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July 2013
Orchestral Workshop (Weeks 1, 3, 4 & 5)
The all-comers Orchestral Workshops offer a chance for amateurs and future professionals alike to take part in friendly rehearsal sessions culminating in an end-of-week performance in the Great Hall, led by professional conductors.
Find out more »Harpsichord courses & Bach on the Harpsichord
An introduction to the harpsichord, the instrument and its playing techniques, for pianists who want to explore Bach’s music.
Find out more »Jazz
The week will also include a jazz tutors’ concert and student jam sessions, culminating in a performance by the full ensemble on Friday evening.
Find out more »Singing with Ancestors & Mbira
This course will explore Zimbabwean singing traditions. Open to all ages and abilities, this relaxed, family-friendly workshop will allow participants to find confidence in singing, learn about African traditions and get to grips with polyrhythms through hand clapping, singing and dance.
Find out more »International Cello Summer School
This new International Summer School for cellists is led by William Bruce, recitalist, concerto soloist and long-serving member of the orchestra of English National Opera.
Find out more »Complete Felt Making
Felt is the first fabric produced by humans and dates back to at least 700 BC. During this complete introduction to hand made felt we will explore both wet and dry techniques to produce flat felt, felt purses and scarves and 3D figures and embellishments using colourful Merino wool
Find out more »Silk Painting with John Farmelo
Explore the pleasures of silk painting. Learn techniques such as gutta, salt effect and wet-into-wet, or experiment with advanced techniques like ‘layered painting’, use of anti-fusing and painting on wool. Complete beginners and experienced silk painters will enjoy this opportunity to work very large and create beautiful and unique pieces.
Find out more »Let Silk Bowls Exist
Time for you to explore old and new techniques, broaden your experience, develop new ideas and have time to play! You will manipulate fabrics, threads and beads to produce contemporary lace fabrics. These will be embedded in silk fibres, stitched and moulded to create sumptuous vessels.
Find out more »August 2013
Playing at Leisure
A new special music weekend in Hitchin where groups large or small or individuals and couples who want a short break with the possibility - but not the obligation - of taking advantage of some of our musical facilities are able to come to Benslow Music for a favourable rate.
Find out more »Landscape Photography Course
Designed to help you understand the basic skills and techniques required to take better landscape and architectural photographs. Suitable for those who own either a digital SLR (DLSR) or any digital camera that can be manually overridden.
Find out more »Text and image – the art of letterpress printing
Learn the basics of letterpress printing using techniques that date back hundreds of years. Printing text from metal type and images using the simple relief process, you explore the possibilities for combining the two and learn how to set metal type, mix ink and print with a press.
Find out more »Summer Flowers and Foliage in Watercolour
Summer is a season to ignite and inspire ones creativity. Through friendly and informal tuition and suitable for all abilities, learn technique and composition, brush control skills and the value of the sketchbook.
Find out more »Harpsichord Masterclass with Maggie Cole
Aimed at those who already have a solid grip on harpsichord playing techniques, participants will receive a minimum of 45 minutes dedicated tuition during the week, in addition to what is learnt through observing each other within the group.
Find out more »Dillington Summer School : Week One
Out-and-about or Dillington based, create a learning holiday with a difference on one of our week long Summer Schools and learn with like-minded people whilst having fun, relaxing and rejuvenating. There are three weeks to choose from.
Find out more »Wild Plant Illustrations in the Field with Pen and Wash
During this course you will learn the technique, then identify and sketch wild flowers to make your own records under field conditions.
Find out more »Summer Landscapes – Painting in Watercolour
An opportunity to paint in this beautiful location and with an award winning restaurant. Arriving the afternoon of the 5th and departing the afternoon of the 9th, Jeremy, international artist, will demonstrate a wide range of painting techniques and provide tuition in this inspiring location.
Find out more »From the shoreline to sea and sky…..Seascapes in mixed media and textiles
Taking the sea and shore as inspiration, stretch your creative imagination and develop ideas through experimental exploration into dynamic personal textile pieces.
