Preparatory Course

The PREPARATORY course introduces young children to the chamber music repertoire though coaching by experienced and enthusiastic teachers. It also includes a Young Music Makers non residential scheme, aimed at introducing 5-8 year old string players to the joys of making music together.

In chamber music coaching sessions two works are studied and performed.

Musicianship classes cover a variety of topics including History, Composition, Improvisation, Form and Performance Exercises.

Dalcroze Eurhythmics addresses musicianship through a holistic approach engaging the whole body through movement.

Choral Singing provides natural aural training for young musicians. Works are prepared and performed on each course.

In Orchestra students learn the disciplines of rehearsing and performing as members of a larger string group.

Each course ends with an Open Day of workshops and concerts, and on summer courses there is a Cream Tea Concert. All students perform in at least one concert

Course Director

Maureen Parrington

Maureen Parrington won a scholarship to study piano and violin at the Royal College of Music with Bernard Roberts and Frances Mason She participated in Master Classes given by Paul Tortelier; Igor Ozim and Arthur Balsam. She was an official accompanist for the R.C.M. Junior Dept. for nine years and works as a free-lance pianist, accompanying string players and playing Chamber music. She was a member of the Snape Maltings Chamber Orchestra and toured with “London Contemporary Dance” for a number of years. She is a Course Director at "Pro Corda" (The National School for Young Chamber Music Players), devising and running courses for young string players and pianists. She has been on the staff of the “National Youth Strings Academy” since it started in 1995 and also teaches at Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Boys in Elstree.

Maureen Parrington


Sample Repertoire
Coperario Gurlitt Haydn Hewitt Jones Hummel Kodaly Legg Mazas Mozart Pleyel Stoker	Four Part Fancy Piano Trio in C Major String Quartets: Op 1 No 3: Op 9 No 6 Six Landler Spider’s Dance Three Miniatures Gavotte German Dance String Quartet in D Major String Quartets: K80: K 156: K157: K 168: K169 Quartettino Easy String Quartets