Strings in Spring!

Spring is a magical time of year at Farncombe Estate, when snowdrops bloom and strains of live music waft from room to room!

Now’s the time to book on one of our ensemble music courses, designed to enhance your performance skills and give you the chance to play with like-minded people.

Take a look at the two courses below, designed for players of all abilities.   You may click through to our website, where you can read more about the tutor and the event.  Or please call us on 0333 456 8580.
 

Introduction to String Ensemble Playing

Friday 22 to Sunday 24 February
The course, run by expert tutors Marion Crombie and Abigail Summers, is designed for beginner and intermediate string players on (violin, viola and cello.)  You will need at least a year’s experience on your instrument and we will put you into groups.  Existing string trios and quartets are also welcome.
 

A weekend for Chamber Music, with or without piano

Friday 22 to Sunday 24 March
Taught by The Beethoven Broadwood Trio, this popular course is aimed at pre-formed chamber groups, but we are often able to accommodate individual players, so do ask.  You’ll get lots of coaching from the highly-experienced and friendly Frances, James and Michael, who will give a concert performance on the Saturday evening. 


Playing with others will take your music playing to another level and you’ll have great fun. We do hope you’ll put Farncombe Courses into your practice diary this Spring.

 Please contact us for more information or to book on 0333 456 8580 or e-mail us at enquiries@farncombecourses.co.uk

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

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

Be A Real Guitar Hero! Courses with Stuart Marshall at Farncombe 2011

Stuart Marshall is a guitar teacher and musician with over twenty years experience working with students of all ages and abilities. He has already taught hundreds of budding guitarists the secrets of successful playing on his own popular guitar workshops and weekend courses in Cornwall and throughout the UK.

New for Farncombe in 2011 Stuart will be hosting two weekend courses "Be A Real Guitar Hero! The Easy Way to Learning Guitar - For Beginners".

Stuart Marshall

An Introduction to West Gallery Music - June 2011 at Farncombe Estate

Following a thirty year teaching career Francis Roads has devoted himself to researching, editing and performing West Gallery music. In 1997 he founded London Gallery Quire, which performs West Gallery services and concerts throughout the London area. Francis has been in demand for many workshops and similar events throughout England, the USA and France. Francis brings a new weekend course to Farncombe in 2011 -"An Introduction to West Gallery Music".

Francis Roads

The Urban Folk Quartet - Autumn Tour 2010

As the nights draw in and winter approaches…do something that will cheer you up...


Come and see The Urban Folk Quartet on their autumn UK tour which starts next week!


Click here for details . Very best wishes from the UFQ!

Introduction to West Gallery Music - Making Music at Farncombe

West Gallery music was sung in town and country churches in the period 1700-1850, and chronicled memorably in the novels of Thomas Hardy. It was composed specifically for (and often by) amateur singers. It is of an often joyful and rhythmic nature, influenced by folk dance and song, and very different from cathedral music.

West Gallery music was suppressed in Victorian times, to be replaced by the solemn tones of Hymns Ancient and Modern. In recent decades enthusiasts have revived the repertoire.

The course at Farncombe 24-26 June 2011 will appeal to singers of all voices and wind and string instrumentalists who would like to explore a different and exciting repertoire, suitable for both church and concert hall. The music is not technically challenging, and sight reading is not essential. As well as singing there will be an introduction to the history and literature of the genre.



Introduction to West Gallery Music - Making Music

Oxfordshire's 46th Towersey Village Festival

26 - 30 August 2010

Only 9 sleeps to go till.............

“Absolutely very nearly, but not quite the very best festival in the world” Jeremy Symondson

And what a Festival line-up!

Close up Concerts, Crazy Ceilidh, Dynamic Dance House. Dance, sing, party or just relax! You can do it all at Towersey.

To see the full line up .....

Book your tickets now...........

74% of music organisations say music education is the most important issue facing the sector

A survey by the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) has revealed that 74% of ISM corporate members rate music education as the most important issue facing the whole of the music sector.

