Courses run yearly (A), termly (B) or on one day (C). The sign-up deadline is two weeks before each event unless otherwise indicated. Group sizes are indicated, and the course will only take place if the minimum attendee number is reached by the deadline. A reserve list will be maintained once the maximum is reached, and where a course is very oversubscribed, it may be possible to run it twice.

Course fees are £55 (performer) or £45 (auditor) for Saturday events, £240 for termly courses and £700 for year-long courses. A Certificate (CertCKA) will be issued to those successfully completing the 'A' courses.

Tea and coffee are included, and we can provide information about local accommodation and dining, to be arranged individually by participants travelling to Cambridge.

COURSES 2025-2026

Course C1. Bach's Well-tempered Clavier (one-day practical or auditing course), 3-6 participants, Saturday, 1 November 2025. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

Course A1. An Introduction to keyboard skills, including Notation, Accompaniment, Figured bass, Harmonization, Transposition and Score-reading (one-year evening/weekend practical course), for those of Grade 6 standard and upwards. 3-6 participants. November 2025 to July 2026. Sign-up deadline 18 October. Tutors: Dr Nigel Yandell and Dr Francis Knights

Course C2. The clavichord: technique and repertoire (one-day practical course), 3-5 participants, Saturday, 10 January 2026. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

Course B1. An Introduction to keyboard instruments: harpsichord, virginals, clavichord, organ, piano and harmonium - design, technique and repertoire (one-term evening/weekend lecture course, with hands-on experience), 4-6 participants. April-June 2026. Sign-up deadline 14 March. Tutors: Dr Francis Knights and Dr Nigel Yandel

Course C3. Tuning and maintenance of early keyboard instruments (one-day practical course), 3-5 participants. Saturday 21 March 2026. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

Course C4. The music of the Virginalists (one-day practical or auditing course), 3-6 participants, Saturday, 8 August 2026. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

FUTURE COURSES

The following additional courses are planned for the future. It may be possible to bring some of these forward to 2025-2026 if there is sufficient demand: please enquire.

A2. Advanced Keyboard Skills

A3. Sight-Reading

B2. Interpretation, Analysis and Performance practice

B3. Improvisation

B4. Keyboard Repertoire, Sources and Editing

B5. Preparation for ARCO diploma

C5. Introduction to Sight-Reading Skills

C6. An introduction to Bach's organ music

C7. An introduction to Mozart's keyboard music

C8. An introduction to Chopin's piano music

Terms and Conditions

1. The Cambridge Keyboard Academy is an independent non-profit organization, and is not affiliated to any other institutions.
2. All courses will take place in Cambridge, and in person.
3. Acceptance on a course is at the discretion of the Tutor.
4. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel courses by giving at least a month's notice, should excessive numbers of participants drop out after the sign-up deadline, making a course financially unviable.
5. Informal auditions may take place for more advanced courses, to ensure that students are at the appropriate standard to benefit.
6. All CKA students must be aged over 18. For school-age students, it may be possible to arrange private study of certain topics with an individual Tutor.
7. Payment is made direct to individual Tutors, termly (A and B) or at the start of the course (C and D).
8. Tutors and participants will both sign a brief document agreeing course content and expectations.