Find out more »Shakespeare in our Time
There are countless situations in Shakespeare’s plays, that can be put into the category of ‘the human condition’ - part of what it means to be human. This is one good reason why Shakespeare’s plays continue to be performed - this course will explore why.
Find out more »Picture it in Collage and Stitch
Learn Richard's method of integrating fabric collage with both machine and hand stitching. After you have gained confidence by working through a 'learning pack' under guidance you will start your designs using same techinque but in your own way.
Find out more »Looking at the Novel
Themes span distinct locations across three continents and we will look at how social mores and patterns of behaviour influence the way each novel is structured.
Find out more »Harvest Festival in Coloured Pencil, Graphite or Watercolour
Blackberries, apples, plums, wheat, barley, crab apples, runner beans etc., so many subjects, so little time! Learn the techniques to create your own harvest festival composition. Demonstrations by Sue during the workshop along with individual attention. Suitable for all abilities.
Find out more »Creating Calm from Chaos: Coping Strategies for you and your lifestyle
Wellbeing is related to personal health, community spirit and creativity and is shaped by our genes, our upbringing, our personal circumstances and choices, with negative thoughts and worries it saps our energy and destroys calm feelings
Find out more »2 day painting workshops – Acrylics or Watercolour
A full day of painting with lots of tuition and demonstrations from Penny Wilton from 10am – 4pm for just £25 per person, bring own materials and a packed lunch or go to the pub. Any subject, realistic or abstract, Penny will help with any medium.
Find out more »Painting Studio Weekend
This is an opportunity for painters of all abilities to be guided through their own project by a highly experienced artist and tutor. The weekend offers a supportive and stimulating environment where you can learn new techniques, experiment with style and share ideas.
Find out more »Mozart
During his short but prolific life, Mozart worked in every current medium. He was, and remains, the most universal of composers. During this weekend we will explore aspects of his mastery, and hear some music by his contemporaries.
Find out more »Polymer clay jewellery extrusions galore
Learn exciting ways of making polymer clay jewellery using the extruder tool. Explore the many design possibilities and ways of loading the extruder as you expand your personal repertoire of shapes and colours as you cut, twist, stack, wrap and slice.
Find out more »Hooked on Crochet
Have great fun constructing small freeform textured crochet patches and individual elements - these can then be sewn to a base fabric to start making your own unique wall hanging, or use them to decorate a small bag.
Find out more »Wildlife painting using Gouache (opaque watercolour)
Specifically about learning gouache techniques so no special drawing/painting skills required and using subjects provided or from your own photos of your chosen subject or pet. Individual tuition to help you achieve a precise painting. A fun and informative workshop with individual tuition and demonstrations by the tutor.
Find out more »Get to Grips with Adobe Photoshop Elements
After a photo-shoot around the grounds of Farncombe Estate, the course will continue with a structured programme that will show the benefits of two important features of the Adobe software – Organiser and Edit.
Find out more »The Descent
The Descent is a plunge into the mysterious wild. Leaving the nurturing safety of Embercombe we journey into the dream-world and walk ancient paths that reach inwards and outwards.
Find out more »September 2013
Botanical Illustration in Watercolour
This three and a half day workshop will appeal to all those who love plants and wish to paint them in detail. Individual tuition in an informative and friendly style and suitable for all levels of ability.
Find out more »Writing for Games
Games writing demands the scene-setting skills of a playwright, the characterisation of a novelist, the attention to nuance of a poet, and the flexibility to allow your audience into your work.
Find out more »A Crash Course in Classical Music
This course is ideal for those who have perhaps enjoyed listening to Classic fM or watching the Last Night of the Proms and would like to know more about classical music but don’t know where to begin.
Find out more »Painting & Sketching on Brownsea Island
Three nights at South Shore Lodge, sea views, enjoy painting and sketching among the wildlife, deer only 3 feet away from me last year when I was painting. £165 per person. Tuition if required £5 per hour.
