Music and singing at Jackdaws this autumn

There really is something for everyone at Jackdaws. The popular one day courses offer an ideal way for singers and musicians to try something new or to polish skills, with the help of the team of talented tutors. 

In a supportive and friendly environment you could work on improving your singing voice or polishing up your guitar skills. Maybe you’d like to take the opportunity to try playing Jazz in a group or fancy singing opera for a day?

Courses are open to all singers and musicians and will take place at Jackdaws in Great Elm.  All courses start at 10.30am with welcome tea and coffee and a chance to meet your fellow participants.  The tutor sessions take place from 11am to 3pm, with a break for a home cooked lunch, included in the course fee of £45.

New for the 2015 series is Guitar Day with Chris Stell on Sunday 13th December.  Chris already leads the Guitar Ensemble weekend at Jackdaws each year, which is always oversubscribed, with his duet partner Mark Eden.  This one-day course is perfect for the strummer who wants to add skills, or the aspiring Spanish/classical player who would benefit from tips.

Also new for this year, Ann Hetherington encourages leads, A Kinesthetic Approach to Performing on Sunday 29th November.

This course will help you make discoveries on how to approach mentally building your technique and how to communicate the music, with a kinesthetic approach to reducing muscular and mental tension with reference to the Alexander Technique, which Ann has taught for many years.

Voice teacher, Penny Jenkins makes a welcome return on Saturday 28th  November with a Jackdaws one day favourite,  singing for the over 50s, with accompanist Colin Hunt.  The course is aimed at singers of any ability and there is no upper age limit. Discover that the singing voice can go on forever. This is a fun course for the over 50s (or thereabouts), who are young at heart and Penny will show you how to use the singing voice in a safe and nurturing way.

Jazz Day is on Saturday 5th December with tutor Ralf Dorrell.  If you have ever had a yearning to try your hand at playing jazz, then this is the course for you.  In a supportive environment, beginner and ‘had a go and would like to try more’ jazzers are invited to have fun exploring all of the musical areas and skills required to play jazz, including basic rhythms, melodies, harmony and improvisation. Usual jazz instruments welcome and more unusual ones, too.  Ralf will also lead a full weekend jazz course in February 2016.

Jessica Walker encourages you to Sing with Confidence on Sunday 6th December. Jessica Walker will show you how, in the space of a day, you can start to become a more confident singer through the use of key breathing and vocal exercises.  Gain a firmer foundation for your singing and the confidence to take the next step.   Colin Hunt will be on hand as accompanist.

Perhaps you have always wanted to have a go at singing opera?  Come and Sing Verdi Day on Saturday 12th December will focus on ‘Heroes and Heroines’ from Trovatore, La Traviata and Rigoletto.  William Carslake will lead in his usual fun, yet informative style.  Let us know what you would like to sing and we can send out music in advance, including some ensemble/chorus music for everyone to take part in.

Visit www.jackdaws .org.uk or email music@jackdaws.org or call 01373 812383 for further details, or to book a place.