Full Info

Accommodation

Accommodation costs are included in the course fee: see Cost for details.

Age/Standard

There is no specific minimum or maximum age. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. We welcome players of a variety of standards, including professional. As a guide, a standard of grade 6/7+ ABRSM is recommended, although experience of playing chamber music is every bit as important, and it may vary from instrument to instrument – please enquire if you are not sure.

Chamber Music

This is a string chamber music course. You can come in a pre-existing group (or a group formed especially for this course), or you can come as an individual and we will put you into an appropriate group. On occasions it may be necessary to add an individual to a pre-existing group. In addition we will, during the course, look into the possibility of swapping group members around for one session – this would only be after discussion with you, the players.

We have seven rooms which we can use for music, hence there will be a maximum of seven chamber groups on the course.

The main pieces for the week are:

• Mozart: 3 Divertimenti K.136-138
• Beethoven: 6 String Quartets Op.18
• Ethel Smyth: String Quartets in E minor and C minor
• Franz Schubert: String Trio in B Flat Major D.581
• Boccherini: String Quintet in E Op.11.5 

It would be beneficial to look at one or more of those pieces in advance, and please bring parts for at least one of them with you.

In addition, you are welcome to bring music that you want to work on. We may suggest other things to you from within our library, or indeed you could choose to use the library to play different music.

You will notice on the schedule that there are two orchestral sessions: these will be to play some string orchestra music, and to help you learn some of the key differences between orchestral and chamber music playing. The music will not be difficult, and will be announced in due course

Each chamber music group will receive a daily coaching session from a member of the Alkyona Quartet or from Peter Fender: this group of five teachers will rotate around the groups, so each group will received at least one session with each person. The coaching will be tailored to meet the group’s needs.

Please bring a music stand.

Climate

April temperature is usually from about 8 to 20 degrees. It certainly could feel chilly in the mornings/evenings. Rain is possible, but unlikely in large quantities.

Communication

Because we are all staying in the same place communication will be made via an information board, and announcements at meals and other events. In addition, we will ask you for your mobile phone number, so that we can create a group messaging system. This can prove useful in getting information out to everyone quickly.

‘Concert’

On the Saturday there will be the opportunity to play through some of the music you have been working on during the week. This won’t be a formal concert, but an informal play-through. There’s no need to bring concert dress.

Course Fee

Please note that your place is not secured until you have paid the full course fee, and that the fee must be paid within two weeks of receiving an offer.

Refer to the Cost page for details of the amount to pay. 

Customs

If you are bringing an instrument with you: does it contain a rare material that could be restricted?  For example, a bow with some ivory.  If possible it’s best to avoid these materials entirely, but if you can’t, then take with you some sort of proof of purchase and ownership, and have a look at this webpage: Musicians Union: rare materials

It’s unlikely that you would have a problem, but it’s not impossible …

Dates

The course dates are Monday 7 to Saturday 12 April, with the first ‘event’ being dinner on the Monday (followed by an initial chamber music session), and the final event is the play-through concert on the Saturday evening. Hence you will arrive on the Monday and leave on the Sunday. It may be possible to arrive after 7 April – please enquire.

Excursion

There will be an excursion to Lucca organised during the week (see the Schedule below). Transport will be in a small bus, the cost of which is covered in your fee, but any expenses you incur during the day (including lunch) are your own responsibility.

Facebook

There is a Facebook group for the Peter’s courses, which you are welcome to join if you have signed up to come, or have been in a previous year:

Facebook Group

Food

Three meals will be provided each day in the Academy dining room (with the exception of the day in Lucca, where lunch is your responsibility). Coffee and water are included, but wine costs extra. Please let us know of any dietary requirements that you may have.

Language

Although the principal language will be English, we may have some Italians with us, in which case we would work in both English and Italian. It may be possible to accommodate German and French speakers – please enquire.

If you speak any Italian the Academy staff, and any Italian musicians, will be delighted! But if you speak no Italian it will not at all be a problem.

Large Instruments: cellos

It is not possible to hire cellos (or, indeed, any instruments).  So, cellists are eligible for financial help with the cost of transporting their instrument, up to £75 per cello.

Mobility

If you have mobility problems please let us know.  Unfortunately, the venue is not suitable for anyone in a wheelchair.

Problems etc

As we are all staying in the same place, it should be straightforward to sort out any problems that occur. In the first instance ask Peter, or a representative of the Montegral Academy.

