Your RCO event details can be found below.
Please note that the 24-hour clock is used on all event listings, with all times being GMT/BST. To book courses and classes, please follow the Book Online link wherever you see it, and email bookings@rco.org.uk or call 020 3865 6998 with any queries. Where events are free or not bookable online, please follow the instructions for that event.
This course is now fully booked.
Join us for four days of stimulating learning on the easy-to-use Zoom platform! Although we are unable to meet in person this summer for our week-long course, learning and sharing ideas needn't stop, as too the renewing of
friendships and the making of new ones. All you need to participate is a computer, a Wi-Fi connection and, for some sessions, an organ or other keyboard.
Who is the course for?
The RCO Summer Course has become known as the big course with the personal touch for organists of all ages and stages, from beginner to Diploma level and beyond. The Summer Course Online aims to be no different.
Course content
Mornings (10:00–12.30pm)
Choose two Essential Skills classes of 30 minutes each from our varied list of Registration, How to practise, Planning a new piece, Ornamentation, Keyboard Musicianship, Improvisation, and Listening Skills. Each class will be delivered at two levels of experience except for Keyboard Musicianship which has four levels.
Lunch time (13:15–13:45)
Each day a different group of students will be invited to join a relaxed, social session where you can introduce yourself and join in the conversation.
Early afternoon (14:00–16:30)
Book individual 30-minute lessons with our four teachers on Organ Performance (repertoire and technique), Keyboard Skills (sight reading, transposition, harmonisation, figured bass), Theory (ABRSM grades and RCO diploma written papers), and Liturgical Playing Skills (hymn playing and extensions, Anglican chant and other types of psalm playing, accompanying choirs). Subject to availability you can book more than one lesson with the same and/or different teachers on the same and/or different days (60-minute maximum per day subject to availability).
Later afternoon (17:00–17:45)
The whole course comes together for a lecture by a different teacher each day. The topics to be covered are: The organ music of J. S Bach; Organ Music in the Baroque period (excluding Bach); Organ music from 1800–1940; Organ Music from 1940–the present day. Each lecture ends with the opportunity to ask questions and for general conversation.
Teachers
You will receive tuition from four highly experienced RCO Accredited Teachers.
Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick, who is also course director
Robin Harrison
Anne Marsden Thomas
Frederick Stocken
Fees
The basic fee is just £35 for RCO Full or Student Members)/£55 (all others) and includes everything except for the individual lessons which are charged at £25 for for each 30 minute-slot you book.
Click here to send an email (events@rco.org.uk) to enquire about financial support from the RCO. Please briefly outline why you are seeking support and make sure we receive your email by 17 July.
How to book
Click the book online link below and pay the basic fee. Once we see your booking we will send you confirmation of your booking and a link to our special Summer Course Online microsite where you can specify which Essential Skills classes you wish to attend, state whether or not we should expect you at the later afternoon lecture, and book and pay for individual lessons. Click here (events@rco.org.uk) to send any email with any questions you may have.
Join the RCO
Student Membership costs £55 a year and full membership £110. Click here for further details and to join online.
Safeguarding
Where participants are aged under 18 on 3 August 2020 a parent, guardian or trusted adult must be present in the same building as the student during all sessions and the door of the room the student is using must be left open.
For RCO courses and classes, the following key is used as a guide to level and suitability:
Beginner (Grades 1-4)
Intermediate (Grades 4-6)
Advanced (Grades 6-8 / CRCO)
Diploma 1 (CRCO–ARCO)
Diploma 2 (ARCO–FRCO)