Courses run yearly (A), termly (B), at weekends (C) or on one day (D). The sign-up deadline and course time are indicated below. 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.

The prices indicated are per person for that course. For some courses we can offer an equivalent one-to-one version, from a base rate of £40/hr. A printed Certificate (CertCKA) will be issued to those successfully completing the one-year courses.

Tea and coffee are included (C/D courses), and we can provide information about local accommodation and dining, to be arranged individually by participants travelling to Cambridge.

COURSES 2024-2025

Course D1. The clavichord: technique and repertoire (one-day practical course), 3-5 participants, Saturday, 3 August 2024. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

Course D2. Bach's Well-tempered Clavier (one-day practical or auditing course), 3-6 participants, Saturday, 2 November 2024. Application deadline 14 October 2024, £55 (performer) or £45 (auditor). 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), 3-6 participants. October 2024 to July 2025. Application deadline 3 October 2024, £420. Tutors: Dr Nigel Yandell and Dr Francis Knights

Course B1. An Introduction to keyboard instruments: harpsichord, virginals, clavichord, organ, piano and harmonium (one-term evening/weekend lecture course, with hands-on experience), 4-12 participants. January-March 2025. Application deadline 10 December 2024, £130. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

Course C1. Tuning and maintenance of early keyboard instruments (intensive weekend practical course), 3-5 participants. 5-6 April 2025. Application deadline 8 March 2025, £100. Tutor: Dr Francis Knights

Course D3. The music of the Virginalists (one-day practical or auditing course), 3-6 participants, Saturday, 9 August 2025. Application deadline 1 July 2025, £55 (performer) or £45 (auditor). 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 2024-2025 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

C2. Introduction to Sight-Reading Skills

D4. An introduction to Bach's organ music

D5. An introduction to Mozart's keyboard music

D6. 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 a 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.