Key funding for pianists old and new

Beginner piano lessons and piano surgeries for lapsed players

Posted on 16.10.09

Funding has been secured by hcmf to launch a new adult learning project based around playing piano. With money from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Transformation Fund, a multi-strand programme of workshops, music-making and online resources has been created to tie in with the hcmf 2009 performance of Kristoffer Zegers’ Piano Phasing. Partners for the project are Kirklees Council Adult Learning and Skills Team, Hoot and the University of Huddersfield.

The project is aimed at both adults who have learnt a musical instrument in the past but have stopped playing, and those who would like to learn but have not had the opportunity, particularly those in areas of social and economic deprivation. The first two strands launch this month and are weekly beginners’ piano workshops and monthly keyboard surgeries for lapsed players.

The beginners’ workshops will focus on both piano technique and the creation of original music, culminating in a public performance in March 2010. At the evening keyboard surgeries, University of Huddersfield staff will provide tailored teaching to each player. It is hoped that the sessions will be a starting point for participants to form their own informal groups of piano learners.

In addition, learners from both groups will be invited to become some of the 50 pianists who will perform Piano Phasing on 25 massed pianos at hcmf 2009.

The project’s online element will feature a series of learning resources that will not only support people taking part in the workshops and surgeries, but also remote learners wishing to play in the Piano Phasing performance. The web material will include multimedia demonstrations by both tutors and learners; podcast interviews with composers and pianists; exercises and games; downloadable parts for Piano Phasing and information and links about new music for piano. These resources will available online from the hcmf website at the start of November.

The final part of the project will be the Keyboard Choreography Collection, a week-long music and dance project for both adults and children, led by Hugh Nankivell and scheduled for February 2010.

For more information about the project or if you would like to take part in the performance of Piano Phasing, please contact Heidi Johnson on 01484 471116 or click here to email.