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

An Exploration Weekend

A weekend course with Brian Anderson, photographer and adventurer, looking at some of the great explorers and their expeditions into the unknown world, or the ‘terra incognita’ of their centuries. We will travel the routes of Magellan, Drake, Cook, Weddell and others, and see the landscapes, wildlife & peoples they encountered on their expeditions. This...

The Romantic Ballet – Sylphs, Wilis & Other Spirits

The first Romantic ballet – La Sylphide (1832) – turned ballerinas into stars, soon eclipsing their male counterparts. This fascinating story of passions and intrigues brings to life the stories behind famous ballets such as La Sylphide, Giselle, Ondine, Le Papillon and more, and introduces the famous ballerinas whose rivalries and jealousies caused many a...

Book Club: Jane Erye

Ukulele Workshop – Beginners

Always wanted to play an instrument but thought you never could? – Yes Uke Can! This workshop will introduce you to the ukulele from scratch. You will learn how to: hold it, tune it, strum it, play 5 simple chords and put them all together in a few familiar songs. This one day course is...

Looking Good Feeling Good

Our style needs to evolve as we age so if it’s been a while since you took an honest look at your colours and styles, this is the perfect opportunity to spend a relaxing day gaining input into what suits you and why. Realise your true potential with colours that suit your natural colouring and...

Alignment Therapy

Do you have back (or other) pain and want to relieve it? The Evans Technique of Alignment Therapy, officially recognised in 2011 by the Independent Professional Therapists International (IPTI), is an extremely gentle and painless way of relieving back and other joint pain. During the day we will look at ways of using simple body...

English Gothic: 600 Years of a Style

Gothic is the most perfect fusion of art and engineering that’s ever been devised: it looks good because it’s structurally sound! Twelfth century France made the breakthrough but such was Gothic’s flexibility that England soon developed its own version – flowery and wayward to start with, grand and dignified later on. The course will follow...

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. We aim to enjoy working in an atmosphere of relaxed industry. Students will work at their own pace on the subject of their...

An Ordinary Czech Musician: The Musical & Personal Friendship of Antonin Dvorák with Johannes Brahms

‘An Ordinary Czech Musician’ - that is how Antonín Dvorák described himself, an attitude reflected in the awe in which he held his older contemporary Johannes Brahms. The two composers eventually became good friends, and in this course we shall consider how their mutual respect manifested itself in their many masterpieces in all genres of...

The Johann Strauss Family – A Tour of Britain

The Strauss (Waltz King) family were so numerous that it is sometimes impossible to be certain which one wrote which tunes. Father Johann was sufficiently astute to tour England with his orchestra cashing in on Queen Victoria's coronation celebrations. They gave concerts in a different location every night (except s) from August to November. We...

What’s in a word: An introduction to English Etymology

The course aims to illustrate the English language through the development of its words. Tracing the antecedents and relatives of words from a dictionary and specialist sources will demonstrate contributions to the modern English vocabulary. The existence, development, and usage of English words will be examined through directed and assisted participant presentations and group discussions...

Hadrian’s Wall and Imperial Rome’s Frontiers

From Augustus’ creation of an organised empire in the first century B.C., the limits were established and (apart from one or two extensions!) remained largely unaltered through four centuries. We will look at the early frontiers, how different provinces adopted different solutions, and the gradual increase in scale and complexity as external threats came to...

Getting Beyond the Census – Bringing Your Family History Alive

This course will bring your family history to life. Where did they live? What did they do? Did they move? We will see how social history affected their lives, looking at the bigger picture. There will be a chance for you all to participate, share research and learning experiences with each other, get updated on...

Still Life & The Landscape

This is a practical course using acrylic paint, drawing materials and collage. Artists as varied as Frances Hodgkins, Edward Wadsworth, Winifred Nicholson and Mary Fedden have been fascinated by the imaginative possibilities of still life in or against the landscape. Using mixed media in a variety of ways we will examine the contrasts and interesting...

Bookbinding

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. Beginners will be introduced to the basic theory and techniques of bookbinding, while advanced students will be assisted in pursuing particular projects. All aspects of bookbinding...

Carole King Tapestry – Vocal Day

Released in 1971, Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’ album topped the U.S. album chart for 15 weeks and remained on the charts for more than six years. Spend a day exploring King’s earthy, L.A. session-pop style and learning to sing tracks from this enduring music sensation including ‘You’ve Got a Friend’ and ‘I Feel the Earth Move’...

