Award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist and popular Finchcocks tutor, David Hall, gives us some insight on composition… Initial Ideas Here’s a fun activity. Take an everyday object – say, an alarm clock, a pen, a boat or a book – then give yourself 10 minutes to come up with as many associations as you can. Put all your thoughts into a cloud diagram like mine. My first four thoughts were “Time”, “Moments”, “New Day” and “Work”. These thoughts led quickly to other thoughts which led to other thoughts. In just 10 minutes, there are four piano pieces emerging in my mind and each alrea ..read more

We’re delighted to announce the dates for this year’s summer Finchcocks music festival. On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August 2024, Finchcocks private gardens will open to the public. Saturday sees the return of Jazz on the lawn in the beautiful, walled garden and Sunday an open-air piano concert against the west elevation on our outdoor stage. Jazz on the Lawn info & tickets The Finchcocks Trio: David Hall, Jennifer Maslin & James Sunney Back by popular demand, we begin our weekend of music, Saturday 17 August, with Jazz on the Lawn. Located in the beautiful walled ..read more

We are delighted to announce our partnership with City Music Promotions and a Finchcocks concert series on the Strand! This exceptional new series of piano recitals in the beautiful candlelit venue of St Mary le Strand offers a unique opportunity to hear performances by some of the UK’s leading pianists – and inspiring Finchcocks piano course tutors. The concerts will cover a wide range of repertoire from composers such such as Beethoven, Debussy, Liszt, Schumann, Chopin and more. Tickets – Florian Mitrea, Thursday 25th April First up is the fantastically talented Florian Mitrea. Date Thu ..read more

We have recently had some Instagram piano celebrities visit us here at Finchcocks. One of which was the lovely @EmiliaPlaysPiano. We connected with Emilia online and knew that she would absolutely love a visit to Finchcocks – and that we would equally love to have her join us for a course! Piano teacher and performer, Emilia keeps a public online piano diary and motivational account on Instagram with well over 15,000 followers. She posts regular, honest updates about her life as a performing teacher, always with her unique humour and warmth. Emilia often posts about her love for Chopin, so ..read more

Exciting news here at Finchcocks! We have just welcomed two new beautiful grand pianos to the fleet.   It was time for two of our Broadwoods to retire, including the much-loved Bertha. In their place we welcome a silent Yamaha and a white Kawai baby grand, both in pristine new condition! Installing pianos here at Finchcocks is not for the faint-hearted. It requires a crane, expertise and a lot of patience. Thursday was a sight to behold… The Yamaha takes position in our entrance foyer. With the wonderful option of a silent mechanism, guests can play in privacy, hear their playing a ..read more

Firstly, thank you to all who came to this weekend’s Finchcocks Festival #3. It was such a happy occasion. We welcomed over 200 guests over the course of the weekend – some for their third festival in a row, some first-timers! Most importantly, ticket and bar sales raised a whopping £4,288.40 for local musical charities. Saturday afternoon saw the return of our fabulous Finchcocks trio, featuring Musical Director David Hall on piano, Programme Director Jennifer Maslin on vocals and violin, and the outrageously talented James Sunney on double bass. Set in the beautiful walled garden, gue ..read more

What a treat it’s been having Beatrice Nicholas with us this weekend! Running a course on the American Civil Rights Movement and Black Renaissance Music, we have been given a wonderful insight into the melting pot of musical and creative influences of 1930s-50s Chicago. Exploring the work of Florence Price, Margarets Bonds and Betty Jackson, we have studied jazz influences, style and techniques within these wonderful classical composers’ music, as well as the inspiration of spiritual song in Black Renaissance piano music. Jazz influences, style and technique Using Margaret Bonds’ piece Val ..read more

Rounding off the Finchcocks Festival weekend, we are thrilled to welcome back superb concert pianist (and Finchcocks tutor) Florian Mitrea to our outdoor stage with an afternoon of Music for a Coronation. The programme Beethoven allegedly said that the English had the best national anthem in the world, and he dedicated a set of variations on this tune to show the English ‘what a blessing they have’. This composition, as well as his smaller variations on ‘Rule Britannia’ saw the light of print in 1803 during the reign of George III, very much around the ..read more

Back by popular demand, we begin our weekend of music with Jazz on the Lawn. Located in the beautiful walled garden, you’ll find the perfect setting for a relaxed afternoon of happy, light swing, Latin, blues and jazz with the Finchcocks Jazz Trio! Doors will open at strictly 1pm, (no earlier!). Music will begin at 3pm and finish at 5pm. Please feel free to bring picnic rugs and picnics. A glass of Pimms is included with your ticket. Charity cash donations bar will be available. Well behaved dogs and humans welcome. Parking available in the front field. Accessibilty: Gravel paths, no steps ..read more

Finchcocks is proud to announce return of its outdoor musical festival! Adapting to the pandemic, Finchcocks built an outdoor stage in 2020, hosting open-air concerts to guests booked on residential piano courses. 2021 saw the exciting development of the first public Finchcocks Festival, hosting performances by the Piccadilly Sinfonia, Warren Mailley-Smith, Victoria Sayles, Florian Mitrea and Amusia Productions… and it’s returning for a third year running! This year we’re delighted to be welcome back Jazz on the lawn and concert pianist Florian Mitrea’s Music for a Coronation, with all p ..read more