Course Director Jane Roberts

This course for string players expands and develops the ideas used by Jane Roberts in her previous CSSM courses in 2007 and 2008 (Novice Strings and Novice Strings+) and in the first, very successful year under this title in 2009.

It will appeal to

b) players who may already play in the Symphony and Chamber orchestras, but who may not have practised systematically for some time or who simply wish to improve their technique sufficiently to play more notes correctly!

The course deals with the techniques necessary for ensemble and orchestral playing, which cannot always be covered by solo lessons and practice; the number and variety of carefully graded parts contained within the works to be studied caters for players of a wide range of abilities.
As well as full sessions, there will be discussions about musicianship, rudiments, sight reading, and other aspects of the techniques required to take part in concerted music making. Sessions will be informal and practical and there will be opportunities for students to play in smaller ensembles.

There will be three sessions daily:

• SESSION 1 The focus of this session will be on improving practice methods and technique, through warm-ups and exercises carried out in an informal, relaxed and encouraging manner.
• SESSIONS 2 & 3 These sessions will largely concentrate on putting technique into action through carefully chosen repertoire with the intention of improving all aspects of ensemble playing.

Students may choose one of three options:

• OPTION 1 attend the course in its entirety. This will appeal to early grade string players who wish to improve all areas of their technical and ensemble playing.
• OPTION 2 To attend Sessions 2 & 3, and play with the String Orchestra in Session 1. This option is mainly intended for players who have previously attended Mrs Roberts' courses and now wish to divide their time between technical work and the practical application of their technique in the String Orchestra's repertoire.
• OPTION 3 To attend the first session each day. This is for members of the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras (which take place in the second and third sessions) who wish to have the opportunity to focus on technique in order that they are better able to cope with the repertoire of their orchestra in Sessions 2 and 3.

Jane Roberts is Head of Strings for the Cyprus Music service. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Institute of Education, London University. She has taught in the Home Counties, North Wales and Germany and is particularly interested in the Kodaly and Orff principles of music teaching. She conducts orchestras and choirs as part of her work and participates in a number of courses every year as conductor, string tutor and as piano accompanist.