The Dartington Dream

In 1925 Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst embarked on the adventure of their lives, by purchasing the run-down medieval estate of Dartington Hall in Devon and turning it, within their lifetimes, into a flourishing centre for the arts and education with an international reputation. Discover the history of their staggeringly ambitious efforts to revitalise the crumbling...

A326 OU Empire Revision Course

What better place to learn about empires than Dillington, the home of Lord North, the Prime Minister when Britain lost the US colonies?! This is a course for Open University A326 students. The objectives are: revision; preparing TMA06 and the EMA; and creating a supportive atmosphere. The course is based on lectures, films and discussions. No check will...

1685 – The Three Masters

Kate Semmens, soprano, with harpsichordists Colin Booth and Steven Devine. To conclude this year's weekend course, a celebration of the three most famous Baroque composers, all born in 1685 - Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti. This concert will feature two beautiful double-manual harpsichords in addition to Kate Semmens’ radiant voice.

The Genius of Metaphysical Poets

The seventeenth century witnessed an amazing flowering of a group of writers later known as the Metaphysical poets because they used the discoveries of explorers and the wealth of contemporary science to become metaphors for their emotions and spiritual journey. Of these many gifted poets, John Donne, George Herbert and Thomas Traherne are possibly the...

West Country Railways

This course explores the archaeology and heritage of railways from Wiltshire to Cornwall. Brunel’s work is seen in the Box Tunnel, Dawlish railway, Royal Albert Bridge and spectacular viaducts. Abandoned lines are worth investigating, especially branches serving mineral and other industries. Case studies include the contrasting Liskeard and Caradon Railway, and the Somerset and Dorset...

Mah Jongg – Chinese Traditional Way to Play

Mah Jonng, also known as 'The Game of Four Winds', has been the Chinese national game for centuries. It is said that half the population of China can play this game. The beauty of the tiles, the variety of the rules, the Eastern tradition and culture in the playing make the game logical, competitive and...

1685 – A Great Year for Music

The three greatest figures in the world of baroque music were all born in the same year. Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti grew up in very different environments, and only the latter two ever met. So it is fascinating to explore how their careers developed in parallel, but on very different lines. Harpsichordists Steven Devine and...

Musical Impressionism – From Dawn Till Dusk

During this weekend we will try to get inside the ‘feel’ as well as the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the Impressionism label in search of what it means in music. It’s not as easy to pin down as is the Impressionist Painting Movement. Debussy initially scoffed at the tag, but what did he and Ravel...

Stumpwork Strawberries

Intricate strawberry designs have embellished embroidered textiles all through history, particularly in the Elizabethan age. This course will cover many different ways of working raised strawberries, together with their flowers, to build an attractive piece of work that could be made up into a scissors holder or needlebook. This course will cover a variety of...

An Astonishingly Brief History of the Piano – From Bach to Boogie, From Ragtime to Rachmaniov, From Jane Austen to Jazz’

Join Chris Howes for a whirlwind journey through pianos and their musical sounds - from the harpsichord and spinet to the concert grand. Our music includes the wit and wonder of composers and star musicians, including Franz Liszt, Jane Austin and her ‘square’ piano, Horowitz, Duke Ellington, Ravel and more.

Study Tour – A Cultural Adventure to Seville & Moorish Spain

Following on from the weekend Course, we pack our bags and head for the south of Spain and the unique city of Cordoba where we spend four nights in a hotel next to the great Mosque. We shall experience a rich and wonderful four days: two in Cordoba itself, the most 'Moorish' (still) of all...

Eggstra Special Floral Designs for Easter

Come along and join our enthusiastic and flamboyant tutor and create three sumptuous designs for Easter from seasonal flowers, foliage and materials to enhance your home and delight your family and friends. During the day there will be demonstrations and lots of hints and tips. You will be provided with a list of items to...

News From the Fronts: Verdun and Allied Planning for 1916

As the Allied military chiefs assembled at Chantilly to discuss plans for co-ordinated offensives on Western and Eastern Fronts, the French position at Verdun had been rendered tenuous with the German capture of Fort Douaumont, keystone to the whole front. News from the mInor theatres was mixed but in Mesopotamia a British force was trapped...

Saqqara: Egypt’s Most Important Ancient Necropolis

In this weekend course we will enjoy an in-depth exploration of one of Egypt’s most significant ancient sites – Saqqara, the necropolis of Egypt’s ancient capital Memphis. We will examine the architecture, reliefs, inscriptions, statuary and funerary equipment of the extraordinary tombs of pharaohs, nobles and sacred animals, dating from the Early Dynastic Period through...