Q: I don't know what my
playing level is. How can I tell if I'm at
a good level for Basically Quartets?
A:
Can you manage one of the more straight-forward movements of a Haydn
quartet? Have a look at the common work of study and if you can cope with that, your playing skills are likely in the
ABRSM Grade 6/7 range.
Q: I'm quite an advanced player and I've taken many quartet courses before. Will Basically Quartets be too easy for me?
A:
It can be whatever you want it to be, if the group you are working with
are at your playing level. Many of the other activities offered will
address issues common to all chamber music players, regardless of
level.
Q: I
play at a grade 4/5 level. I've never played string quartets
before but would love to try. Is there any point in me signing up?
A:
We'd love to give you an introduction to the wonderful world of quartet
playing! An interest in learning is the only essential prerequisite. But
you would want to play in a group with players of similar expertise and
experience. See if you can round up some like-minded friends to join you, or let us know that you're interested and we'll do our best
to match you up with compatible players.
Q: Two other members of my quartet would like to register but our cellist isn't available. Could we still take the course?
A: Absolutely. We will do our best to find a suitable cellist to join you.
Q: Our group would like to work on an oboe quintet. Would this be possible?
A:
Definitely! As long as your oboist knows that group activities are geared toward string players.
Q: What about quintets, sextets, etc.?
A:
Certainly. Again, the course is based on
the string quartet genre but will certainly be relevant to
all chamber players. There will be some opportunities to play
quartets too, outside your group's rehearsal and coaching sessions.
Q: I'm looking for a course that allows lots of time to read through chamber music informally. Is Basically Quartets right for me?
A: Probably not. While it can be great fun to read through music with friends, the schedule at Basically Quartets is quite intense. There will be limited opportunities for some informal playing, and we encourage participants to take advantage of breaks to rest - both body and mind!
Q: Can I fill in the preregistration form on my computer?
A: Yes! The 2023 preregistration form is now available.
Download and save a copy of the form on your computer. Open the form with your chosen word-processor and fill in the yellow boxes. Save the completed form. (N.B. If you try to open the form on-line you will be told that it is read-only and you will not be able to save your personalised copy to send to us). When the form is complete, please email it to info@basicallyquartets.net
If you experience problems or need the form in another format please contact us.
* The Registration Form is in a Microsoft .doc format. If your chosen word processor struggles to deal with it we can thoroughly recommend using LibreOffice which is free in every sense and will cope with the vast majority of document formats. It is available for all flavours of Windows, Mac and Linux.
Q: Can I pay the course fees by direct bank transfer?
A: Yes. This is the preferred method. Please contact us for instructions.
Q: We'd like to work on a piano quartet. Will that be possible?
A: Unfortunately no. There isn't a conventional piano available at Noddfa.
Q: I like getting together
with friends to read quartets, but I don't like getting coached and
feel that I already know enough to enjoy what I'm doing. Would I enjoy
this course?
A: Not likely.
Q: How many pieces do we work on during the course?
A: One quartet, plus the common work. At Basically Quartets, we encourage participants to plumb the depths of one work rather than touch the surface of many. All scheduled course time is devoted to your chosen work of study and the common work. There is limited remaining unscheduled time available for informal reading but this is not the focus of the course.
Q: Do we select our own quartet to work on?
A: Yes, each group chooses their own repertoire. We recommend that you select something that is not so technically challenging that all your concentration is spent on getting through, rather than on developing your chamber playing skills. We are here to help and advise, so please get in touch if you'd like some ideas or feedback about the repertoire you are considering.
