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    • Denman

      Denman

      Denman is the WI’s home of creativity in Oxfordshire and offers hundreds of courses open to all: WI members and non-members, men and women, and students of all ages.

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  • Promoting residential lifelong learning in the UK since 1983

    ARCA - short residential courses in the UK

Archive of Short Course | LeisureCourses.net - short courses & residential study breaks in great locations - Part 7

  • The Saxophone and Its Music

    Listed on March 7, 2016 by Knuston Hall in Featured Courses

    This highly popular course will provide continual teaching and guidance through participation in ensembles of various sizes.  Groups are changed for every session and participants can expect to play in ensembles ranging from trios to massed sax groups. Players will be grouped with those of similar ability.  A vast library of music will...

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  • Botanical Watercolour Painting

    Listed on March 7, 2016 by Knuston Hall in Featured Courses

    This course is a perfect opportunity for beginners, as well as the more experienced, to paint in the lovely, peaceful and friendly surroundings at Knuston Hall. The summer is a good time to find a wide variety of stunning plants and flowers and the length of this course provides the chance to do...

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  • Embroidery Summer School: The River Bank

    Listed on March 7, 2016 by Knuston Hall in Featured Courses

    The river bank is a wonderful subject for embroidery with all the textures and colours of the flowers, animals (Ratty, Mole, Badger and of course Mr Toad come to mind) birds, insects and water side plants. During this course, by the showing of samples, and through detailed demonstrations, instruction and discussion, both as...

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  • Weaving Summer School

    Listed on March 7, 2016 by Knuston Hall in Featured Courses

    Learn to weave on the latest folding rigid heddle looms from Ashford; for absolute beginners or those wishing to develop and explore advanced rigid heddle techniques such as second heddle. Complete at least two projects of choice from simple scarves to double weave hand bound books, throws, or cushions. Topics include: Design-sources of...

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  • Midweek Woodcarving Workshop

    Listed on March 7, 2016 by Knuston Hall in Featured Courses

    This two day woodcarving workshop is open to all experience levels. If you are a beginner you will introduced to woods and tools and be guided at your own pace through the stages of carving a simple relief project. Practiced carvers are equally welcome, with tuition on-hand, there will be the opportunity for you to...

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  • September In Somerset

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Dillington is located in a region that is steeped in history and has a rich and varied landscape, from moor to sea all within easy reach. Enjoy a three night stay in the beautiful surroundings of Dillington and be free to explore the wonderful counties of Somerset, Dorset and Devon. Return to a delicious evening...

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  • Beautiful Brick & Sublime Stone: How Building Materials Have Shaped Britain’s Architecture

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    The rich variety of building materials is one of the most striking things about British architecture. Look around you in any town and you’ll see stone church spires, red brick houses, shop fronts decorated with tiles, perhaps an older timber-framed house, an Edwardian theatre with an ornate plastered facade, or a market hall with a...

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  • Antiques Repair Workshop

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This practical and enjoyable five day course will give you an opportunity to participate and learn from an expert ‘everything you ever wanted to know about furniture but were afraid to ask’. You will spend each day in the tutor’s own workshop in Wellington where specific problems will be overcome and techniques demonstrated. In addition,...

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  • The Genius of Handel

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    There is a lot more to Handel than his justly celebrated oratorio Messiah or The Water Music. This short course will examine his life, time and achievement. Lavishly illustrated with images, music and anecdotes, we will explore the whole range of his output and demonstrate his complete mastery and genius. Importantly, we will see that...

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  • The War of the Roses

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Great buildings, growing prosperity, and a nasty taste for violence – that’s the paradox of fifteenth century England. Lost confidence in King Henry VI, and an ill-advised challenge from his cousin Richard of York, then terrible consequences including the deaths of both men. We will take a fresh view of the conflict, from its inception...

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  • Be A More Confident Painter

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This five day course is designed to challenge painters with some experience. The emphasis will be on watercolour, especially for preliminary work but finished studio pieces could be in any medium. Take time in the glorious surroundings of Dillington, to unwind and take a critical look at your own work. Be honest, are you stuck...

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  • Private Houses & Gardens of Devon, Somerset & Dorset

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Despite the large number of Houses and Gardens, which open their doors to the public (over 1500 in the UK), there are over twice this number, which are rarely, if ever, open to the general public. As with last year’s programme, which was dedicated solely to the private houses and gardens of Devon, this year...

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  • The Music of Tudor England

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Think of the Tudors and one thinks of the Reformation, that devastating upheaval. For musicians it proved hard to cope, as the rapturous elaborations of earlier times had to give way to simple purity. But Secular music also evolved, and became more personal and revealing. John Taverner and Thomas Tallis will take centre stage in...

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  • The Georgians – Their Art, Architecture & Entertainment

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Everybody knows something about the Georgians but not everyone knows how foundational the period remains to our own time and culture. The Hanoverian succession was not easy although once established it created an enduring dynasty. This two-day course will explore the architecture, the society, briefly the politics, the art, literature and the music. We will...