To read this article in full visit http://www.ism.org

City Chorus Commission Competition

City Chorus (London, England) is celebrating its 90th birthday season in 2010-2011: the culmination of our anniversary year will be a concert in July 2011, which will feature a newly commissioned 20-minute work for chorus. Composers from around the world are invited to apply for this GBP2000 commission. City Chorus is an adult mixed choir, open to all without audition, and our 'ideal' composer will be able to write music that is original and exciting, yet within the capability of our amateur singers. Deadline: 3 December 2010.

for full details, please visit:

http://www.citychorus.info/
and click on "competition"

or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:
City Chorus Commission Competition
Woodfall House
53 Carpenters Wood Drive
Chorleywood
Hertfordshire
WD3 5RP
England

Live Music Bill must be passed as soon as possible

The ISM welcomes the coalition government’s commitment to reduce live music bureaucracy and calls on the government to introduce the Live Music Bill which had front bench support from both governing coalition partners before the election.

The Bill, introduced last parliament in the House of Lords by Lib Dem Lord Clement-Jones, would allow small venues like schools, colleges and village halls to hold concerts without an entertainment license if the venue holds fewer than 200 people. It would also exempt venues that serve alcohol from needing an entertainment license where only one or two musicians are performing without amplification.

In the previous session of parliament, the Live Music Bill passed the House of Lords stage un-amended and, with cross-party support, came close to making it on to the statute book despite government opposition. Now, the coalition government has said it will ‘cut red tape to encourage the performance of more live music.’

ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, welcomed the coalition government’s commitment and encouraged the introduction of the Live Music Bill:

‘The government has a real opportunity to reduce the bureaucracy which is crippling the small live music event industry and destroying fledgling careers.

‘So many musicians rely on live music to start their career and the current licensing regime is causing opportunities to dry up.

‘This Bill has the support of politicians from all parties and musicians from all genres as well as the support of front-bench teams from both partners in the coalition government.

‘We are calling on the government to make time for this important piece of legislation and enable musicians to do what they do best, play music to a live audience.’

Read more at http://www.ism.org/images/uploads/files/8_10.pdf

Don't miss the 2010 Conservatoire Folk Ensemble tour!!!

“…tremendously exhilarating (often exhaustingly so!) and joyously life-affirming…

a thoroughly infectious frenzy, a veritable orgy of hyper-energy and orgasmic music-making

that the listener is landed right in the thick of.”

David Kidman - Netrhythms



Friday 21st May Cornerstone, Didcot

Monday 24th May The Cross, Moseley, Birmingham

Wednesday 26th May Leek Arts Festival SOLD OUT

Thursday 27th May The West End Centre, Aldershot

Friday 28th May Lichfield Guildhall

Saturday 29th May Huntingdon Hall, Worcester




Date: 21/5/10

Venue Name: Cornerstone, Didcot

Box Office Number: 01235 515144

Website: www.cornerstone-arts.org

Performance Time: 8pm

Ticket Price: £14, £12.50 (concs), £11.50 (members)



Date: 24/5/10

Venue Name: The Cross, Moseley, Birmingham

Box Office Number: Tickets on the door

Doors open: 7:30pm

Ticket Price: £6

A raucous standing room only gig also featuring The Old Dance School



Date: 26/5/10

Venue Name: The Swan, Leek Arts Festival SOLD OUT

Box Office Number: 01538 483741

Website: www.leekartsfestival.org

Performance Time: 8pm

Ticket Price: £13



Date: 27/5/10

Venue Name: West End Centre, Aldershot

Box Office Number: 01252 330040

Website: www.westendcentre.co.uk

Performance Time: 7pm

Ticket Price:£12.50 (£10 concs under 18s £7.50)



Date: 28/5/10

Venue Name: Lichfield Guildhall
Box Office Number: 01543-262223
Website: www.lichfieldarts.org.uk
Performance Time: 7.30pm
Ticket Price: £12/£11 concs/£10 members £6 students

Also featuring Lichfield’s very own Wildfire Folk



Date: 29/5/10

Venue Name: Huntingdon Hall, Worcester

Box Office Number: 01905 611427

Website: www.worcesterlive.co.uk

Performance Time: 8pm

Ticket Price: £14

Win tickets for Warwick Folk 2010!

Help make Warwick a greener festival and be in with a chance of winning one of four weekend camping tickets for 2010!

Simply pick up a WFF flyer from a festival or event near you and return the enclosed form to OR subscribe to the WFF e-newsletter by Thursday 1st July – if you’ve already bought a ticket, they’ll refund the cost.

Opt into the Warwick Folk Festival e-newsletter here http://www.facebook.com/l/ecb5f;www.warwickfolkfestival.co.uk/signup.shtml
and you’ll receive the latest updates from us direct to your inbox: you’ll help to reduce paper usage and be the first to find out who’s on at Warwick 2011!

