Growing Chamber Groups and Small Ensembles
CourseConductingChamber musicIntermediate
Part ofConducting

Growing Chamber Groups and Small Ensembles

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Duration26m
Modules8
LevelIntermediate
LanguageEnglish

Lesson Plan (0h 26m)

About this course

This course is for music teachers and ensemble coaches who want to bring small groups to life once the repertoire is in place, using the approach Pro Corda has developed over years of chamber coaching. A small ensemble here means anything from a string quartet or piano trio to mixed wind and brass.

It is led by Annabel Thwaite, award-winning pianist and Director of Core Courses and the Junior Course at Pro Corda. Working with one of her junior ensembles on camera, she shows how to build a unified group sound, use body language and breath to lead entries, study a score together, and run games like "Follow my leader" that add spontaneity to rehearsals.

You will come away with practical tips and activities to make rehearsals more interactive and to help your players listen and respond to one another, so the music speaks beyond the notes.

Who it's for

  • Music teachers running school chamber groups
  • Returning amateur players coaching small ensembles again
  • Intermediate musicians who want livelier rehearsals

What you'll learn

  • Shape a unified ensemble sound across players
  • Use body language and breath to lead entries
  • Run rehearsal games that spark genuine interaction

What you'll need

  • An existing small ensemble with repertoire in place
  • A quiet space to rehearse and review films
  • A few minutes most days to plan sessions

Meet the Guru

Annabel Thwaite

Annabel Thwaite

Recognised as one of Britain's most versatile and charismatic pianists, Annabel Thwaite enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, educator and examiner, and has won all the major accompanying prizes, including the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier, Gold Medal, and Richard Tauber Piano Prizes. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, David Kempster and "Only Men Aloud!"

Annabel has recorded for Universal records with the "Scottish Tenor", whose album was nominated for a Classical Brit Award and is regularly played on Classic FM. Twice the accompanist for the Festival of Welsh Male choirs, her performances at the Royal Albert Hall were recorded by Sain and have been aired on S4C. She is also a film session pianist, having recorded at Abbey Road the music for the film "Awake", the BBC Jane Austen series "Emma", "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister" and, most recently, she has appeared on both Blue Peter and "The Rob Brydon Show".

"...no doubt helped by the obviously brilliant piano accompaniments from Annabel Thwaite...highly enjoyable."

In her MusicGurus courses - Learn Christmas Classics on Piano, Learn Classical Favourites on Piano, and Growing Chamber Groups and Small Ensembles - Annabel shares the musicianship behind that versatile career. You will learn how to bring well-loved Christmas and classical pieces to life at the piano, develop your touch and phrasing, and, drawing on her award-winning experience as an accompanist, discover how to listen, lead and play together when making music with other musicians in chamber groups and small ensembles.

Published with

Pro Corda

Pro Corda is a music education charity founded in 1969 by Pamela Spofforth MBE and Elizabeth Hewlins MBE, dedicated to teaching young people the art and practice of chamber music. It is the largest organisation of its kind in the UK and is widely regarded as the country's centre of excellence for ensemble training.

Pro Corda

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