Tutors & Courses 2025

Tom Atherton

Courses

Symphony Orchestra

Symphonic Wind Orchestra

Percussion Ensemble

Jenni Britton

Courses

Woodwind Ensemble

Chamber Winds

Symphony & Wind Orchestras

Cliff Brown

Courses

All things Technical

Craig Brown

Courses

Just Brass

Brass & Sax

Adrian Budgen

Courses

Composing Skills

CRREATE

Helen Dawson

Courses

String Orchestra

Baroque String Ensemble

Dalcroze Eurythmics

Clare Douglas

Courses

String Orchestra

Baroque String Ensemble

Dalcroze Eurythmics

Darren Everhart

Courses

Symphony Orchestra

Symphonic Wind Orchestra

Choir

John Fuller

Courses

Folk

Ukulele

Ceilidh

Robert Gildon

Courses

Classical Solo Singing

Community Choir

Opera/Music Theatre Performance

Andy Horne

Courses

Symphony Orchestra

Symphonic Wind Orchestra

Ryan Higgin

Courses

Just Brass

Brass & Sax

Judi Kelly

Courses - Repetiteur

Classical Solo Singing

Community Choir

Opera/Music Theatre Performance

Louisa Lam

Courses

Repetiteur

Choir

Performance Confidence

Pete Lee

Courses

Contemporary Voice A

Contemporary Voice B

Ben McCabe

Courses

Salsa Explosion!

How to Survive Jazz Jams

Chris McShane

Courses

Folk

Ukulele

Ceilidh

Julian Martin

Courses

60's Soul Jazz: How to be a Soul Survivor

Jazz Roots

How to Survive Jazz Jams

Rosie Ogden

Courses

Most Jazz Courses
Things Technical

Richard Ormrod

Courses

How to Play Better Solos

The Settle-Ites Ska and Rocksteady Orchestra

How to Survive Jazz Jams

Stephanie Reeve

Courses

Saxophone Choir

Chamber Winds

Symphony & Wind Orchestras

Pete Rosser

Courses

Tango Argentino

How to Survive Jazz Jams

George Sleightholme

Courses

Clarinet Choir

Chamber Winds

Symphony & Wind Orchestras

Alice Zawadzki

Courses

Contemporary Voice A

Contemporary Voice B

Alice Zawadzki

Alice Zawadzki is a vocalist, violinist, songwriter and composer based in London. She has performed extensively as a soloist and collaborator throughout Europe, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Russia, and the Far-East, in a wide range of work including as a vocal soloist with several international orchestras, at many major jazz festivals, premiering contemporary classical works, and in cross-discipline pieces. She has recorded extensively for film and TV, appears regularly on BBC radio, and has been nominated British Vocalist of the Year by both Jazz FM and the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. She trained in jazz singing and composition, gaining an MA at the Royal Academy of Music, with a scholarship from the Musicians Benevolent Fund, after completing undergraduate studies in classical violin at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she also won the Hilda Collens Prize and the Cove Park Emerging Artists Residency. Alice has been engaged in a diverse program of education and outreach work for the last decade, leading workshops and individual sessions in vocal tuition, composition, improvisation and ensemble work at every level. Some of the organisations she has worked with in this capacity include the Royal Northern College of Music, Salford University, Kent University, The National Youth Orchestra, Tomorrow's Warriors, Play For Progress, Engines Orchestra, Live Music Now, and the British Museum.

Craig Brown

Originally from York, Craig teaches music at Archbishop Holgate’s Secondary and St Lawrence’s Primary Schools and works as part of the York Music Hub management team. He performs regularly with The Shepherd Group Brass Band, who compete nationally at the championship level, and is the Musical Director of the award-winning Shepherd Group Youth Band, a brass ensemble founded to provide opportunities for young brass players in the City of York. In 2017 he was appointed assistant Musical Director of the York Civic Youth Choir as a result of his work with young singers within the city. This is his fourth year tutoring on the M4P course and is looking forward to another music-filled week

Chris McShane

Chris plays classical and folk guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo and ukulele and has been an active musician and instrumental teacher for over 25 years. He studied music at Huddersfield University and is now a freelance teacher and musician. He formally worked for Barnsley Music Service as Curriculum Development Officer for Guitar, Keyboard, Vocal studies and Music ICT. Chris has had a long involvement in Folk music both as a member of the Rhythm Chaps Ceilidh Band and as musical director of The Tender Roots Project, Whitby Folk Week Children’s Orchestra and the Barnsley Folk Ensemble. Over the past eight years, Chris has been a tutor and course leader at ukulele workshops, courses festivals and summer schools throughout the UK and in Europe

