Denise Ham is sought by serious students of conducting the world over, many of them as a result of seeing her unique instructional video, “The Craft of Conducting”.

In 2021, Denise co-founded the Girton Conducting Course in Cambridge. The course has grown increasingly popular, attracting students from all over the world. The course takes place in August and is open to students of all levels of ability and experience. Read more about the course here.

She is renowned for equipping conductors with an effective technique and for helping to solve the physical and musical problems they face. Her teaching is based on the Toscanini/Barzin technique - a comprehensive technique that applies to any ensemble - orchestras, choirs, bands - and to amateur and professional ensembles alike.

Testimonials

"Denise Ham is a remarkably clear and constructive teacher of conducting. Her formidably attentive eye is coupled with a patience that makes lessons truly enjoyable."

Nicholas Kok
Principal Guest Conductor
Viva Orchestra
"Denise teaches with unique precision and clarity and she has a great artistic and musical gift. Her work encompasses rigorous control of gesture through interpretation of the entire symphonic repertoire.”

Laurence Equilby
Musical Director and founder
Insula Orchestra
"Denise is truly an exceptional teacher who influenced my life in many ways. With her I discovered a real and unique conducting technique that has been helpful through my entire career"

Octavio Mas-Arocas
Director of Orchestras
Michigan State University College of Music
"I have enjoyed playing under Denise's baton in performance and under her expert teaching in conducting masterclasses. She has a great ear and eye for details and encourages all around her in ever higher quality of musicmaking"

John Peskett
Principal Horn
Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra
"Her immense patience and her keen analysis of exactly what each pupil needs is very rare. I cannot say enough about the value of her teaching and my admiration for her abilities.”

Bruce Whitson
Principal Conductor, Collegium Musicum
Professor at the University of Siegen
"The goal is to be understood with a technique that is extremely natural and very convincing. Without doubt I recommend to any professional musician interested in the art of conducting to achieve it from the wise teaching of Denise Ham."

Eduardo Lopez Banzo
Conductor
"Denise’s patient, sympathetic teaching, and her forensic eye for the details of technique has been invaluable over the years I’ve been studying with her"

Returning course student
“Denise is an inspirational, experienced and thorough teacher who in the lessons gets to the point and gives you very personalised advice. I feel privileged to have studied with her at London Conducting Academy and equally successfully online, by video call”

Marco Giudici, Freelance conductor
“Denise’s approach to teaching ensures that significant progress is made in every session with her. Her attention to details means she can pick out quickly what improvements can be made, and her approachable nature allows for a comfortable and supportive space to try new things”

Returning course student

"Denise Ham is a remarkably clear and constructive teacher of conducting. Her formidably attentive eye is coupled with a patience that makes lessons truly enjoyable."

"Denise teaches with unique precision and clarity and she has a great artistic and musical gift. Her work encompasses rigorous control of gesture through interpretation of the entire symphonic repertoire.”

"Denise is truly an exceptional teacher who influenced my life in many ways. With her I discovered a real and unique conducting technique that has been helpful through my entire career"

"I have enjoyed playing under Denise's baton in performance and under her expert teaching in conducting masterclasses. She has a great ear and eye for details and encourages all around her in ever higher quality of musicmaking"

"Her immense patience and her keen analysis of exactly what each pupil needs is very rare. I cannot say enough about the value of her teaching and my admiration for her abilities.”

"The goal is to be understood with a technique that is extremely natural and very convincing. Without doubt I recommend to any professional musician interested in the art of conducting to achieve it from the wise teaching of Denise Ham."

"Denise’s patient, sympathetic teaching, and her forensic eye for the details of technique has been invaluable over the years I’ve been studying with her"

“Denise is an inspirational, experienced and thorough teacher who in the lessons gets to the point and gives you very personalised advice. I feel privileged to have studied with her at London Conducting Academy and equally successfully online, by video call”

“Denise’s approach to teaching ensures that significant progress is made in every session with her. Her attention to details means she can pick out quickly what improvements can be made, and her approachable nature allows for a comfortable and supportive space to try new things”