The Clarinet Web Site

The Clarinet Summer School 2011

The Clarinet Summer School 2012 group

“What a brilliant Summer School – I’ve learnt loads and come home inspired and determined to practice really hard and, hopefully, return next year!”
Adrian Place on Facebook August 2011.

Well what more can I say except - RESULT!

In our 14th year, The Clarinet Summer School enjoyed a return to its origins in Liverpool Hope University’s Hope Park Campus. Things have changed a bit since 1997, all for the better. Everyone attending the course enjoyed great surrounding and great food, and most importantly, great friendship from all, students and tutors alike.

We all felt comfortable enough to get down to some serious work and pleasure in playing the clarinet, and finding many ways to improve.

Thanks go to all the staff at Hope who were friendly and helpful, my personal thanks to Gemma Ellis, for all her help in setting up the arrangements for the course which all ran smoothly. We were also grateful to CASS for their financial support.

It was great to have Wolfgang Lohff on hand for his advice and practical help, and a huge thank you to Francesco Paolo (Chicco) Scola for his amazing enthusiasm and wonderful playing which inspired all who heard him. The final thanks go to the students on this year’s course who made our job easy and enjoyable.

Do check out the Facebook page, The Clarinet Summer School 2011, to see some more of the pictures from the course.

We are already planning next year’s course so keep checking this site for details and book early to avoid disappointment!

Andrew Roberts, Course Director

Past students have enjoyed past courses, here is what they have to say...

“IThere isn't much Andrew Roberts doesn't know about the mechanics of the clarinet and how to play it. At the annual Clarinet Summer School in Liverpool he shares this knowledge with enthusiasm and generosity. I have been to four Summer Schools and always come away energised and with lots of ideas about how to improve my playing. More recently his Clarinet Service provided an excellent service.”
Jenny Dale, New Mills

“Andrew, I have finally have a few minutes since returning home to send a short email to you regarding the Summer School. I can't thank you enough for a wonderful week of meeting new people and focusing in on clarinet specific issues in a way that I have never experienced before.
I have taken away a great deal of knowledge and information which has increased my clarinet-playing skills incredibly. I can hear a substantial difference in my sound compared to how I played before attending the course.
Thanks again for a wonderful experience and I look forward to being able to attend another Summer School whenever you end up putting one on again.”
Brad Gresham, Campbellville, Ontario, Canada

“I attended The Clarinet Summer School in 2000. Then, I had some fundamental embouchure and technical problems. Now I am training with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The course speaks for itself- START SAVING.”
Ciaran O’Donnel , Belfast, Northern Ireland

“IMany thanks to the organisers of the 2004 Clarinet Summer School, which once again provided us all with a wonderful week of clarinet-related activities and opportunities!
I can't emphasise enough how much I have learnt from attending this course - the tutors do their utmost to enable everyone to achieve their full potential, and are unfailingly friendly and approachable.
The 'masterclass' format which was used in at least one session every day gave us all the chance to play to and listen to others, and to absorb a great deal of valuable information - even if we may not have realised it at the time!
The 'one-to-one' sessions, when we were given the opportunity to book some individual time with the tutors, were always extremely helpful, and I feel that in this respect the tutors actually go well above and beyond the call of duty - individual tuition at no extra cost does not generally feature on any other music courses I've been on!
One of the week's highlights for me was our clarinet choir's performance in the foyer of the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool on the final evening of the course, which gave a welcome focus to our ensemble efforts. It's only now when I come to write about it that I realise how full our days actually were. Although nothing was compulsory, most people were keen to attend all the sessions available, including a film and talk about clarinet production (a real eye-opener!), a talk on clarinet-related health issues, a demonstration of the principles of the Alexander Technique, a CD listening session comparing different playing styles and an inspirational tutors' concert.
I'd recommend this course highly to anyone who has an interest in the clarinet - I shall certainly be back next year for more!”
Joanna Brown, London