Find out more »Scything and Grassland Management
Beginners often imagine that a two day scything course is a bit excessive, just to learn how to use a garden tool; and that is true if all you want to do is knock down weeds. But anyone who wants to mow grass on any scale will benefit from a two day course
Find out more »Fantastical painting – creating imagined worlds
Explore your imagined worlds, create painted realities, and work with themes dealing with fantastical narratives, surrealist dreams and the dynamics of the imagination in a playful and practical manner.
Find out more »Catalyst
Do you want to...push your boundaries? shape the future? get more out of life than a job? Catalyst is a leading-edge 5-day residential course for young adults aged 18 - 25.
Find out more »The Embercombe Experience
Exploring values and vision for a truly sustainable world - an experience to guide you towards a life that contributes to creating the world of your longing and also a life of fulfilment and happiness.
Find out more »Fiction
A course to help you in your search for the best narrative voice for this particular story, and guide you on that steep uphill journey from rough idea and draft to arriving at your destination.
Find out more »Writing for Puppetry
A week of provocation to develop fearless writing and encourage experimentation. Includes practical workshops by Mervyn Millar to demystify puppetry and explore the relationship between design, dialogue and staging, and workshops by Nell Leyshon that focus on finding secure dramatic structures to keep your wild visions in healthy shape.
Find out more »Go Gospel Weekend
Blow away the blues with a weekend of uplifting gospel singing. Experienced gospel choir director Jo Sercombe will take you through a variety of gospel repertoire, from early spirituals to contemporary American gospel; helping you to free your voice and create that special gospel vocal sound.
Find out more »Self-Hypnosis to Improve your Writing Creativity
Hypnosis is a normal and natural state of mind very like daydreaming. In hypnosis your attention is turned inwards to some degree and the mind is settled. It’s much easier in this state to notice the drift of your thoughts. The state of hypnosis allows access to the subconscious and our amazing resources of memory and imagination.
Find out more »Get your bees through winter
Learn all you need to know about getting your colony through the winter including: Taking honey off; Treating for Varroa; Assessing feeding requirements; Feeding and getting the bees and hive ready for winter. Course Leader David Wiscombe has half a century of experience as a nationally known apiarist.
Find out more »Towards abstraction – painting still-lifes
Many artists reach a stage in their development when mere representation is not sufficient for personal expression. Learn to respond directly to the subject of still-life using mixed media to explore line, form, colour and texture.
Find out more »Late Summer Singer’s Retreat
Singers, come and enjoy a restful 5-night stay in a beautiful late Georgian House in a gorgeous Dorset setting, with wonderful accommodation, fabulous food and SING to your heart’s content, every day.
Find out more »Furniture making skills – for beginners
Learn hand skills which are sustainable in a home workshop, as you work through each stage in the construction of a specially designed side table. You are shown the principles behind sharpening and maintaining tools (using your own or the College’s).
Find out more »Starting to Write Poetry
Come to Lumb Bank, the former house of Ted Hughes and now an Arvon writing house, for a week all about writing poetry. A perfect week if you are new to poetry and looking to gain the confidence to keep writing.
Find out more »Flute Day with Zoe Booth and Rachel Buxton
The popular Zoë Booth leads another friendly one day workshop, offering tips and encouragement to all flautists of any standard. She’s an expert in pinpointing solutions to problems, and achieves miraculous results with the minimum of fuss. The day begins at 10 am and ends at about 5 pm, and to help sustain your energy a delicious lunch will be provided.
Find out more »Clarinet Day for grades 7 and 8 with Andrew Sparling
Andrew Sparling leads a new course designed to help candidates for Grades 7 and 8 clarinet. Bring along the pieces you are preparing and he’ll offer you interpretative and technical guidance. We begin at 10 am and finish at about 5 pm, and to help sustain your energy a delicious lunch will be provided.
Find out more »The Journey: Finding Earth, Finding Soul
A 5 day residential programme to undertake a voyage of personal exploration and step towards your true authentic self and towards the world
Find out more »Drawing with the sewing machine needle
A weekend residential course in the heart of the East Anglian countryside.
