After four highly successful summer courses, The Thinking Pianist took a break in 2025 to regroup for the future. We are delighted to be returning in 2026, albeit at a different time of the year. Our post-Easter course in 2026 is the perfect opportunity to instill new life into all your pianistic activities: playing, practicing, performing, teaching..
Dates: Saturday 11th to Saturday 18th April 2026
Venue: Cheltenham Ladies' College
The concept of this immersive 7-day course is to offer a rich variety of activities focussing on different aspects of playing, studying, teaching and thinking about the piano, integrated with parallel well-being coaching in Yoga, Tai-Chi/Qigong and Alexander Technique. Coupling this with high-quality pianos, marvellous food, beautiful Victorian Gothic surroundings and the Cotswolds on the doorstep made for a truly memorable experience for all who attended in previous years.
Previous courses have been equally rewarding for Faculty and students alike, and this special quality of shared experience is a defining feature of the course. Among many other things, it is a valuable opportunity for the productive exchange of ideas, and a realisation that an open mind and a spirit of enquiry leads to us all learning from each other, whether teacher or pupil.
As well as the core course activities (which include plenty of opportunities to practice, perform and rehearse duet & two-piano repertoire), we are continuing with the following successful innovations from previous courses:
The “Teaching is Learning” strand of seminars and workshops will offer insight into the multiple synergies of these two activities: trying to teach any skill is a guaranteed method of improving it!
Open Rehearsals – the opportunity for students to observe, and in some cases participate in, professional rehearsals of ensemble repertoire
On launching the course we will initially be recruiting full-time attendees who feel able to commit to the whole 7-day experience. However, we will be offering part-time places later in the booking process should there be space remaining. Please get in touch if you would like to register your interest in attending the course part-time, whether residential or non-residential.
Please see the detailed information below for more specifics. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
David Jones
Head of Keyboard Studies at Cheltenham Ladies’ College
2026 faculty is likely to include:
Mengyang Pan - Piano
Tim Horton - Piano
David Jones - Piano
Andrew Eales - Piano
Ivana Gavric - Piano
Katie Neesa (Maughfling) - Yoga and general wellbeing coach
Core course activities will include:
Individual lessons, as well as small group Workshops with dedicated Faculty, joined by visiting specialists who will deliver other classes and concerts.
Opportunities to rehearse and perform ensembles, i.e. duet, 2 pianos, 6 hands, 8 hands, etc.
Small-group gatherings to run through pieces, for those who wish to gain confidence playing in a low-key, ‘safe’ environment
Opportunities to play in more formal concerts, for those who wish to acquire, or strengthen, their performing confidence / experience
The Teaching is Learning strand of seminars and workshops offers insight into the multiple synergies of these two activities: of equal interest to teachers and students
Art of Teaching seminars: A linked series of activities of special interest to active or aspiring teachers
Integrated Wellbeing activities such as Alexander Technique, Yoga and Tai Chi/Qigong, given by visiting specialists
Participants will be encouraged to practise both the art and craft of piano-playing. Joining a community of like-minded pianists, your musical and pianistic experience will be heightened through the productive exchange of ideas with others.
At The Thinking Pianist we encourage holistic learning. Submerse yourself in nourishing your mind & body, through wellbeing practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi/Qigoing and Alexander Technique. Seminars will also be presented focusing on key topics such as.
Performance anxiety
Reducing excess tension
Developing effective and efficient practice
Resilience
The neuroscientific and psychological aspects of musical learning and performance
We would be delighted to welcome dedicated adult pianists, students and young professionals (currently we can only accept applications of those 18+).
The recommended level is intermediate / advanced. It is not our intention to exclude based on standard achieved, but we think you will get the most out of the course if your playing is at least Grade 6 level.
If playing the piano is a vital part of your personal wellbeing, this course is for you!
You’ll be taking part in a 7-day course running from Saturday to Saturday. There will be the option to participate in an end-of-course concert on the final day.
Initially we are recruiting full-time attendees, but it is likely that part-time places will be offered at a later stage. Please get in touch to register your interest in attending part-time.
There is no requirement to prepare specific repertoire, but you should bring two or more pieces which you are currently working on, to study with your teacher in lessons and/or classes.
This is optional for Art of Teaching students but would be very welcome.
Teaching will occur as a combination of individual lessons with Faculty staff (see Faculty section), group classes/workshops. See next point for other course activities.
Art of Teaching students will have a separate strand of lectures on some days of the course
For those booking our residential package, all accommodation will be in one of the Cheltenham Ladies' College boarding houses. Bedrooms are all single-occupancy with shared bathroom facilities.
Our in-house catering team will provide three meals a day within your residential house. Let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival.
A non-residential package is also available.
The Thinking Pianist is based at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, situated in the heart of Cheltenham, a spa town on the edge of the Cotswolds. You’ll be a short walk away from high-quality restaurants, shops and transport links in the town centre.
Address
Cheltenham Ladies' College,
Bayshill Road,
Cheltenham,
GL50 3EP
Transport links
3 miles from M5 junction 11
1 mile from Cheltenham Spa train station
200 metres from Cheltenham Spa Bus & Coach Station
51 miles from Birmingham Airport (approx. 1hr by car / 1hr 30 mins by train)
52 miles from Bristol Airport (approx 1hr 10mins by car)
95 miles to London Heathrow (approx. 1hr 50mins by car)
London Gatwick Airport 120 miles (approx. 2hrs 15mins by car)
Book by completing our online form and paying a deposit.
Residential: £1835 + VAT
Non-residential: £1250 + VAT
A 10% deposit will be required to confirm your booking on the course. The balance will be due one month before the start of the course.
(Part-time places will be offered later in the booking process, subject to availability.)