Unable to go to Warwick this year? You can still enter the free ticket competition – they’ll make yours a 2011 ticket.

The Urban Folk Quartet

debut album
is officially released this Monday,
the 10th May 2010!

Available from:
Amazon
Play.com
HMV
Fellside


Brand new CD: the Urban Folk Quartet
Label: Fellside Records
Cat No: FECD233


Release date: Monday 10 May 2010

Distribution: Proper



Paloma Trigás: Fiddle, Vocals

Joe Broughton: Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin;

Tom Chapman: Cajon, Percussion, Vocals

Frank Moon: Guitar; Oud, Vocals.

Listening to the musical empathy generated by the Urban Folk Quartet on their eponymously titled début album, it’s hard to believe they’ve been playing together for less than ten months. Launched in June 2009, the band forged their collective fire in a slew of dazzling gigs in the UK, Italy, Belgium and Spain, headlining major festivals from the outset and winning the Spanish International Folk Competition in Plasencia with only their fourth stage performance.

Summer concert dates across Europe to be announced very soon...

Learn to Play Guitar in a Day

An intensive one day guitar workshop for adults. Learn everything you need to know to start your playing! Suitable for complete beginners, re-starters or those with a little knowledge.

The workshop is taught in small groups, with very experienced tutors and plenty of individual attention for each participant. By the end of the day you will be able to play some basic chords, notes and scales, know how to tune and maintain your guitar, and play a simple tune!

The workshop is held in the historic town of Stony Stratford (Milton Keynes, north Bucks).

Cost: £45 - includes all tuition, course materials and refreshments.

Saturday 20th March 2010

10 - 5pm

For more information contact musos@fsmail.net

Price reductions for non-resident students !

We have just reduced prices on the following courses to £118 per person (includes 2 lunches & 2 evening meals)

5-7 February 2010

Recorder Ensemble
Drawing Buildings in Pen & Wash

19-21 March 2010

Bridge Weekend: Improve Your Bidding

National Youth Jazz Summer School

The National Youth Jazz Collective is delighted to launch its 'National Youth Jazz Summer School 2010', funded by Youth Music and parented by Sound and Music.
This week long summer school will be held at The Yehudi Menuhin School, Stoke d'Abernon, Cobham, Surrey 22nd – 28th August 2010
With a FREE public performance in the Menuhin Hall on 28th August 2010 at 6pm – 8.30pm and a pre-concert public seminar in "Good practice for young jazz musicians" at 4.30pm Tutors include Issie Barratt, Alec Dankworth, Nic France, Mark Hodgson, John Hollenbeck, Mark Lockheart, Liam Noble, Jeremy Price, Nick Smart, Martin Speake, Rowland Sutherland and Mike Walker.
The focus of the National Youth Jazz Summer School is to develop improvisatory and interactive skills within the context of small group playing, as well as offering a high level of performance experience and professional guidance
Summer School participants will be asked to pay a registration fee of £150
FREE regional auditions, open to all young jazz musicians aged 14 - 18 and residing in England, will be held at the following venues between 27th March and 17th April 2010
The closing date for applications is 19th February 2010.
For more information and the on-line application form please visit the National Youth Jazz Collective’s website http://www.blogger.com/www.nyjc.co.uk

MusicLeader Start-Up session - Only 6 places left!

Are you a musician who would like to work as a music leader? Just setting out on your music leading career? Not sure where to start? Then 'Start-Up!' is for you!There are just 6 places left on this jam-packed half day session, which will take you on an informative journey around the world of music leading and will give an insight into what it is like to work as a music leader. From an overview of the type of work available, through to how to navigate local and national contacts, this FREE Start-up session will give you the tools needed to kick-start your music leading career.

Date: Monday 18th January 2010
Time: 10am - 1pm
Venue: The Big Peg, Birmingham, B18 6NF
Contact Emma Beecham at west-midlands@musicleader.net to book your place - first come first served!

3 offers for the Yukka Folk Weekend at Farncombe 2010 - book before 31/12/2009 !

The Yukka Folk Weekend in association with Living Tradition - Making Music

Farncombe Estate has recently joined the Associated Teachers of Singing as a Corporate Member

The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) was founded in 1975 to promote a wider understanding of all aspects of the teaching of singing. They create opportunities which bring together teachers from all over the world. All AOTOS activities and services are open to members specialising in teaching any expression of song: from classical, through music theatre and folk, to jazz, rock and gospel, either privately or in school, college or conservatoire.
http://aotos.org.uk/directory/