all about the cello - teaching, workshops, courses and looking after yourself & your cello.
calendar of cello courses/workshops
Cellist, cello teacher, course maker, author & adjudicator
"In brief: I'm a Royal College of Music graduate. I have had a lot of variety
in my career and have worked as a free-lance orchestral player, in cabaret, in a string group, with pop groups as a session musician, as an author and course creator... but first and last, I'm a teacher."
"My passion is the cello and all things to do with it. I love playing it for myself and for others. I love teaching others to share this passion."
"I've recently started ajudicating at festivals, such as Chichester 2010 - a different form of teaching from lessons and courses - but it's wonderful to meet & encourage all sorts of young musicians."
My scores for cellists: 'Unsung Heroes'
'Unsung Heroes', my ensemble workshop has really hit the right note for cellists of all levels. I'm therefore moving into in-house publication and am very happy to announce that the first volume of Unsung Heroes was published in May 2009.
The collection contains ten varied scores by Byrd, Tallis and Dowland and others. The majority are for four parts, but there are also scores for three and five parts so your group can double some parts where necessary.
There are helpful musical and technical notes on each piece. The format is very user-friendly and the scores sit well on a music stand with a good ring binding. The cover is another stunning image by Max Carrington.
This would make a brilliant present for a cellist friend. And, if you are looking for Renaissance or Baroque sheet music for your ensemble, then look no further!
You can see more details and order this book from this website right now!
Teaching the cello
"I teach children, teenagers and adults from very varied backgrounds & with a wide range of skill levels. Some have had learning difficulties such as dyspraxia and dyslexia. I teach all pupils how to read so they can play with others as soon as possible"
"I have found that strong technique is vital. But I also encourage my students to develop their own 'musical voice' and to use it in the way that gives them the most satisfaction."
"One pupil is combining cello playing with his circus performance and another is a folk musician. Others are playing in orchestras, chamber groups and pop groups of various kinds. I love this mixture."
Cello workshops
The idea behind cellocourses.com is you, the whole cellist and your development. What we offer is open to cellists of all ages and abilities.
The two workshops address your key areas of development as an instrumentalist and musician - our practice and performance. We all need to put a spotlight on what is and isn't happening both inside and outside ourselves. We don't "practice" in our lessons, nor can we really "perform" in them, but we certainly need to learn about how to develop both of these skills. Students are now returning to both of these classes.
The Practice workshops are graded according to your age and level of achievement. We have no grading system in the Performance workshop though. If you want to learn more, come!
Cello Courses
There are two courses:
Unsung Heroes Cello Ensemble Course and Workshops appeal to teenagers and adults. Last year's Summer Course mixed students from the age of 13 to their 50's. At the last 1 - day workshop some had been playing for 30 years, others a matter of months. This works because the writing allows for this.
The new cellists were surprised at seeing themselves playing in an ensemble so soon. They thought it would be years before they could join a group. It is just this notion that was behind the idea: as a teacher, I wanted my students to play fabulous music as soon as possible with others. Here's the answer! Take a look at what students have said about this course on the Ensemble Page.
Inside Out aims to help primarily GCSE students with their composition skills, but has had enquiries from people just wanting to develop their writing regardless of exams.
So take a good look and if you have any questions, do get in touch with me.
'Getting the bigger picture' - performance
1 day workshop in Lewes - discover and develop more of your presentation and performance skills. Learn how to overcome fears in a non-stressful environment, and leave with a new sense of enjoyment.
Each time this workshop is run it will be different, so you can return again and again.
'Thinking Aloud' - practice
1 day workshop in Lewes to refresh your approaches to practising. Lewes [teens/adults long & short-term learners, children to 12 years].
'Unsung Heroes' - ensemble
6 day summer course & new 1 day workshop in Lewes. Wonderful Renaissance and Baroque music for a wide range of abilities.
download new events list
'Inside out' - GCSE Music Composition
2 day course for GCSE Music composition in Lewes which supplements and develops the compositional part of the examination - open to all instrumentalists.
Cello Workshop/Course Calendar
- Owing to unforseen circumstances, Catherine has had to cancel the summer school and her courses until winter. She is planning to restart the series in 2011. Please check back around December when we will repost with the latest news.
- However, she will soon [august/september] be updating the ensemble, practice and performance workshop pages. There are new ideas that will expand each course and Unsung Heroes Summer Course in 2011 is going to be greatly developed. The ensemble workshops series that was to have taken place this year will be run from early next year.