Relaxation

There are rooms and spaces where you can sit quietly, and there is also a table tennis table and a table football table. Perhaps we will organise a tournament …!

Schedule

Please note: this is a draft schedule and is to be confirmed. Within your chamber groups you could agree to do longer or shorter sessions – as long as you keep Peter informed, as he and the members of the Alkyona Quartet will have a schedule for visiting each group.

Breakfast: 8-9.30am
Lunch: 1-2pm (except Thursday)
Dinner: 7-8pm

Monday:
19.00 ‘welcome’ dinner / 20.45-21.45 chamber music session 1 
Tuesday:
10.00-10.30 general musicianship 1 / 10.30-12.00 chamber music session 2 / 16.00-18.00 chamber music session 3 /
20.45-21.45 string orchestra session 1 
Wednesday:
10.00-10.30 general musicianship 2 / 10.30-12.00 chamber music session 4 / 16.00-18.00 chamber music session 5 /
20.45-21.45 lecture-recital 1 (Beethoven Op.18.1)
Thursday:
trip to Lucca / 20.45-21.45 string orchestra session 2 
Friday:
10.00-10.30 general musicianship 3 / 10.30-12.00 chamber music session 6 / 16.00-18.00 chamber music session 7 /
20.45-21.45 lecture-recital 2 (Ethel Smyth C minor)
Saturday:
10.00-10.30 general musicianship 4 / 10.30-12.00 chamber music session 8 / 16.00-18.00 chamber music session 9 /
20.45-22.15 play-through ‘concert’
Sun: Breakfast and goodbyes!

Strings etc

There is at least one music shop in Lucca where you could get strings and so forth.  However, it could be tricky to get to the shop – you’d probably need to get a taxi.  You could of course go there on our day trip to Lucca.  But it would be best to bring spare strings etc with you!

Travel

NB You must book and pay for your own travel.

The full address is:

Convento dell’Angelo,
Via Tramonte 2530,
I-55100 Ponte a Moriano
Lucca

1. By train

To start with have a look at getting to Florence: Seat61-Florence

Then here (further down the same page) for getting to Lucca: Seat61-Lucca

The Final Stage: Although the nearest station is Ponte a Moriano (a 10 minute train ride from Lucca) it’s not easy to get to the Academy from there. There are no taxis there: I have walked it – an hour and a half uphill, lovely countryside, but no good if you’ve got much luggage!  Better will be to get a taxi from Lucca station (likely to cost €25-30).  NB: we are looking into hiring a small bus to collect people from Lucca station, for which there would be a small charge (the exact amount would depend on how many people use it).  We will also hire a bus for the day of departure to get back to Lucca station.  

The Seat61 website has all the information you will need, it’s wonderfully comprehensive, and has lots of useful photos.  Suffice to say that I really recommend travelling by train (I’ve travelled to Italy that way a good number of times). It does, of course, take longer, but, for one thing, you get to go through the Alps, which is wonderful.  And for another, you don’t have to worry so much about the amount of luggage you have (i.e. it’s particularly great for cellists!).  If you book well ahead, the prices are not steep either.  I’m very happy to have a chat with anyone who would like to know more.  

2. By car

We will be a few kilometres north of Lucca, just off the SS12 road. Lucca is located on the A11 highway which runs west from Florence to Pisa and the Versilia coast.

There are parking spaces available at the Academy. 

3. By air

NB: Please ensure you know what your airline’s restrictions are on carrying musical instruments. Many airlines now charge extra, for example, to carry something the size of a violin.

Booking early is always the best money-saving option, but one other way of flying cheaply may be to change at somewhere like Milan or Rome.  

You will be informed if there are other participants on the same flight as you.

Pisa airport is closest, followed by Florence. Please note that you can reach each airport by a variety of airlines (especially if you are prepared to change planes). Car hire is possible at both airports.  

Travelling by train to Lucca is easy from both Pisa and Florence airports.  From Pisa you take the monorail into the town and then a train to Lucca from Pisa Central station, it takes 40-50 minutes.  From Florence airport there’s a shuttle tram into the city, it takes you close to the main station (Santa Maria Novella), and then you get a train from there to Lucca, taking about 1hr 40mins or a bit more. 

For the final stage, getting from Lucca to the Academy, please refer to the above paragraph ‘The Final Stage’, under ‘By train’.

Travel problems

If you have any travel problems do please keep us informed (we will also help if at all possible). You will be given relevant contact phone numbers in due course.