City Lit wind ensemble: summer season
Time: 18:30 - 20:30
Location: Keeley Street
Check your level
- Course Code: ME100D
- Dates: 09/07/24 - 30/07/24
- Time: 18:30 - 20:30
- Taught: Tue, Evening
- Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Pamela Pecko Smith
Course Code: ME100D
Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course give you an opportunity to improve your ensemble skills and explore a range of musical styles in an intensive two-day workshop. An ideal introduction to wind ensemble playing for the novice, and a fun workshop for the more experienced.
This course also leads to the regular City Lit Wind Ensemble, starting in September.
What will we cover?
The course will develop aspects of ensemble technique according to the demands of the repertoire: following a conductor, rhythmic ensemble, tuning, balance, interpretation.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- have a greater awareness of tuning and balance within an ensemble
- have improved articulation and dynamic control within an ensemble
- have an ability to adapt the above techniques according to the style of a piece.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Playing standard of at least grade 5, with confident sight-reading skills.
Instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, saxophone (classically trained)
You will need to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Rehearsals, discussions, listening.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Sheet music will be provided. Please bring your instrument and a pencil.
If you are new to Wind Ensemble, you will need to email the Music Department for authorisation and to advise which instrument you play.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit Wind Ensemble runs throughout the year on Tuesdays 18:00 - 19:30.
City Lit also has other ensemble courses for wind players, including City Lit Big Band, Chamber music: introduction, Chamber music ensembles; Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone workshop at all levels, plus short courses in Flute and Clarinet Choir, Jazz Flute, and Orchestra workshop.
City Lit offers many ancillary courses in musicianship, rhythm, ear training and music appreciation; see the website
or printed course guide for details.
Pam Pecko Smith is a UK-based freelance flutist, vocalist, and music educator who performs in an eclectic range of ensembles. She is a native of the Philadelphia area, where she earned a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, followed by intensive graduate studies at the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, Hungary. In 2011 Pam founded The Lodore Trio, a chamber group comprising flute, viola, and piano. The trio’s first album CASCADE was released in 2018, featuring new music by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, and their second album RIVULETS was released in 2022. Pam is also a vocalist, and in 2017 she formed the vintage jazz group Honeysuckle Jazz, which specialises in songs from the 1920–40s. Pam has performed widely throughout the UK and internationally in genres spanning orchestral, folk, film music, world music, and jazz. A dedicated teacher of performing ensembles, she has served on music faculties in private and international schools in Hungary, Portugal, the US, England, Kenya, Turkey, and Poland. She is delighted to be teaching on the music staff at the City Lit.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
