Music courses – application form

Required Playing Standards

It is very important that you assess your current playing standard as accurately as possible.  Assessing playing standards is not (and cannot be) an exact science, and the grade system established by the Associated Board and other examiners is at best an approximate guide.

Please use the guidelines below to help you make this assessment:

Elementary standard players: AB* grades 3-5
You need to be reasonably fluent and confident with fairly straightforward music in keys of up to three sharps or flats, and play reasonably well in tune with some dynamic contrast. In these sessions parts may be doubled in some pieces. Clarinets only require B flat instruments, horn parts will be in F.

Intermediate standard players: AB* grades 6-8
Good fluency is needed in a range of music which will involve some technical challenges and may be in keys of up to five sharps or flats. Good tuning, tone production, dynamic range and articulation will be required. The music will normally be played one-to-a-part, unless there is a special reason to do otherwise. Clarinets normally only require B flat instruments. Horn players may be required to do basic transpositions.

Advanced standard players: Above AB* grade 8 / diploma standard
Fluency in all keys is essential, as many of the pieces in these courses are technically and musically demanding. As well as excellent diploma-standard tuning, tone production, extreme dynamics, and a wide range of articulation speeds and characters, players will also need to be able to cope with occasional rhythmic and counting complexities. These sessions will be one player to a part, unless otherwise specified for a particular musical reason. Clarinettists require B flat and A instruments, alternative instruments (e.g. piccolo, bass clarinet, etc.) may be required (please check for details), and horn players need to be proficient in all the normal transpositions.

What NOT to do:

Under-assess yourself ‘just to play safe’ – if you’re happy to play easier parts, that’s fine, but if you want to play up to your level and meet a suitable level of challenge, please follow the guidelines above.

Over-assess yourself ‘just to get to play with the best players’ or ‘to get to play the best music’. This can and does cause problems and can be embarrassing for you and others in the group. Make your challenge a realistic one – be confident that you are applying for a course of the right standard according to the specific requirements listed above. If you are uncertain, please check with Laurence Perkins before applying.

* approximate playing standards based on Associated Board (ABRSM) examination grades

Terms and Conditions

Applications:
Applications are on a 'first-come, first-served’ basis, unless otherwise stated in the course details on the Wind Serenades webpage. You will be advised as to availability of a place on your selected course. A place on a course is only confirmed once you have received written confirmation and paid the required deposit.
For Higham Hall courses:
If there is a place for you, you will receive an email offering you a place on the course. The administration at Higham Hall will then contact you separately for payment of deposit, and (nearer the date of the course) the balance. Your place will be confirmed, subject to prompt payments of deposit and balance (see ‘Payments’ below).
For courses in other venues:
If there is a place for you, you will be invited to pay a deposit. Once your deposit is received, you will receive confirmation of your place on the course, along with details of when the balance is to be paid. If you do not pay your deposit within 14 days of receiving a confirmation, your place may be offered to another player.

Payments (for courses in all venues):
Deposits and balance payments must be paid within the timeframe specified in your course details. If you do not pay within the specified period, your place may go to another player and any deposit previously paid for that course will not be refundable. What the course fee covers is as specified on the course details.

Cancellation: For courses at Higham Hall, please refer to their Terms and Conditions https://highamhall.com/information/ For Wind Serenades courses in other locations, in the unfortunate event of having to cancel your place on a course for any reason, your deposit will not be refundable. Cancellations are often at short notice when it can be difficult to find a replacement player, so this reduces the loss incurred by Wind Serenades in the event of having to invite a student player who would not be able to pay the course fee. It also ensures that ensembles are complete, for the sake of every other player on that course. The Course Director's decision will be final in all instances. Bookings are made on this basis. In all instances, you are strongly recommended to take out suitable travel insurance that will cover you should you have to cancel. In the event of a course having to be cancelled by the Course Director, as much notice as possible will be given to applicants, but liability in any event is strictly limited to a full refund of the course fee. Applications are only accepted on this basis.

Young players: Players under the age of 18 may apply for places on non-residential day courses within the U.K., subject to written and signed authorisation from a parent or guardian. The presence of a parent or guardian throughout the course may be required. Acceptance of under-18 applications is at the discretion of the Course Director. Players under 18 will not be accepted on residential courses.

Instruments and personal safety: Health and safety are always top priorities at all course venues, but applications are only accepted on the basis that you accept full responsibility for your own personal health and safety throughout the duration of the course. You are also entirely responsible for the safety of your own musical instrument(s). Please ensure that you have adequate insurance cover in these respects, and that you know the specific requirements of your insurance and observe them throughout the course. Applications are only accepted on this basis.

Disabled players: Every effort will be made to meet the specific needs of any player. Please enquire with the Course Director well in advance of the course date concerning the suitability of any particular venue for access, etc.

Change of details: Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that each course runs as planned, it may be necessary to change details without notice. In the event of a course being cancelled (with or without notice), liability is strictly limited to a full refund of the amount already paid by each individual applicant. Players make their applications on this basis.

Please ask! The intention is for you to have a really enjoyable and satisfying music-making experience. If you are unsure about any aspect of this course, please do not hesitate to ask!