Musical Encounters provides advanced coaching for ready-formed chamber ensembles (string or piano based) of undergraduate or post-graduate level. The name of the course encapsulates its ethos: musical encounters with experienced and inspiring musicians.


Coaches

The Brodsky Quartet is a major player at the forefront of international chamber-music scene, and has been performing and recording since 1972.   The players’ obvious love and mastery of the traditional string quartet repertoire, is evident from their recordings of Haydn, Mozart & Beethoven through to their acclaimed recording of all the
Shostakovich string quartets and the chamber music of Ottorino Respighi and Peter Sculthorpe.   Uniquely, though, they have pushed back the boundaries of string quartet playing with exciting new commissions and bold collaborations with Elvis Costello and Björk, musicians who are perhaps better known in the rock and pop fields. It is this fiery passion for exploration and eagerness to embrace “all good       music”, that has been the driving force behind their success and which has kept their approach fresh and their enthusiasm high for 30 years.   Pushing back the boundaries is not confined to their repertoire. While the tradition all over the world is for string quartets to   perform sitting down the Brodsky Quartet plays standing up, making performances a unique experience: "…that they choose to stand when playing drives the music and gives a real edge to their performance. The intensity of concentration and communication between the players reaches out from the stage right into the audience” BBC radio3   The Brodsky Quartet has enjoyed working and performing with some of the world’s most outstanding musicians including Maria Joao Pires, Joanna MacGregor, Dimitri Ashkenazy and Anne Sofie von Otter. Working closely with composers John Tavener, Lutoslawski, Peter Sculthorpe, Django Bates, Julian Nott and Dave Brubeck, has given the quartet an unrivalled opportunity to influence and inspire some of the newest string quartet works. Some of these collaborations can now be heard on CDs from their highly acclaimed discography.   In May 1998 the Brodsky Quartet was presented with a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for an outstanding contribution to the world of music.   The quartet is indebted to the Delfina Studio Trust for its ongoing support and generosity.
Course details
The facilities and daily schedule at Leiston Abbey guarantee an excellent working environment. Each student ensemble has its own rehearsal studio and each player his/her bedroom.  Each group receives three coaching sessions a day and there is always adequate time for rehearsals. After dinner there is an opportunity for each group to perform in an informal concert. The course ends with a public concert given in the Upper Guesten Hall at Leiston Abbey. An appreciative audience is given the chance to hear the wealth of talent that exists in young British ensembles on the verge of their performing careers. Participating ensembles in Musical Encounters courses have included: The Alba Quartet, The Alea Quartet, The Azzura Quartet, The Badke Quartet, The Delphinia Quartet, The Dorato Quartet, The Elysian Quartet, The Harsant Quartet, The Mavron Quartet, The PrinceRegent Quartet, The Sacconi Quartet, The Solstice Quartet, and The Wu String Quartet.       Course Fees  £185 per person           Fees include full board, accommodation and masterclasses.  Please contact Dr Ioan Davies for more information. . Enabling and Empowering Music Practitioners:   PRO CORDA’S NATIONAL MENTORING PROGRAMME    Advanced theory with leading specialists, reinforced with practical experience.           Who benefits?      specialist training for primary music practitioners  specialist training for teaching music to children with special needs  enhanced specialist training for trained music staff who need to develop skills in specific areas             The Programme’s Objectives:     to enable music practitioners and non-specialist music staff to lead sessions such as Dalcroze Eurhythmics and improved Creative Musicianship classes to develop instrumental skills for non specialist staff (eg a primary school teacher who is required to play piano in assembly.) to given enhanced instrumental training to trained staff who need to develop a particular instrumental skill within their job.(eg a HOM who is required to accompany student concerts.) to develop rehearsal and conducting techniques for music staff       How does the programme work?       1)    Mentoring at schools   This is offered through twilight sessions and inset days at schools. Group sessions are held to introduce skills in the following areas:   a)    Dalcroze Eurhythmics Training b)    Keyboard skills, incorporating improvisation c)    Rehearsal techniques for leading instrumental and vocal groups d)    Support for all areas of music National Curriculum teaching   The above can be offered in group sessions or on a one to one level and are ideal for:   Primary school staff who have to lead group singing etc but who have no specialist musical training. SEN school staff, where there is often little specialist musical provision Secondary school staff who have limited keyboard skills but who have to accompany students in concerts All school staff who can use Dalcroze Eurhythmics skills as a teaching technique        Mentoring Courses and Placements at Leiston Abbey . 1)    Two Day Training Course at Leiston Abbey   Training courses use all facilities at pro Corda’s home, Leiston Abbey Each mentoring course can cater for 20 school staff.  Each course draws on leading professionals to provide specialist classes as follows:   Dalcroze Eurhythmics.  Participants are encouraged to develop their use of movement and space in their teaching. These sessions also develop the ability to use instrumental and vocal techniques in leading Dalcroze sessions. Composition teaching.  Participants explore a variety of improvisational and non notational techniques to teach composition and encourage their students to be creative. Instrumental classes develop participant’s own instrumental techniques. National Curriculum sharing sessions. These sessions follow a seminar format and encourage open debate and flowing of ideas about teaching methods within all aspects of the national curriculum for music. Each course will incorporate a guest lecturer with particular expertise in a specific area such as vocal technique/opera workshops/ music history. Rehearsal sessions. Role play scenarios using all course participants provide the basis for these classes where issues of rehearsal techniques for school groups (including conducting techniques) are explored.   2) Each course participant will then have the opportunity to take up a two day teaching placement on a Pro Corda course. On offer will be the following courses from Pro Corda’s extensive annual programme:   Core chamber music courses catering for age 8 – 13 Pro Corda Plus Opera and  Pro Corda Plus Music Theatre Year 6 residential courses SEN courses Arts Enrichment Workshops Early Years Programme   Placement teachers will receive a coaching fee and full board accommodation. The real life situations and intense residential environment will form the perfect basis for the skills developed on the 2 day course to be developed.   How do I book for Pro Corda’s Mentoring Programmme?   Many teachers will be funded by their schools or LEA’s. Schools and individuals can book a mentoring course by contacting the Pro Corda Office. We will then provide details of the next available course and send a booking form.   Fees for the “Mentoring at Schools Programme” are £500 per session.  Fees for the two day residential course are £400.   Contact: By phone: 01728 831354                By email: mail@procorda.com