Student workshops

These can be tackled in a number of different ways -:

A) Working with a large group, much like an orchestral format, with one member of Chinook directing and the others interspersed around the group. This group can then be split up for sectional rehearsals.

B) Several different clarinet quartets or clarinet choirs each directed by individual members of Chinook. There is a lot of repertoire to cover all abilities. During rehearsals invaluable information about musical interpretations, rehearsal techniques, group management and presentation take place. Chinook is also available to do public masterclasses. This generally works best with more experienced students, maybe 6th form students upwards.

A performance of the pieces that the students have studied would then be encouraged at the end of the day, if possible.

Composers Workshops

Chinook has been involved in many composition workshops with composers of all ages and abilities e.g. school children working towards GCSE and A' level compositions at Chelmsford Cathedral Festival, degree students at Strathclyde University and amateur/professional musicians exploring composition at Canford Summer School of Music.

Each composer should have their piece composed (with clear score and set of parts) before the workshop day so that Chinook are able to rehearse the piece with the composer allowing time for discussion about writing for the clarinet. The pieces may then be improved upon with the close help of members of Chinook and are then usually performed or at least recorded for the composer. Chinook have a large selection of the more popular members of the clarinet family that they are very willing to demonstrate should composers not be familiar with the different instruments.

Chinook have been involved in a composers forum at Colchester Institute. The composer in residence there is Alan Bullard and he set 20 of his composition students the task of composing a small section of one piece following certain guide lines such as key and tempo. These were then joined together to make four substantial movements for our quartet. This seemed like a strange concept but it worked really well.

'It was a fantastic opportunity to be able to workshop material with a professional level group.'
Lise Vaugeois, Composition Workshop, Canford Summer School of Music.

Tuition

Each member of Chinook also teaches on a private basis. The exam success rate of our students is high with a number of our pupils also being accepted into specialist music schools, Universities and Music Colleges. Learning to play the clarinet (or saxophone) with a member of Chinook can be great fun as such a wide variety of performance styles can be covered with a very enthusiastic approach. If you would be interested in lessons and can travel to either Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge, Watford or London then feel free to contact us at - chinookquartet@hotmail.com