Find out more »Art Quilts again – Impressionism
Ferret will show you how to prepare a pattern from your own photographs, but you will be supplied a pattern to get you started right away. You will learn how a computer programme can help you produce a pattern, and how stitching holds your pieces together, quilts your quilt and adds detail all at the same time
Find out more »Short Courses at Wentworth Castle: Meditation to Quieten the Mind
Meditation is an effective way of counteracting stress and increasing the sense of personal well-being. The course is designed for those who have not practiced before or who have only limited experience.
Find out more »Acoustic Folk – Guitar Weekend Course
This is great follow-on to Strugglers and Improvers and will cover most acoustic guitar techniques and styles of the '60s and '70s including the Beatles, McTell, Donovan, Dylan, etc.
Find out more »An Introduction to Garden Design
Gain a feel for the whole subject of garden design on this one day course, just in time for spring and summer.
Find out more »Autumn Mountain Walking Weekend
Explore Snowdonia through a series of mountain walks and discover the natural history, historical and cultural heritage of the area, amidst the colours of the autumn fall. The walks planned will visit the National Park’s most interesting and scenic mountains away from the well-trodden paths of popular areas.
Find out more »Loud & Clear; Writing In Your Own Voice with Jo Bell
Some days you think you’re a genius, other days a fraud – does that sound familiar? Writing poetry is a solitary enterprise, but you are not alone. Find out how to develop your own unique style, strengthen your work and stretch your poetry muscles in a friendly, welcoming environment with like-minded people – and come away with a sheaf of new poems.
Find out more »Bringing your autumn garden inside
Create a contemporary flower design in an afternoon with Angela Swallow. This afternoon is a step by step guide for beginners / intermediate arrangers and is held in a small and friendly environment.
Find out more »October 2013
Bliss & Walton: Two Masters of English Music (with Andrew Burn)
Our weekend will explore the lives and music of two of the greatest among English composers, Sir Arthur Bliss (1891-1975) and Sir William Walton (1902-1983).
Find out more »Co-Creating a Community of Transcendent Awareness
As a species we are realising that we need to take collective responsibility for the future of humanity in harmony with all life. This stimulating weekend is for those who feel that a calling to develop a clear vision and definite next steps to manifest a radiant and loving consciousness in the world.
Find out more »One Day Wine Course
A solid grounding on all aspects of enjoying wine, from tasting to choosing wine, valuing wines, food & wine matching, how wines age and when to drink them and we will even touch on faulty wines. You'll taste 15 great quality wines from around the world including whites, reds, fizz and dessert wines and the course will also include advice on choosing wines for Christmas.
Find out more »Leather Belt Making using traditional tools and techniques
You will cover a selection of basic leather working skills using traditional tools as well as working with Oak Bark tanned Bridle Butt hides from the tannery in Colyton. You will hand cut the straps for your belt, edge, bevel, dye and burnish it. As well as riveting, skiving and fitting.
Find out more »The Wow Factor! – Composition and Colour in Autumn in Watercolour/Coloured Pencil
Using colour technique and looking at texture we will examine how to work paper to create lively and accurate paintings, looking at the different pigments that can be used together to create the jewel colours that can be found in autumn and considering both palette mixing as well as laying down washes. With individual tuition, group discussion and demonstration and with examples of work and plant material supplied you can work in watercolour or colour pencil.
Find out more »Adventures in Cello and Piano Repertoire
The wonderfully rich repertoire for cello and piano beckons. Bring your choice of one or more pieces from Bach onwards. We welcome equally pre-formed cello and piano duos and individual applicants on either instrument.
Find out more »Celebrating Britten
From Elgar to MacMillan and beyond the last century has seen an explosion of British creative talent. One composer of special significance to this explosion was Benjamin Britten, who was born one hundred years ago.
Find out more »Painting Features in the Landscape
Beginners and improvers are welcome on this varied weekend, when we shall take a fresh look at the familiar features in the landscape. Most aspiring artists attempt the painting and drawing of skies, hills, trees and water, so with closer study and a little help, you will gain confidence. There will be demonstrations and useful tips on colour mixes and drawing techniques throughout the weekend.