Darren Everhart

Born in Brooklyn, Darren was educated at the King’s School, Canterbury, studying composition with Alan Ridout. At the same time he started his conducting training with Harry Newstone at the University of Kent.  Darren read music at Cambridge University, conducting the Girton College Choir and many choral and orchestral concerts for the Music Society. He won the Rima Alamuddin prize for composition, awarded by Girton College in memory of the Lebanese author. His post-graduate studies were in orchestral conducting at the University of Florence with maestro Piero Belugi.
 Following similar positions at Cranford House School in Oxfordshire and Pangbourne College in Berkshire, Darren is now the Director of Music at Giggleswick School. For over ten years, he also worked as the Organist and Choirmaster at Wallingford Parish Church, undertaking many additional overseas tours and numerous concerts. Darren’s conducting roles have included Didcot Choral Society, Pangbourne Choral Society, Cranford Choral Society and Opera Exchange. He was also founder and conductor of the Chameleon Chamber Orchestra, which was committed to the promotion of 20th century orchestral works.

Tom Atherton

"Despite growing up in a musical household, Tom was a reasonably late starter to the wonderful world of drums (starting at age 13). However, he soon made up for lost time with a near obsessive level of commitment to the instrument. He began with drum kit lessons through former West-End pro turned teacher Mike Grigg. Within a year he had formed his first [gritty] rock band and quickly became adept at taking the lead within the creative environment. It was during this time that he made his first ventures into composition, firstly within the group setting of the rock band and later as an individual. Today, Tom continues his long standing association with the contemporary Persian music scene as both drummer and musical director for several BBC world service productions. He also composes and performs with his own rock fusion project 'Thing'. The rest of his time is divided up between his many other musical pursuits, including bands 'De Profundis' and 'VLookUp Trio', as well as numerous other bands and orchestras...not to mention his post-doctoral research and lecturing!”

Louisa Lam

Louisa Lam is currently freelancing in and around London as an accompanist and piano teacher. She has studied at the Royal Academy of Music, King's College London, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she is currently a staff accompanist in both the Senior and Junior departments. Louisa is proud to be a part of Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! scheme which focuses on outreach work, aiming to bring music alive to a wide variety of audiences. Louisa has performed as soloist and accompanist in many venues across London including the Barbican Hall, Wigmore Hall, Southwark Cathedral and St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, as well as further afield, including the Auditori Winterthur in Barcelona and Musica Eboræ in Portugal. She is on the teaching staff at Christ’s Hospital School and Worth School in Sussex.  For more information, please visit www.louisalam.com

Pete Rosser

Pete Rosser is a pianist/accordionist/composer based in Wakefield, and has been working as a freelance musician since the mid-1980s. Inspired by jazz, contemporary classical, popular songwriting and accordion-based musics of the world, as well as the Search And Reflect improvisation workshops of John Stevens, he has worked in community settings and composed for various ensembles, community choirs, brass bands, schools and theatre shows, eg for the Firebird Trust, DAISI and DIVA.
He was a founder member of Tango Siempre, and has also played among others with Will Gregory’s Moog Ensemble, Truffleshack and Westbrook Rossini. Having lived for significant chunks in Wolverhampton, Sheffield and Stroud, he relocated to Wakefield in 2016 and is currently making music for the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Leeds Grand Youth Theatre and Opera North, and examining music exams for ABRSM. He is also the Promoter/Booker for Wakefield Jazz.

Adrian Budgen

Adrian is a composer and arranger, music workshop leader and music publisher. His background in broadcasting, tv production, arts education and all things audio for film, media and games design has come about through working for the BBC, the University of Warwick and the University of Suffolk. He has a particular fondness for the interplay between familiar music technologies and new music technologies and the resulting aural refreshment which inevitably accompanies such interactions. Current projects include a commission for a large scale sixtieth anniversary concert band piece, a words and music saxophone ensemble performance series, the ongoing musical direction of his well established Saxophone Sessions workshops and guest MD with the Suffolk Concert Band and other ensembles in the eastern region.