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  • Dancing Dillington

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Classes take place in the morning so there is plenty of time to practice your moves before you hit the dance floor each evening. There will also be the chance to dress up for a special dinner, after which you can sit back, relax and be dazzled as James and Leila take to the floor...

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  • Watercolour Adventure

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Taking water as our theme we will embark on a voyage of discovery exploring techniques to capture the watery depths of the oceans, rockpools, ponds or rivers and the colourful flora and fauna living within. This course will be most suitable for those who wish to develop their watercolour paintings and try new experimental techniques...

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  • Creative Writing Workshop

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    During this workshop we will look at some narrative techniques employed in creative writing and use writing exercises to source ideas and to further explore our creativity. All kinds of writing will be shared in a friendly group setting. Your tutor will be available to read work and offer advice for progression and there will...

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  • By George’ – The Whirlwind Musical Life of George Gershwin

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Raised on the overcrowded Lower East Side of New York, young George Gershwin had a life on the streets as roller-skating champion and often skipped school for secret piano lessons from an aunt. Working his way into ‘Tin Pan Alley’ as a song plugger, he had his own first hit at the age of 21...

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  • Making a Stained Glass Panel

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Create your own stained glass panel using the traditional craft of combining coloured glass with lead; small numbers, demonstrations and practical help throughout – no experience needed but also suitable for ‘improvers’. Learn how to handle and cut glass safely, to design, 'lead up' and solder a panel about A4 size. All glass and equipment...

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  • Wildlife & Natural History Painting in Gouache

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This course is designed for beginners and upwards and will teach you how to make a true representation of a wildlife subject whilst not requiring any high level of drawing skill. From source material provided, or from your own pictures, we will use the medium of gouache - an opaque watercolour that is ideal for...

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  • Bobbin Lacemaking – British and European

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This is a practical course for all abilities of lacemakers from those who have a knowledge of only the basic stitches to those who wish to study advanced techniques in the British and European laces. Many of the continental laces are taught with the aid of a colour-coded diagram to help students continue their work...

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  • Industrial Heritage Around Dillington & Dorset

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This year’s course contrasts the Dillington area with Purbeck in Dorset. Together with lectures, there are two field visits, locally to the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s reserve collection, Ilchester bridges, Dawe’s twine works and the Ham Hill quarries. We stray into distant Purbeck where ball clay workings, tramways, railways and limekilns survive within spectacular scenery...

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  • Mozart In Vienna – Trouble & Triumph

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    Mozart arrived in Vienna having walked out of Salzburg and with the disapproval of his father, which turned out to be a risk both professionally and personally. Yet during the years 1781-1791 he composed some of his most innovative and inspired music. His three da Ponte operas as well as the Magic Flute appeared, as...

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  • The Making of England: Alfred the Great & The House of Wessex

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    From the reign of King Egbert in the early ninth century, Wessex slowly emerged as the dominant kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England. Egbert’s direct descendant, Alfred the Great, saved Wessex from Viking attack and invasion and through far-sighted reforms provided his descendants with a foundation from which England would be unified. With reference to sources of...

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  • Choosing Plants for Your Borders

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This classroom based course, run over three consecutive s, is for those who want no more expensive mistakes through impulse buying. Whether you are planting a border from scratch or trying to improve an established garden, the wealth of plants on offer can be overwhelming. By considering a few simple guidelines, putting plants together to...

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  • Bookbinding – Crossed Structure Binding

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    This course is intended for all levels from the complete beginner to the more experienced and will take place in a studio that is well equipped for general bookbinding. This course will focus on a technique of non-adhesive binding used widely on the Continent. A useful and flexible style using either paper, leather or leather...

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  • Victorian Artists, Their Models & Muses

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    From Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal, to Lord Frederick Leighton and Dorothy Dene, the work of many Victorian artists was influenced by their models, many of whom became their muses, mistresses or wives. In this course we will investigate the often complex relationships between Victorian artists and their models and celebrate the spectacular works...

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  • Much Ado About Nothing: Deception, Darkness & Dogberry

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    ‘I have deceived even your very eyes’. We will explore, through reading and analysis, one of the most popular of Shakespeare’s comedies, Much Ado About Nothing. We will focus on the central theme of deception in the play: in particular the benevolent deception which supports the love story between Beatrice and Benedick, and the malevolent...

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  • Romanesque, Art, Architecture & Design

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    The Romanesque period represents the first truly European wide international style, since the fall of the Roman Empire. Its spread alongside the expansion of the Roman Catholic Church is no coincidence, as both the Catholic faith and the nascent political ambitions of new nation states combined to create a heady mix of militant Christianity, politics,...

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  • Mediation and Mindfulness

    Listed on February 18, 2016 by Dillington in Featured Courses

    A course designed for beginners, and for anyone wanting to refresh their own practice. We will look at how traditional meditation is now ‘mainstream’, formulated as Mindfulness by Jon Kabat Zinn et.al., and used therapeutically in many social contexts. We will have short periods of silent practice with different meditation supports, starting with the breath...

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