Welcome to Copper & Cow!
Copper & Cow is the realisation of my wish to bring the emerging generation of timpanists together with some of those players who have been living the dream a little longer, for a week of uninhibited discovery, development, interaction and mutual inspiration.
I’m grateful you’re taking the time to read about Copper & Cow and I’m very much looking forward to hearing from you!
Tom Greenleaves
Copper & Cow Unleashed
Each spring, a group of timpanists from around the world joins me at Schloss Colditz to learn from one another and discover alongside each other – I myself no less than anyone else.
We welcome two of the timpani world’s finest musicians to Colditz, out of whom we squeeze as much knowledge, insight, and inspiration as humanly possible.
Everything we do is supported and complemented by body awareness and performance coaching, developing our use of our bodies to perform and communicate the music that is inside us.
We learn the vital skills of tucking and caring for calf skins.
Copper & Cow Unleashed is explicitly intended not as an audition boot camp, but rather as a forum to open our ears and our minds with music far beyond the confines of the common audition repertoire!
Copper & Cow Unleashed 2025
13-19 APRIL
Closing date for applications: 2 FEBRUARY 2025
Copper & Cow Probespiel
In the autumn, Copper & Cow focuses on the repertoire commonly required for orchestral auditions in Germany – Probespiele.
At two mock auditions testing our development in the repertoire with piano accompaniment and without,
respectively, we receive feedback from two musicians from the very top of the profession – a timpanist and, crucially, a non-timpanist.
Each participant receives individual psychological coaching for audition preparation and performance.
Copper & Cow Probespiel 2025
19-24 OCTOBER
Application period: 1-30 JUNE 2025
An intimate group, but highly individual
In both courses we, as a group, will dive into the depths of whatever issues, whatever questions, whatever frustrations, whatever aspirations, whatever fears YOU as an individual bring with you to Colditz – no limits. I will do my very best to push your perceived boundaries and broaden your horizons on every level and in every area of playing this instrument, as well as of life as an orchestral timpanist.
Who Copper & Cow is aimed at
Anyone, of a minimum age of 18, who is determined to leave their comfort zone and feels they, in a highly demanding and concentrated, yet deeply collaborative and supportive environment, can’t miss out on the opportunities Copper & Cow offers.
