String Quartets with Consone Quartet

The Consone Quartet will work in-depth with pre-formed string quartets. Since launching in 2015, the Consones have won prizes, competitions and concert invitations globally and were notably the first period instrument string quartet to be selected as BBC New Generation Artists. They perform a wide range of music and are particularly renowned for 18th-century repertoire. Participating quartets may play on either modern or historical instruments. 

Most aspects of quartet playing will be discussed, including leading, achieving good ensemble, balance and intonation, exploring tonal colours, phrasing and musical style. By the end of this course you will have achieved a good working knowledge of your chosen work(s), enabling you to fulfil your potential, and will have discussed ideas of how to rehearse together more productively. You will receive many useful tips from the tutors’ years of experience!

You will work with your group throughout the course. Sessions will be a mixture of coaching with the tutors alongside time for independent study to reflect on and embed ideas discussed during coaching. 

This course is designed for pre-formed quartets working at the Confident or Skilful levels. Please see our Ability Levels Explained for further details. 

The course welcomes groups at all stages of their journey playing together, from those who play together regularly to those who are newer to playing together and groups working together specifically for this course.

Your group should come prepared with repertoire to explore across the weekend. You may wish to explore one piece in depth or work on a number of pieces. We recommend that you spend some time playing your pieces together ahead of your coaching sessions so you can go beyond the notes and spend time with the tutors on musicality and interpretation. Practice rooms are available for pre-course practice sessions, subject to availability. Please contact us to book in advance. 

Please bring individual parts for the quartet and a full score for the tutors to refer to. 

Helpful resources for repertoire: The Benslow Music Library also has a good selection music which may be borrowed during the course or in advance by Benslow Music Members.  IMSLP is another online resource with a wide range of scores and parts.