Andrew Horne

Andrew is a drummer/percussionist/producer from Glasgow. He gained a BA in Musical Studies at the RSAMD where he also won the Governor's Recital Prize. Andrew has worked as a session musician in various genres, performing and recording with the likes of: RSNO & SCO, Top Gear, Mr McFall's chamber orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Andrea Bocelli, The Nolans, Pat Kane, 'Summer Holiday' touring production, the Scottish folk music scene, and Micha Bergese productions Andrew writes music from his home studio, some of which has featured on award winning documentaries, short films and TV.
Andrew is also involved in education. He has worked for a number of institutions and been involved in music therapy. He is very much looking forward to his involvement again with M4P.

Ben McCabe

Ben plays drums and French Horn with lots of bands mainly around Lancaster and Morecambe. He’s been MD for Off the Rails creative jazz orchestra since 1999 and co-leads More Music charity’s vibrant community band ‘Baybeat Streetband’ and Lancashire Music Hub’s ‘Honk!’
During December you’ll usually find him shuffling sheet music for the charmingly shambolic community music project: ‘Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas

George Sleightholme

George graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music (MA Performance, 2010), where he received the Paton Award. As a Live Music Now artist from 2010 – 2014 with The Davis Clarinet Quartet, he performed and led workshops in care homes and special schools around the country. He is a member of Kidenza Orchestra, performing classical orchestral music to young audiences. George regularly plays in other London orchestras including Brandenburg Sinfonia and Multistory Orchestra. As a committed performer of new music George has given many premieres, including pieces for the LSO's Soundhub scheme and for the Tete-a-Tete Opera Festival. George also writes music and improvises on the clarinet and bass clarinet, performing regularly at Club Inegales with Peter Wiegold and Notes Inegales with invited guests from around the world. He has released an album with his group iyatra Quartet, to critical acclaim, which uses inspiration from a range of music from around the globe to create its own unique sound. George has recorded music for adverts, theatre, websites, composers and rock albums, including for Rick Wakeman at Abbey Road Studios.
George teaches music privately and at City Lit, an adult education college in London's Covent Garden. He also conducts Surbiton Royal British Legion Marching Band and coaches chamber music for Palace Band in Alexandra Palace and at Benslow Music.

Helen Dawson

Helen studied cello with David Smith at the Royal Academy of Music and Hannah Roberts at the RNCM, where she also followed a course in string teaching and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She has performed as a soloist with the Dales Chamber Orchestra and Bexley Camerata, has given solo and chamber performances for Croydon and Purley Music Society and Hampstead Music Club, and has played with numerous orchestras in and around London.
 Helen moved to North Yorkshire in 2010, where she now teaches cello both privately and in Harrogate schools. She regularly leads the cello section of St Cecilia Orchestra in Ripon, plays as a member of the Mowbray Orchestra, and in January performed Brahms string sextet in B flat with the 10/6 Ensemble for Ripon Cathedral Concert Society. Helen is passionate about promoting music in her local community – founding the adult community choir Alne Singers in 2015, which she conducts, and organising and performing in local fundraising concerts as a soloist and chamber musician.

Jenni Britton

Jenni combines working as an oboist and teacher. She has enjoyed performing nationally and internationally in orchestras and chamber ensembles. Personal highlights have included tours to China, India and the Seychelles, alongside television and radio broadcasts. Jenni is co-principal oboe at Covent Garden Sinfonia.

As a chamber musician, Jenni has performed on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. She was a founding member of the award-winning London Myriad Ensemble, with whom she performed at the Purcell Room. Jenni was awarded the Wilfred Hambleton Prize for Contribution to Wind Music (2003) whilst at Trinity College of Music. She regularly coaches wind ensembles at Benslow Music Trust. As a soloist, Jenni has performed works by Marcello, Vaughan-Williams, Albinoni and Mozart.

Jenni has worked alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra’s education and outreach department and with the Philharmonia outreach programme. She enjoys teaching the oboe and has proudly watched students progress to studying at music colleges and universities. Jenni also leads class ensembles for over 300 Lambeth primary school children a week and conducts the Lambeth Music Service Senior Concert Band.

