LeisureCourses.net – short courses & residential study breaks in great locations

15/20J Playing Klezmer from Music with Members of the London Klezmer Quartet

Past London Klezmer Quartet courses have focused on learning by ear. By contrast

15/20C Ragtime Piano with Marco Marconi

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDAward winning international jazz pianist and composer Marco Marconi moved to the UK in 2012 bringing both his talent and vast experience. In 2015 he leads this brand new course focusing on Ragtime, analysing different styles and the differences between famous rag-time pianists like Scott Joplin, Art Tatum and Jelly Roll Morton and...

15/352 Cello Orchestra with Jenny Curtis

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDJenny Curtis again leads cellists in works transcribed or originally written for cellos in anything from three to eight parts. There

15/354 String Quartets with the Coull (3 day option) with Members of the Coull Quartet

STANDARD: ADVANCEDThe Coull Quartet returns to give its usual friendly, expert advice and encouragement to up to ten pre-formed string quartets. Bring along whatever repertoire you choose. As usual there is also a public concert on the first night of the course at 8 pm, and every course member is automatically entitled to entry. As...

15/298 String Quartets with the Coull (2 day option) with Members of the Coull Quartet

STANDARD: ADVANCEDThe Coull Quartet returns to give its usual friendly, expert advice and encouragement to up to ten pre-formed string quartets. Bring along whatever repertoire you choose. As usual there is also a public concert on the first night of the course at 8 pm, and every course member is automatically entitled to entry. As...

15/20B Arranging and Orchestration with Alwyn Green

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDDiscover the joy of creating your own arrangements, learn to arrange piano music for ensemble or even for full orchestra, and learn how to convert an orchestral score into a work for small ensemble or piano. We

15/290 The Kerry Camden Advanced Wind Ensembles Course with Simon de Souza and friends

STANDARD: ADVANCEDThe Kerry Camden Advanced Wind Ensembles Course, named in honour of the late, great bassoonist who led it for many years, continues under the highly experienced guidance of horn player Simon de Souza and his expert team of coaches (one for each instrument so detailed help will be on hand for all). The emphasis...

15/291 An Introduction to Latin American Jazz with Marco Marconi

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDBrand new to Benslow, international jazz pianist & composer Marco Marconi leads this course designed for intermediate and advanced players and offers the opportunity to develop their relationship with the spectacular and vast world of Latin jazz. Marco will talk about and demonstrate a journey of Latin rhythms from Brasil down to...

15/292 Singing from Scratch with Roger Moon

STANDARD: ELEMENTARYDo you love singing, but only in the shower? Would you like to share with others the joy of singing, the most natural form of musical expression? To explore different types of music and increase your range? This is the course for you. This weekend of friendly group singing will include songs, rounds, and...

15/348 String Quartets with the Fitzwilliam (3 day option) with Members of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet

STANDARD: ADVANCEDThe amazing Fitzwilliam Quartet returns for another exciting visit to Benslow Music to deliver another of their excellent courses. Once again we are seeking up to ten pre-formed string quartets, each of which will receive friendly, individually tailored tutoring from each member of the quartet. There

15/293 String Quartets with the Fitzwilliam (2 day option) with Members of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet

STANDARD: ADVANCEDThe amazing Fitzwilliam Quartet returns for another exciting visit to Benslow Music to deliver another of their excellent courses. Once again we are seeking up to ten pre-formed string quartets, each of which will receive friendly, individually tailored tutoring from each member of the quartet. There

15/349 Keeping it Fresh – a course for advanced pianists with Heli Ignatious-Fleet

STANDARD: ADVANCEDThe key elements of Heli Ignatius-Fleet

15/295 Impressionism and 20th Century Piano with Tim Barratt

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDTimothy Barratt leads this new course (due to popular demand) devoted to Impressionism and piano music of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Pianists of intermediate (minimum grade 5) and advanced level are invited to bring along own choice pieces they have been preparing. The workshops will include discussion of style and historical perspective,...

