Piano Holiday with Graham Fitch in breathtaking French countryside

Take part in a piano course in the French Pyrenees this summer

 At Saint Laurent, 21-28 July 2018

A message from hosts Geoff & Penny Douglas:

This course will be centred around the piano, but our aim is to also enjoy what the local area has to offer – its cuisine and wine, as well as the beautiful countryside (there will be the opportunity for walking or resting as desired). Numbers will be restricted to 10 participants, with classes focussed on performance and practising skills. Participants should be of intermediate to advanced level, and will need to bring three pieces from the classical repertoire that they have prepared to a fluent level (memorisation is not required). The daily classes will be conducted in a pleasant, friendly, supportive and non-competitive atmosphere. Digital practice pianos will be available. 

Saint Laurent is the venue for this piano holiday. It is situated on 27 hectares (66 acres) of land, with breath-taking views of the countryside and the Pyrenees. The fully refurbished 600 sq metre farmhouse boasts 4 apartments and extensive common space. The apartments at Saint Laurent have kitchens. There is a performance area, which can accommodate up to 60 people, with a Kawai RX2 grand piano. There is also a small swimming pool.

Le Bernet is 2km away. Perched on one of the slopes of the Volvestre, this former sheepfold awaits you at the end of a small path, and offers another breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside and the Pyrenees. This accommodation has a beautiful swimming pool, and includes a grand piano.

Graham Fitch is a regular contributor to Pianist magazine, with articles on technique, style and performance. His exclusive video lessons on the Pianist TV channel have received thousands of viewings worldwide.

Here's just one of his lessons on the basics of pedalling: 

Graham is a much sought-after teacher of piano in London. He maintains an international career not only as a pianist, but also as a teacher, adjudicator, examiner, lecturer, writer and commentator on piano playing and musical subjects. His workshops and classes, which he gives all over the world, have received high praise for their creative and illuminating approach to the subject. He is a principal tutor for the Piano Teachers’ Course UK, Britain’s flagship training programme for piano teachers. He is also a tutor at Jackdaws and the Summer School for Pianists in Walsall, and gives regular workshops for pianists and teachers in London. He was recently commissioned by Trinity College of Music to write the teaching notes for a series of graded piano pieces, Raise the Bar, and for the new piano syllabus (advanced grades).

Find out how to attend this summer