Spontaneous Social Piano

About Spontaneous Social Piano

Led by pianist and psychologist Lucinda Mackworth-Young, this refreshing course offers a relaxed and inclusive environment for pianists of all levels to develop your spontaneity, improvisation and accompaniment skills.

What is the course about?

Unleash your creativity and feel more confident playing the piano in social settings with this course from Lucinda Mackworth-Young. If you’d like to be able to play any piano, anywhere, spontaneously with or without sheet music, this course is for you. Lucinda will offer practical strategies and methods to help develop your improvisation and listening skills. We’ll look at solos and duets, as well as fun and easy group improvising games. You’ll learn how to find and play chords to accompany singing - with singalongs of well-known songs, such as Happy Birthday, or Christmas carols. The course is tailored to the needs and interests of those present, so feel free to come with suggestions of music and styles you’d like to try.

What will you learn?

By the end of the course, you will: Enjoy performing piano solos and duets and accompany live singing. Learn practical methods to develop your improvisation skills and try improvising at the piano with the group. Celebrate the joy of playing piano with others and leave with greater confidence to try these techniques in future social situations. Spend a weekend dedicated to your playing and meet other like-minded musicians in a relaxed and friendly environment.

How will the course be taught?

We’ll work together in a large group, with theory and demonstrations from Lucinda, but there will also be time for small group and individual practice. The sessions will cover a mix of practical psychology with musical and technical tips for performing, how to improvise instantly (and successfully) and how to access, read and play from chord sheets and lead sheets to accompany singing.

Who is the course for?

For piano players of all levels who would like to develop their spontaneity and improvisation skills for social playing. Whether you have learned the piano for many years, or are just getting started, everyone is welcome.

Will music be provided and do you need to prepare or bring anything?

We’ll share the music for the course with you in advance, but you are also welcome to bring any piano solos or duets you would like to try – preferably pieces that are easy to sight-read. You might want to bring your iPad or something with you to take notes.