Come Dancing - Dancing Course for Beginners

Lots of us would love to be able to waltz, foxtrot or tango, and this new dance course is aimed both at ballroom beginners and those who have forgotten how. Philip Wylie from “Holiday and Dance” has taught ballroom for almost 30 years and will make your dancing experience sparkle from the start. Waltz your partner around the dance floor, slowly get into the Quickstep or try out a simple Tango. Latin lovers will challenge themselves with the Cha Cha, the Samba, Rumba and Jive.

You learn with others at the same level and won’t miss a step with this fun introduction to dance.

For more information of to book please call 0333 456 8580 or view our dance courses here.

New Course Update: Wagner Ring Cycle

Longborough Festival Opera, our near neighbour, is building up to the complete Wagner Ring Cycle in summer 2013: a climactic event that will attract an international crowd to our lovely corner of the Cotswolds.   Here at Farncombe, we are preparing for the occasion with two courses that take you to heart of Wagner’s great masterpiece.

Julian Williamson, the respected conductor and lecturer, will lead you through the drama of “Die Walküre” from July 27 to 29, with musical illustration at the piano and on CD.  Julian then introduces “Siegfried”, the child of nature, in a course that runs from November 2 – 4.  The last act includes one of the most lyrical scenes in the Cycle, in the awakening of Brunhilde.

If you book both courses, we would be delighted to offer you complimentary upgrade to one of our Superior bedrooms – generously sized new or refurbished rooms with en-suite bath and shower and King-sized bed with 1200 pocket sprung mattress.

Please also note two more Wagnerian dates for your 2013 diary: Julian returns to lead us through the heroism and drama of “Götterdämmerung.”  From 31 May to 2 June, he will cover the Prologue and Act 1; from 26-28 July, Julian completes the journey with a study of Acts 2 and 3.

Please call 0333 456 8580 to reserve your course places and secure your upgrade. The deadline for this offer is Friday 6^th July.

Summer Courses in the Heart of the UK

Farncombe Estate based in the North Cotswolds is a place where you cal lear, laugh and relax. Over the Summer Farncombe is hosting residential and day courses in a wide variety of subjects. Courses being held this summer are:

The Extraordinary life of Heitor Villa-Lobos

Start: 6th July 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 8th July 2012 at 2:00pm

Drawing for Absolute Beginners

Start: 7th July 2012 at 9:30am
End: 7th July 2012 at 4:30pm

Quilting Weekend: Where is the North Star?

Start: 31st August 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 2nd September 2012 at 2:00pm

‘All the Queen’s Women’: the Female World of Elizabeth I

Start: 31st August 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 2nd September 2012 at 2:00pm

Exploring Natural Abstract Painting in Oils and Acrylics

Start: 5th August 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 7th August 2012 at 2:00pm

Formy more information about any of our courses please visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk

Outstanding-Service Awards

Congratulations to Tim Rose (Estates Manager) and Ian Sollis (Maintenance) for recieving their outstanding service awards for the company. Tim has worked on the Estate for 25 years and Ian Sollis has worked for the company for 35 years.

Summer Offer from Farncombe

Are you a budding photographer or a singing sensation in your own bathroom?  

Do you want to “come dancing” or “go painting”?

At Farncombe Estate, we have wonderful weekend courses for every taste.  History to music-making

If you’re thinking of a mini-break or a Stay-cation this year, why not spend it on our beautiful Cotswold Estate with long views and fantastic food?  

We’ll even pick you up from the London train!

This summer, we’re celebrating the prospect of the Olympics with a special offer of £20.12 off every course.*

To qualify, select a course on our website www.farncombeestate.co.uk and call us on 0333 456 8580, quoting OLY2012.

*This special offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.  It is not available on the website – please call to secure your place. Cannot be used towards a day course. Booking needs to be made by 27th August to qualify for this discount.

Win Big in the Gardeners World Prize Draw

You could be in with the chance to win big in the Gardeners World prize draw with a selection of prizes on offer.  Please take a look below at the prizes on offer and then click on the link at the bottom to enter.
Winners will be notified by the 30th August 2012 by telephone or email.

1st Prize - Farncombe Estate Course

Farncombe Estate is offering a fantastic prize where you can enjoy a short course like the 'Glorious Cotswold Gardens' course or one of the many other courses available at the short course study centre in the Cotswolds.  The prize is valid for 12 months so you can take your pick out of a variety of courses held throughout the year.

Please click here to find out more about Farncombe Estate

To enter the competition please follow this link

Recorder Ensemble: Recorder Mix

Start: 14th September 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 16th September 2012 at 2:00pm
Tutor: Andrew Collis

This Recorder Ensemble Course mixes composers, styles and techniques for competent players of recorders (Descant through Bass) who have experience of ensemble and one-to-a-part playing. The music will be original recorder works and arrangements of orchestral/vocal pieces. It will cover the variety of approaches to music found in the Recorder Ensemble repertoire. Players of Great and Contra Bass recorder are also welcome. Good sight-reading ability is required and also the confidence to change instruments. Performance practice, technique and aural skills will be covered, along with recorder care and maintenance.