Find out more »Rosa’s Spanish Cuisine
Whether you are looking to perfect your paella or how to cook a delicious plate of stuffed piquillo peppers, this course with Rosa Garcia Marin at Alston Hall will help you indulge your passion for Spanish food
Find out more »Life-Coaching Retreat with Ali Soleil
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to have some time out? Time away from the demands of everyday life and give yourself some to time to focus on ‘you’?
Find out more »Bread Making
Monkton Wyld Court's Victorian gothic setting and outdoor wood fired clay oven provide an inspiring background for learning traditional bread-making and baking skills. Suitable for Beginners
Find out more »Crime Fiction
This week we invite would-be, or already published, crime novelists to experiment with new ideas. The aim of the five days is to show that there is no set format for the crime genre, except a dedication to good storytelling.
Find out more »Wagner: Lohengrin
Our conference will consider the development of Wagner’s career and in particular his opera Lohengrin. We will discuss the relationship between music, characterisation and drama, with illustrations on excellent hi-fi equipment including DVD with large screen.
Find out more »Create a Concertina Panel Book
This unique binding is for the display of text or images such as prints, photos or 2-D samples. Its basis is a concertina made with separate components that can be added, removed or substituted. The result is a stylish and very functional book.
Find out more »Strategies for How to Set Up a Low-Impact Smallholding
You will be taught the theory side of starting your own smallholding, from looking at the planning and administrative considerations to visiting some local thriving smallholdings and discussing the owner's experience with them.
Find out more »Creative Writing Course
Whether you need help to get started, or to edit and develop your work, or simply to get new ideas and inspiration, this could be the course for you
Find out more »Painting Holiday at Hope Cove
Staying at The Cottage Hotel, painting tuition £30 per day. Come for a day or the whole course. You can bring your own materials or they can be supplied. You can also have a go at mosaics with another tutor who is joining me teaching for this course.
Find out more »Mixed Media Weekend for Beginners and Improvers
For those who want to explore, develop and express ideas through picture making, and who wish to produce artwork for exhibiting, selling gifts and making reproductions for greeting cards. You will have the opportunity to focus on personal choices of subjects and materials.
Find out more »Chi Kung with Glyn Williams
Chi Kung (or Qi Gong) exercises are some of the oldest surviving exercise techniques to have emerged from China. They were evolved as easy exercises for developing energy in order to improve health and well-being and for encouraging mental and physical relaxation.
Find out more »Who Was Jane Austen?
No other novelist in late 18th and early 19th Century England wrote with Jane Austen’s clarity or acuity. While the down-to-earth Georgians appreciated her pithy, realistic portraits of gentry life, the straitlaced Victorians discovered a moral weightiness in her writing and cast a veneer of respectability over the novelist’s life and character. Two hundred years on, her plots and characters intrigue and delight a modern audience of readers, film-goers and television viewers. So, was the real Jane Austen a moralist…
Find out more »Ham Hill, Hillforts & the Iron Age of the South West
This weekend will present the results of the recently completed excavations at Ham Hill. It will provide a comprehensive picture of the work that has been done over the last three years including discussion of the geophysical survey, the excavations, the finds and the agricultural economy.
Find out more »Jewellery from Wire and Beads
Learn to manipulate wires to create links and chains in order to make simple pieces of jewellery. The skills and techniques that are taught do not need burners or chemicals, so you will be able to continue them at home. It is important to have reasonable dexterity and good eyesight, or glasses! All tools will be provided by the tutor, but do bring any tools, beads or even broken bead jewellery that you have.
Find out more »Two’s Company – Piano Duets and Duos
Perhaps you’ve only ever played the piano on your own, or perhaps you already play duets on one or two pianos. Either way, Anne Applin and Geoffrey Pratley offer plentiful expertise and guide you in master classes and individual lessons.
Find out more »Polymer Clay for Beginners and Improvers: Faux Effects and Surface Bling
Polymer clay is a material that can be shaped and cured in a domestic oven and is available in lots of delicious colours. This course provides a taster for creating your own bespoke jewellery, or elements that can be incorporated with your own personal mixed media projects.
