During 2005 there were many requests from adult amateur pianists on the course for a new format in future summer schools at Chetham’s specifically designed for keen, enthusiastic amateur pianists of post-student age upwards. It was suggested that it would be excellent for many of the adults on the course to perform in smaller rooms when their performance slots on the course were scheduled, and that it would be good to have group discussions for the over 30s in addition to the more public masterclasses and large scale events in the big halls.

The 2006 course will have three specific teachers , Sergei Dukachev, Hazel Fanning and Margaret Murray-McLeod , who will each have classes of students who could be described as ‘adult amateur pianists’. Of course this broad description is applicable to a wide range of student, so the classes will be lively, exciting and stimulating. Once enrolled on the adult amateur course, participants will receive three hours of one to one tuition during the week. Additionally, there will be slots for group discussion with all of the other students on this course. In addition to ‘student only’ discussion, other members of the faculty will join the adult groups for broad ranging discussions and question-answer sessions. It is hoped that at least some of these sessions will occur at local restaurants and winebars!

Finally, those on the adult amateur course will have ‘workshop concerts’ in some of the larger teaching rooms (but not one of the halls) so that their fellow course members can listen and be supportive in a sympathetic venue. This is not to exclude those on this particular course from performing in one of the halls if they so wish- it is simply to provide a ‘half way house’ format of performance for those participants who wish to take advantage of the opportunity.

There is every possibility that the 20 available places on the adult course will quickly become full, in which case further teachers will be co-opted to give tuition.

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