We hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer break! As September begins, we’re excited to welcome you back and to share what’s coming up this autumn. After a short pause in our events programme, we’re returning with a rich line-up of workshops designed to help you grow your skills at the piano – whether you’re looking for practical guidance on repertoire, deeper musical understanding or fresh ideas to transform your sound!
In the coming months you’ll have the chance to:
- Learn a new piece from start to finish with Graham Fitch
- Unlock the secrets of Romantic harmony with Lona Kozik, through Schubert, Chopin and Brahms
- Discover smarter strategies for starting new repertoire with Ken Johansen’s two-part workshop series
- Refine your technique with Fred Karpoff’s groundbreaking Mastering Intermediate Technique course
Here’s a closer look at what’s in store:
Learn a New Piece with Graham Fitch
We’ll be kicking off a brand new initiative giving you the opportunity to learn a new piece with Graham Fitch! The journey starts with an introductory online workshop on Saturday 13th September, where Graham will share practical advice on choosing repertoire that inspires you and supports your development.
Over the following two months, Graham will guide participants through the process of learning and polishing their chosen work, culminating in an opportunity to perform or submit a recording for feedback (entirely optional!). Alongside self-paced content, you’ll have access to interactive workshops, feedback sessions and our supportive community to keep you motivated!
👉 Click here to sign up for the introductory event (Only £25, or £15 for subscribers!).
Unexpected Harmonic Twists and the Romantic Sound World
The third unit of Lona Kozik’s unique music theory course, Harmony History & Style, takes us into the lush sound world of the Romantic period, exploring how Schubert, Chopin and Brahms expanded the harmonic palette, weaving unexpected twists and turns into melodies that speak straight to the heart.
Through guided analysis of three iconic works, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Romantic style – and tools to bring its richness into your own playing.
👉 Find out more and sign up here!
From First Reading to the First Lesson
We’re delighted to welcome Ken Johansen back to our events programme! Ken’s previous workshops on sight-reading and keyboard harmony have been among our most popular and his contributions to the Online Academy library are perennial favourites.
In a new two-part workshop, Deciphering New Pieces, Ken will show how to bridge the gap between the first read-through of a piece and preparing it for the first lesson. Using a variety of works at different levels, he’ll demonstrate how to turn the “code” of the score into meaningful music – while practising effectively from the very start.
👉 Click here for more details and to book your place!
Connecting Movement with Tone
Following the launch of Fred Karpoff’s Mastering Intermediate Technique course in July, new instalments are now available!
Part 1 started by establishing core physical elements – posture, alignment, free fall and “vibrato” motion – that form the groundwork for an integrated, three-dimensional technique. In Part 2, Fred reveals how to connect movement with tone, helping you unlock greater nuance, colour and expression in your playing.
Upcoming units will apply these principles to scales, arpeggios, and repertoire examples – building a truly integrated, three-dimensional technique!
👉 Learn more about the course here or click here for more information on Part 1.
Looking Ahead
We can’t wait to share these exciting events and initiatives with you over the coming months. Whether you’re looking to refine your technique, deepen your understanding of music or gain practical skills for learning repertoire, there’s plenty to inspire you for the rest of the year!
✨ Don’t forget – Online Academy subscribers enjoy 40% off online workshops, along with access to hundreds of video lessons, articles and resources from leading piano teachers, all for as little as £13.99 per month. Click here to find out more or click here to subscribe.