The Importance of Chamber Music

Chamber music is, at its most simple, playing with others in a small group. This can range from playing in a piano trio (piano, violin and cello), through string quartets (2 violins, viola and cello) to sextets (either with wind instruments or entirely string) and other combinations. The importance of chamber music on individual instrumental playing cannot be underestimated. Not only is it an end in itself of providing great experiences of playing wonderful music with others, but it also nurtures skills which improve one's own playing as a soloist or in an orchestral setting. The skills that one learns from playing with others are incredibly valuable, such as ensemble playing and projection. It is also extremely helpful in developing musicianship and increased knowledge of harmonic practices used by composers, which are vital in studying music at an academic level, either at school or at university.

Unfortunately, studying and playing chamber music is often sidelined in schools, and many young string players miss out on the enjoyment of quartet playing for many years. One way in which this is being tackled is through summer music courses, in which children are sent off for week-long courses to play in chamber groups and small orchestras, which sow the chamber music seed early. These courses are very valuable, not only in terms of musical understanding but also in forming deep friendships. When working with several other players in a piano trio or string quartet, the group can quickly become a close-knit friendship group. Moreover, these deep friendships encourage commitment and loyalty to the courses year on year, and which help an association to be created between chamber music and friendship.