For more information on this or any of our Making Music Courses please follow this link.

To book please call us on 0333 456 8580

Summer Discount at Farncombe

Our Early Bird offer may have flown but we are pleased to offer you a 10% discount on selected summer courses at Farncombe!   Please quote FC0612 to claim this special discount. Bookings need to be made by phone - 0333 456 8580.

The following courses qualify:

Drawing for theTerrified (2 nights) 13 – 15 July

Richard Box will guide you on your first steps in creative drawing

Botanical BasicsPainting (2 nights) 13 – 15 July

Learn to use gouache or watercolour to illustrate botanical subjects, with artist Simon Williams

Digital PhotographyWeekend – Learn to use your Compact Digital Camera (2 nights) 20-22 July

Ban the auto button and take better pictures with the help of photographer Nick Meers

Blocks Galore forQuilts and More (4 nights) 22 – 26 July

Textile tutor Jennie Rayment will teach you the delights of textured twiddling!

The High Renaissancein Italy (3 nights) 5 – 8 August

Discover the important artists and patrons of 16^th Century Italy, with art historian Alice Foster

Novel Outline andBeyond (3 nights) 12 – 15 August

Pick up professional tips on developing a story and creating believable characters – with author Sue Johnson

New dates and Tutor for Wagner Courses

Julian Williamson will now be running the Wagner's Ring: “Die Walküre” and Wagner's Ring: "Siegfried" courses at Farncombe Estate. Please note the new dates:

Wagner's Ring: "Die Walküre”
Start: 27th July 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 29th July 2012 at 2:00pm

The course will elucidate the dramatic and musical structure of “Die Walküre”. There will be opportunity for detailed study, scene by scene, of this full-length music-drama which is in three acts. It will be illustrated at the piano and on CD. The course will be especially concerned with the relationship of text and music, including the leitmotive (‘leading motive’) principle.

Wagner's Ring: “Siegfried”
Start: 2nd November 2012 at 6:00pm
End: 4th November 2012 at 2:00pm

‘The Ring Cycle’ introduces us to the child of nature, the ‘free hero’ Siegfried, his boyhood adventures and his progress towards manhood. The work develops the main dramatic idea, which now includes human beings, rather than gods, giants and dwarves. In the last act we are re-introduced to a new, mortal, and re-awakened Brunhilde in one of the most spacious, heroic, and lyrical scenes in the Cycle. We illustrate the musical and dramatic structures at the piano and from CD. These courses are ideal preparation for the performances we expect to see on the programme of the Longborough Festival Opera 2012-2013 season.
Please bring a vocal score and/or libretto if you can.

To book a place on these courses plase call us on 0333 456 8580 or visit the Farncombe Estate website

Quilting Weekend - Where is the North Star?

This weekend course teaches you how to make a quilt featuring the same design entirely with straight seams. It is foundation pieced, a technique using paper backing to ensure accurate shapes, with pieces larger than would normally be found on a quilt like this, yet this course is still suitable for all skill levels. Novices can start slowly and work their way up, also there are challenges for more experienced patchworkers as well. Materials list will be supplied upon request.

For full details on quilting courses at Farncombe Estate click here or call us formore details on 0333 456 8580

Summer Schools and Residential Courses in the Cotswolds

This Summer Farncombe Estate in the Cotswolds is hosting a wide range of Summer Schools on it's 320-acre Estate. Course are both residential and one day, topics range from Quilting, Crafts and Textiles, Photography, Watercolour Painting, Art Appreciation, Literature and Writing and Garden Breaks. For more information on our Summer Schools please visit our website or call us on 0333 456 8580. You can also fill in the form on our website to request a full printed brochure.

Farncombe Estate celebrates a bumper month

Mandy Morrison, programme manager at Farncombe Estate, between Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon:

“As we’ve been running courses for more than 10 years and our reputation – especially in craft circles – is now well established, we generally have a very strong year-round calendar of events. This year has been particularly good and since the start of 2012 we have seen a 40% increase in enquiries across all of our courses.

“Inevitably though, as Farncombe Estate is set in 320 acres of glorious Cotswold countryside, April and May tend to be the start of our busiest time for enquiries simply because the venue is at its best in the sunshine.

“This year has been no different and May was a bumper month for us, with more than 150 enquiries in total.

“Those who have traditionally enjoyed our craft courses seem to have been really drawn towards cupcake decorating this year and May saw two of these – Wedding Design Cupcakes and Flower Garden Cupcakes – all of which were really popular.

“Our Willow Weekend course, from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 May, was also a great success and something that we’re looking to hold more of in the future.

“With other courses this year ranging from Patchwork and Quilting and Collage and Stitch, to Using your Sewing Machine and Willow Sculpture, it’s set to be a busy summer ahead.”

Farncombe Estate offers day, weekend and summer courses covering everything from painting, crafts and singing, to academic talks about music, history and art. The 320-acre Estate is located near Broadway in the Cotswolds.

For more information or to book a place on a Farncombe weekend, call Mandy Morrison on 0333 456 8580 or visit www.farncombeestate.co.uk.