I'm a middle-aged beginner at the 'cello having started about nine months ago.

I took my courage in both hands and booked a place on the Oxford Cello School "Alpine" course at Chatel on the Swiss Border of France. The week commences on 22nd May. I wondered if any forum members are attending and/or have attended in the past and have useful tips or insights to share about the course?

Scratcher

I haven't been on the Alpine course, but I have been on Oxford Cello School a couple of times, on the Performance course. I really enjoyed it - the teachers are fabulous and very down to earth, the location was great, and there were masses of opportunities both for traditional musicmaking (orchestras, chamber music...) and for the more wacky stuff - African drumming, improvisation and conducting!

I'm glad you've taken the plunge - the only tip I'd have would be that you should go prepared to try everything and anything, and feel secure about playing in front of people - there are all sorts of levels, and it's always friendly!

Thank you cellocase for the reply. I understand that the Alpine course is much more relaxed than the Oxford one. It is solely for 25+ years of age and I gather that the bar figures largely in the evening programme of activities (hurrah!). I am, as Beecham so famously might have said, willing to try everything once except incest and folk dancing!

Scratcher

That sounds like fabulous fun... I love the Alpine (bar) part.


*makes mental note to start learning the cello.......*


Just joking! .. but I wish I could take Pan and Martha to an Alpine school!

I would love to hear how you get on. I have looked several times at the Oxford school and always chickened out because I am very much an adult amateur player who doesn't even take exams still less perform. I love the idea of a relaxed Alpine adventure with my cello though . . .please do share your experiences and safe travels for you both!

One of my work colleagues, who took up the cello in his mid 40s, and is "very much an adult amateur player" has attended the Oxford course many times. Some years ago I accompanied my daughter to the junior course. As an exception to their usual rule I was allowed to stay as my daughter was so small. The adult course happened at the same time. My daughter did not enjoy the junior course for various reasons, but the adults seemed to have a great time, and the ones we spoke to were mostly people who had taken up the cello relatively late in life, just because it was something they always wanted to do. They clearly loved their cellos but I doubt they saw themselves as "performers"!

Thanks for the replies. I was encouraged by chatting to Kwesi Edman to try the course. He is a professional cellist who I met at a weekend course at Crantock Bay in Cornwall at the end of February and he was inspiring.

It turns out that he will be teaching on the Alpine course and I look forward to seeing him again not least because it is his round!

I will post a report and maybe some photos in due course

Scratcher

I think I remember Swisscello talking about a cello course in the Alps and comparing it to the Oxford cello course.

Yes, and here I am.

You don't need to worry about 'performing' there are those who do an those who don't (both worry and/or perform). There is always the opportunity (in the Alps) for an informal concert of solos but its perfectly OK not to perform if you don't want to perform. It has varied from year to year as to whether there is an end of course concert (cello orchestra only as far as I can remember, certainly not student solos) in deference to those who don't like performing. (In Oxford it is called a 'play through' there is rarely any audience except the odd offspring on the junior course or exam course - in France we might get an audience ot 10 or 20.)

I've found the Alpine Course good for a personal project (no family, peace and quiet and usually help on hand - there are optional afternoon excursions, but mostly I've used that time for myself as I know the area anyway). A couple of years ago I was preparing a piece for the Geneva Festival at the end of June, last year I was taking my grade 5 theory immedately after the course.

Location idyllic, food excellent, very informal (hopefuly staff can be persuaded to play in the evennnig at least once - usually drinking at the same time!) Kwesi and others are inspiring.

I'll be there (though not at Oxford this year).

That is very encouraging to hear - I think my time to explore the courses may be coming . . .there is much to make a self-conscious adult cellist ponder on this thread!

I think I should make it clear that I have only been playing for about nine months, have a tin ear and am completely unhampered by any talent. Notwithstanding these difficulties it seems to me I should be able to enjoy myself and not be a hindrance to anyone else on the course.

My two day course at Crantock Bay was very enjoyable and, hopeless as I was. I learned something and met some interesting people. Having met Kwesi and read the post from Swisscello I have high hopes for the Alpine course.

Scratcher

p.s. You might be interested in the Crantock Bay course for next Feb':

http://www.crantockbayhotel.co.uk/cgi-bin/...ipt.pl?record=7

Oooh, I hadn't even heard of the Crantock Bay course and it is in one of my most favourite parts of the world. I think it would definitely be something to aim for next February . . .thanks so much for bringing it to my attention.

Could I just be pesky and ask a couple of questions - how large were the groups and do you know how soon one has to book?

This looks brilliant - I wish they ran the same thing for violin or viola...


..either that or I take up the cello..

Why not talk to a group of fellow players about starting your own weekend? Many of the better hotels in Devon & Cornwall would welcome a party out of season. Teachers could be found locally or travel with your group. You could perhaps float the idea on this forum to test interest.

As to the Crantock Bay course the groups were self-selected by the students so some sessions were quite busy and others had only two or three people in them. The teaching was of a very high order indeed and the welcome even to duffer like me was very warm. The food wasn't bad either!

I booked only about two months prior to the last course but I think I was one of the last as the hotel appeared to be completely full (the course had exclusive use of the hotel for the weekend) of cellists and some non-playing partners.

Scratcher