‘Level Up Your Playing!’
A 5-session online course for intermediate musicians
Course fee: €99
Next edition: stay tuned for details! Sign up to my newsletter to always stay up to date.
A 5-session online course for intermediate musicians
Course fee: €99
Next edition: stay tuned for details! Sign up to my newsletter to always stay up to date.
Do you want to reach the next level in your playing?
Maybe you feel lost in a giant sea of music. Maybe you just can’t master that really tricky piece. Maybe you freeze up when you have to play for other people. Maybe you can play the notes, but you want to actually make music.
Aimed at intermediate level musicians, this course will help you to tackle your practice problems, identify your strengths, and level up through a combination of live stream sessions, homework and practice challenges, and personalized feedback!
This is not your traditional music lesson - upon completion of this course, you will have the tools and the confidence to look at your own playing, know what you want, and how to get there. You are free to bring your own choice of music.
The course is given via Facebook live, but all content and materials will also be sent to you via email.
How do I enrol?
Enrolment runs via my webshop.
Places often sell out fast, so make sure you have read the course description beforehand, so you have time to decide if it’s right for you. Not sure? Drop me an email!
Five live stream sessions:
There are two different time zones to choose from: 10am or 8pm CET (Amsterdam time)
Week 1: Your Planning, Your Goals |
Motivation, structure, planning… cheesy buzzwords, but you won’t get anywhere if you don’t know what you want! I help you to figure out how you practice, what you’ll practice, and why you’ll practice. We’ll look at common mistakes that can trip you up, with concrete examples to work with. Do this groundwork, and the rest will fall into place.
Week 2: Tackling Technique |
We all know the feeling – the tricky bar, or whole piece, you just can’t get your fingers around. Your tongue is too slow, or you run out of air… Argh! I will show you a whole toolbox of ways to solidly level up your playing technique. It’s like recorder gym. But fun!
Week 3: Focus, Focus, Focus! |
You’ve gotten this far, but how to sustain a healthy practice habit? I’ll show you how to keep your focus when practising, and when performing. Stage fright, nerves, and sweaty palms can be banished to the past, whether you’re performing for a full concert hall, or just your cat.
Week 4: Making Music: Expression and Musicality |
Brilliant, you can play nine hundred notes per minute and you leave Vivaldi quaking in his boots (does Vivaldi wear boots?) But making music isn’t only about technique. This is truly the next level – how to bring in expression, emotion and understanding of the music you are playing.
Week 5: Q&A! |
The course will round off with a Q&A session, where you can ask anything and everything about the recorder and music.
Homework and feedback
- Weekly homework downloads and practice challenges
- Tailor these to your current level, your music
- Access to a closed Facebook group, where we create our own supportive community. The aim is to encourage, give constructive feedback to and learn from each other!
- The option for weekly feedback from me, by posting your progress video
- Coaching in how to effectively give feedback to yourself and others, giving you the tools you need to continue to develop
FAQ
Click to jump to: Course content | Scheduling | Payment | Accessibility | Misc.
Course Content
How are the lessons delivered?
The lessons last 60-75 minutes each, and are delivered via live stream in a closed Facebook group. A video of the lesson will be emailed out to you the next day, so you can review it again and again. During the lesson the chat window will be open so we can chat to each other.
What level is this course for?
Aimed at intermediate level players, it’s for musicians who want to take their playing to the next level. This is all information I actively use today as a professional musician, but I’ll explain it so that even newbies understand!
Which recorder is it for?
Any! Whether you play all sizes, or are just an afficianado of the sub-contrabass. Rather than playing pieces, the course will focus on practice techniques and act as a coaching session, rather than a traditional instrumental lesson.
I just got my recorder and I’m a complete beginner. Is this for me?
For beginners I have the Recorder Foundations course, covering the basics of recorder playing. ‘Level Up’ is for those who want to push themselves to the next level!
I play guitar/piano/valve trombone/nose flute, not recorder. Is it still useful?
It can be! This course can be applied to any musical instrument (you may get sick of the recorder in-jokes though)
Will there be sheet music involved?
No. You all play at such different levels, and some using sheet music and others learning by ear… I don’t want to exclude anyone. This course will enable you to tailor the advice given to your own pieces and standard.
Do I really have to post videos of myself playing? Help!
It’s not mandatory. The option is there if you choose to. It’ll be a closed, supportive environment where the aim is to build each other up, and unkindness/disrespect is not tolerated. You will be getting feedback from me too!
Will this replace lessons with my teacher?
No! My course isn’t designed to be like traditional music lessons - where you play and the teacher tells you what to do next. As well as lots of information and resources, I’ll be training you in evaluating your own playing and coming up with your own solutions. You will end the course feeling more confident about how to move forward!
Scheduling
What if I’m not available then/have to miss a week?
You’ll have lifetime access to the video lessons, so you can watch them when you want! Take a week off, start later, run the course again… it’s up to you.
Can you spell out when it’s all happening...
For specific dates, please check back later.
You can choose from the 10am or 8pm group, CET (Amsterdam time zone). Aftre the course has begun it’s not possible to swap groups, to keep them of equal size.
What time zone is it for me?
10am Amsterdam is: 9am London, 4am New York, 1am LA, 8pm Sydney.
8pm Amsterdam is: 7pm London, 2pm New York, 11am LA, 6am Sydney.
Participants in the USA and to the west may find the ‘8pm’ group to be a more amenable time, and participants in Australia and the east may find the ‘10am’ group better.
These are subject to change with daylight savings, so do double check using a world clock.
Payment
I can’t afford the course fee.
Don’t worry - I keep 10% of places as ‘pay what you can’ places, whether you need to spread out your payment over time, or pay zero. I don’t need justification or proof. Drop me an email to request a ‘pay what you can’ place. Places are awarded in order of application.
Are there any discounts available?
Yes! Team Recorder Patreon supporters and students who have previously completed a different Team Recorder course receive a discount.
How can I pay?
My webshop accepts all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Paypal, and iDeal.
Accessibility
What about accessiblity?
- Although the lessons are given live, you have lifetime access to all course materials, so you can take the course at your own pace.
- Live streams are given by video - unfortunately Facebook does not provide closed captions, but I upload the stream to Youtube afterwards where English subtitles are provided.
- A transciption of each session can be provided upon request.
- The homework downloads (PDF) can be provided in a different font, plain text, or by audio description upon request.
- Any other questions or requirements? Let me know and I’m happy to work with you to make the course accessible for you!
Why are you giving the course via Facebook?
For this course I want to be able to bring together different elements: live streams, community, sharing files, posting videos, comments and feedback, making friends. Facebook offers these features in one place - and is free to use. Many people already use Facebook, and are able to keep in contact after the course via the platform.
Do I need Facebook to complete the course?
Not necessarily – all session videos, downloads and homework will be emailed out, so you will get 100% of the course content in your inbox.
You will miss out on the community aspect and option to post videos for feedback.
I know not everybody wants to join Facebook, so you are welcome to follow the course through the account of a friend of family member, with their permission.
If you decide to create a Facebook account to follow the course, do this in good time - the verification process can take a while.
Miscellaneous
I missed the deadline for enrolment. Can I still join later?
No! Enrollment closes on the day the of the first lesson, if not sold out before.
When are you running the course again after this?
Subscribe to my mailing list for updates on future courses!
Terms and Conditions
Once the lessons have begun, the course is non-refundable. If I or my immediate family come down with Covid-19 or another illness, I reserve the right to postpone lessons for as long as necessary. For Team Recorder’s GDPR Data Privacy Notice click here.