is in by 3 days prior to the check-in date If you cancel before then you receive a full refund less £30. If you cancel after the 4 May, your fee cannot be refunded.

The course is offered as described and the fee includes tuition, 2 lunches, some beverages at breaks, and admission to all lecturers and concerts that weekend. In the event of illness, we reserve the right to substitute a tutor, session or performer, but we will endeavour to let you know in advance, if possible.

Any property you bring is your responsibility. The music building is locked at night but there are no individual locks on practice room doors. While it is unlikely that someone would be able to remove a large keyboard instrument from a building like this without it being noticed, we cannot be responsible and advice all who bring instrument to have appropriate insurance cover for any area, no matter whom is moving the instrument. Anyone moving an instrument should be free of back injuries. We are not responsible, if, in the course of moving an instrument an injury is incurred. We hold appropriate public liability insurance and all tutors are members of ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) or MU (Musicians Union) with appropriate cover.

 If you choose to drive to the course, you may park your car in the school’s carpark, but use of that carpark is at your own risk. Neither the school nor any of the tutors are responsible if damage or theft should occur.

All participants should have their own medical cover, medicines, and insurances in place. It is recommended that those who are eligible have their E-111 cards with them (available free to holders of EU passports). The course takes no responsibility for medical advice or emergency care.

The Next Generation™ Early Keyboard Weekend reserve the right to take photographs of the attenders for promotional purposes. If people are unhappy to have their photographs taken they will need to inform the staff in writing.

Recording of public lectures and concerts is strictly prohibited. Students may choose to record sessions where they are playing in a group session or individual coaching for diagnostic purposes.

Students under 18 will only be admitted to the course if a parent/guardian/carer’s consent form has been received in advance, allowing him or her to take part.  To download the form click here.

Although the music wing itself has no disabled toilets, the course can provide access to disabled toilets in an adjoining building. We do need to be informed in advance to make the necessary and reasonable arrangements.

We request that anyone with any form of disability make it known so that we can support him or her more effectively. We promise not disclose this information to any outside party.

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St Swithuns directions by car (from their website)

By Car From Winchester Town Centre:

• Follow one-way circuit along City Road, North Walls, past Police Station, to King Alfred Statue roundabout.
• Turn left, and go over little bridge.
• Take first exit off mini-roundabout and go up steep hill signposted Alresford.
• Cross over motorway and school is situated on left.

From London Heathrow:

• Take M3 South and leave at Junction 9.
• From roundabout on top of motorway, take third exit signposted Winnall trading Estate
• Go straight across first roundabout, and about 100 yards down the road, opposite Scats, turn left into Winnall Manor Road.
• As the road bears round to the right, turn left into housing estate (still Winnall Manor Road).
• Drive to end of road and turn left at T junction.
• Cross over motorway and school is situated on left.

From Oxford and Newbury:

• Take A34 South and ignore the first sign to Winchester.
• At junction with M3, follow instructions as above from Winnall.
• From Southampton:

From Southampton:

• From Southampton, take M3 North.
• Take exit 9 for Winchester.
• Take first exit from roundabout on top of motorway signposted Winnall trading Estate.
• Follow directions as above through Winnall.

From Guildford:

• Take A31 to Percy Hobbs roundabout just outside Winchester.
• Take second exit B3404.
• About one mile along this road, the School is situated on the right before crossing over motorway.