Find out more »From Print to Stitch
Over this weekend you will explore the journey from mark making and printing through creating a design for a stitched panel in relief to dimensional stitching.
Find out more »Learn to play Jazz Guitar
This course is an introduction to playing jazz guitar for those who either want to just get started in jazz guitar, and don't know how, or have already tried but have become frustrated in making headway.
Find out more »Music Theory: Preparing for Grade 6 Theory and Beyond
Katharine will lead you carefully through the requirements of the Associated Board’s Grade 6 Theory exam, giving you the expertise and confidence to meet the challenge of the examination room head on.
Find out more »Deserted Villages in the Cotswolds
By the 13th Century, the Cotswold landscape was dotted with a network of villages. However, with the Black Death of 1348/9, many communities were weakened and communities were broken up. We will examine the causes of desertion and the character of the deserted Cotswold village.
Find out more »Northern College Study Breaks: Pastel Techiques
An opportunity to learn and practice how to paint a landscape using the versatile medium of pastel . We will be looking at a range of techniques and applying them to enhance picture development. Will appeal to all levels of expertise.
Find out more »Guitar Weekend – Course for Beginners
This is for those who either want to start playing the guitar or who have started but are getting nowhere fast; it’ll be a small course with limited places covering everything from set-up to basic chord progressions and scales to different strumming patterns and rhythms, focusing on tunes and not just technique.
Find out more »Eat the hedgerow – Autumn sessions
Nuts, berries and seeds are abundant this time of year, as well as good supplies of greens and roots. Come and see what's available this year to forage and cook up at Embercombe.
Find out more »Squashed! Getting creative with pumpkins and squashes
Pumpkin fanatic Rosemary Moon will transform your expectations of one of winter’s most useful ingredients. Packed full of flavour pumpkins are one of winter’s most versatile foods. Lots of cooking demos, practical group work, eating and growing tips.
Find out more »Antiques and Collectables
This course will deal with a range of antiques and collectables from furniture to glass and from silver to ceramics. You will be guided through the methods of dating, shown how items were made, told what’s in fashion and what is not, and how to put a value to an item.
Find out more »French Beaded Rose Bouquet
Learn three basic French Beading techniques and make roses, stephanotis and gypsophila. The course discusses different ways to use your flowers: assembling bouquets, corsages, table decorations and arrangements for your home. This is suitable for all levels, whether you are new to this style of beadwork or developing your skills.
Find out more »Acornucopia – all about acorns
On this day we’ll explore a few techniques for gathering, processing and cooking whilst also deepening our relationship with the extraordinary, ordinary Oak.
Find out more »Understanding Photography
This course is designed for lovers of photography, from competent beginner to aspiring professional. Whilst there will be a strong element of hands on and practical photography, incorporating primarily portrait and landscape photography there will also be plenty of discussion on photography in general as we look at the work of established photographers and the visual impact of their work. You are also encouraged to bring along your own work for appraisal. All types of cameras are welcome from digital to film to smart phone and time will be spent discussing how to get the best from our cameras by looking at the technical issues of cameras.
Find out more »No Boundaries Acoustic Band Course
This course is open to any acoustic instrument player and provides an opportunity to develop your playing over the course of four days. Past courses have successfully catered for every combination, including fretted and bowed stringed instruments, saxophone, flute and harmonica... What do you play?
Find out more »Botanical Illustration
Botanical Illustration is precise detailed work, a combination of art and science. This studio based watercolour course is for all ability levels; no experience of art or botany is required, just commitment. You will work at your own pace on the subject of your choice.
Find out more »November 2013
Blues I
A great holiday break where you will join other like-minded players for an excellent social and informative weekend.
Find out more »Learn to Spin
Have you ever thought you might like to try hand spinning your own yarn? Or maybe you have tried it and would like to refresh your skills. This one day course can offer you something in either case! Working with spindles and with wheels, we will look at the basics of spinning, some fibre preparation, and how to tackle wool, silk and maybe some other fibres. We will supply all of these, enough spindles for all participants, and we will have a few wheels available for the class to use.
Find out more »