This course is perfect for anyone who wants to develop their accompanying and duo playing skills. Students are helped with advice on all aspects of performance and preparation and are given concert experience (if wished). Pianists may bring along their own repertoire, although they should also prepare one or two movements or songs from the repertoire below.
Instrumentalists, singers and teachers (not necessarily first-study pianists) who wish to gain confidence and proficiency playing piano accompaniments will also find the course particularly helpful and are welcome to select their repertoire from the any of the current ABRSM and Guildhall/Trinity exam syllabuses. Students are also very welcome to attend as a duo or chamber group.
As last year, the class will work closely with some fine and enthusiastic musicians, in cluding cellist Valerie Welbanks (see www.valwelbanks.com), Margaret Dziekonski (violin) and Paul Vowles (Clarinet). We will also be joined by some of the many singers and instrumentalists (staff and students) attending the Summer School.
For further details (further suggestions for violin, cello and vocal repertoire, publishers, voice types, translations, etc.) see www.richardshawpiano.com
For vocal repertoire, pianists (and singers) are asked to select part of their repertoire from the following volumes, whose commentary and accompanying CDs are proving popular and invaluable for singers and pianists alike: The Language of Music (Intermediate and Advanced - with separate volumes for high, medium & low voices), published by Faber Music, and Mary King's Singing in English (high; medium/low), published by Boosey & Hawkes (in their 'The Boosey Voice Coach - learning through repertoire' series). All this repertoire is much in demand, being on the current exam syllabuses and popular on the concert platform too. Singers who would like to have the opportunity of teaming up with pianists on the Art of Accompaniment course are invited to email Richard Shaw with details of their chosen repertoire.
Richard Shaw enjoys an active career as a pianist, specialising in chamber music and accompaniment. He is also Staff Accompanist at the Royal Academy of Music and is frequently heard on BBC Radio 3.