15/345 Group Quartets with Jonathan Trout with Jonathon Trout

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDJonathan Trout leads another of our popular Group Quartet courses, designed for those who are reluctant to tackle the string quartet repertoire one to a part or who just enjoy playing the repertoire en masse, as if a string orchestra. We

15/287 Grade VI Theory and Beyond with Katharine Bramley

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDKatharine Bramley repeats her popular course, designed to lead candidates carefully through the requirements of the Associated Board

15/288 Chi Kung for All with Glyn Williams

STANDARD: ALLChi 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. They are thus ideal for performing musicians who need effective ways of...

15/289 Everyone Matters with Margaret Archibald

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDNow in a weekend slot, this popular course led by Margaret Archibald helps string, wind and keyboard players as well as any singers prepare items for informal performances at a range of local care homes. Last year

15/115 Accordion Day with Paul Hutchinson

STANDARD: ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATEPaul

15/283 Fiddle Music of Scotland and Ireland with Pete Cooper

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDPete Cooper

15/284 The Chamber Music of Brahms with Roderick Swanston

STANDARD: ALLBrahms wrote chamber music throughout his life so it provides a special insight into his musical character and development. Sometimes afraid of comparison with Beethoven he often avoided competing with the earlier composer's favourite genres, notably the string quartet. Amongst Brahms's most beautiful early chamber works are his string sextets, and later ones his...

15/285 Conducting Wind Ensembles with Colin Touchin

STANDARD: ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATEDesigned for wind players (all orchestral instruments, recorders, saxophones, etc.) this short course will provide beginner and intermediate conductors and ensemble directors with skills and exercises in theoretical and practical sessions. Topics will include: baton technique, score preparation, rehearsal planning, training routines and performance tips. Bring instruments to play for each...

15/278 Banjo Weekend with David Price

STANDARD: ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATEDavid Price leads another of his popular courses, concentrating on rhythm, jazz playing, how to build solos, chord-melody, tremolo techniques, duo styles, and many other topics relevant to all plectrum and tenor players

Discover the Joys of Playing the Ukulele

15/112 Singing for the Terrified with Katharine Bramley

STANDARD: ALLAre you nervous or frightened of singing on your own? Do you dread the singing element of aural tests? In this one-day course, Katharine Bramley will help you overcome your fears in a friendly and supportive setting, as well as giving you plenty of opportunity to develop your listening and sight-singing skills,...

15/113 Consort Singing Day with Andrew Parnell

STANDARD: ADVANCEDConsort-singing

15/342 String Quartets with the Maggini (3 day option) with Members of the Maggini Quartet

We welcome back our good friends the Maggini Quartet for another of their popular courses in which they pass on their wisdom

15/280 String Quartets with the Maggini (2 day option) with Members of the Maggini Quartet

We welcome back our good friends the Maggini Quartet for another of their popular courses in which they pass on their wisdom

15/269 Introduction to Live-looping with Steve Bingham

STANDARD: ELEMENTARY, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDSteve Bingham leads this brand new course designed to introduce players of all ages and abilities to the world of live-looping. We are looking for players of any electric instrument who want to gain a better understanding of the techniques involved. We will look at the hardware and software available for live-looping...

15/270 Clarinet Weekend with Margaret Archibald

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCEDRenowned clarinetists David Campbell, Margaret Archibald and Ian Scott and the widely admired collaborative pianist John Flinders, return to lead this friendly and popular end of summer course. For some sessions participants will be divided into two large choirs, for others into small ensembles, and John will join his fellow tutors for work...

15/271 Grade V Theory with Katharine Bramley

STANDARD: INTERMEDIATEAre you marooned at Grade 5 on your instrument, disqualified from taking any more exams because you have yet to pass Grade 5 Theory? Or are you simply interested in the theory that lies behind the music that you play? Either way, this course is ideal for you. Katharine Bramley leads an intensive course...