Chinook has been involved
with a variety of different
workshops - schools workshops,
composers’ workshops and
workshops / masterclasses
at music college level.
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