John Fuller

John Fuller currently works for Barnsley Music Service as a Guitar/Ukelele teacher in Primary and Secondary schools.He has played guitar at home and abroad, has appeared on TV and radio, and has recorded with various bands and musicians since 1982. He has led the Guitar and The Folk Ensembles for BMS and has been a tutor on the Tender Roots project to introduce children to Folk Music.
He worked within the Record Business for 11 years with different Record Companies before returning to the live music scene. He still performs regularly with 3 different bands, and recently performed at the 40th anniversary of 'Porridge' as the house band in a recreated set from the comedy series.
He has been writing songs since he could play 4 chords - and hopes one day to be paid for it:)

Judi Kelly

Judi Kelly trained at the Guildhall School of Music under Norman Beedie. She continued her studies there on the specialist Post Graduate Accompaniment course studying with tutors such as Paul Hamburger, Robin Bowman, Rudolf Piernay, Laura Sarti and Gordon Back. She has a particular empathy with and enthusiasm for working with singers. Judi tutors pianists and coaches singers of all ages both privately and in school and has worked for both Stagecoach and Jaquie Palmer theatre Schools. Judi has been accompanying since her teens and has worked as a Musical Theatre and Choral repetiteur for many years! Judi has worked as a piano/voice/choral/recorder and class music teacher for West Herts Music since 1995. She regularly accompanies ABRSM exams for many different instruments and abilities!
 Judi returned to M4P Summer School in 2017 after a few years’ enforced absence, and is more than happy to be back in the fold, and describes the experience as one of the best weeks of her year!

Julian Martin

Julian is a teacher, performer and composer. He runs regular Jazz workshops in his home town of Cardiff and performs in a number of bands on both piano and trumpet. As a pianist he has worked with many leading lights of the British Jazz scene such as Guy Barker, Jim Mullen, Peter King and others, but now spends most of his time composing music for Television and Film.

Rosie Ogden

Clare Douglas

Following early piano tuition commencing aged 5 Clare began her violin studies aged 11. Her teachers included Andrea Coburn, Martin Milner OBE (Leader of the Hallé Orchestra) and Professor Paul Robertson (Leader, Medici String Quartet).
As a chamber musician she received coaching from Raphael Wallfisch and members of the Alberni and Lindsay string quartets. Clare studied music at Keble College, Oxford University where she was President of the Music Society. She was also the director of the Oxford Classical Chorus, leader of the Tuckett String Quartet and leader of the Serafin String Ensemble. Clare has pursued a varied career as a teacher and performer.
In 2006 she completed 10 years as Assistant Director of Music and Head of Strings at Giggleswick School and became engaged in a project with the North Yorkshire Education Authority running music groups for pre-school children. Currently Clare enjoys a thriving teaching practice in Giggleswick, specialising in Upper Strings and Piano for both children and adults.
As a violinist Clare is in demand as an orchestral leader, chamber and solo musician. In addition to her work in classical music she is a fiddler for the internationally renowned Highland dance band, the Pictish Players, with whom she has recorded three albums and performed in places as diverse as the Highlands, Whitehall, Paris, Istanbul, Venice and India. Clare currently lives in Giggleswick with her husband, Graeme, her son, Leo and various cats, dogs and terrapins.

Pete Lee

Pete Lee is a jazz pianist born in Cardiff. At the age of 18 he enrolled at Leeds College of Music where he studied a degree in jazz. He went on gain a distinction at the Royal Academy of Music at Masters level. His tutors included Nikki Iles, Gwilym Simcock, Liam Noble & Tom Cawley. Since then, he has led various groups, most notably "Narcissus" who were featured as the Young & Serious band of 2013 in the 2013 EFG London Jazz Festival.
Much of Pete's work involves supporting and working alongside up and coming jazz vocalists. In 2013 he joined Alice Zawadzki's band, with whom he featured on BBC Radio 2, and toured extensively. 2018 saw the release of Pete's debut album The Velvet Rage, which received rave reviews in the UK jazz press. Alongside the release of his own music, Pete also accompanied pop artists Tom Walker and Gabrielle Aplin on extensive tours of the UK, Mainland Europe, The United States, Canada & Japan.
As well as accompanying Alice’s classes at M4P, Pete will offer rehearsals to her students outside of the timetabled schedule.

Robert Gildon

Baritone Robert Gildon studied at Manhattan School of Music in New York and Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals in America and the Britten/Pears School in the UK, He has performed roles for Garsington Opera, Grange Park Opera and London Symphony Orchestra amongst many others.
He is passionate about educational and community work and regularly works for ENO, Royal Opera House, Snape Maltings and Streetwise Opera. Rob is excited to be returning. www.robertgildon.com

Richard Ormrod

A prize-winning saxophonist and arranger, Richard has been religiously teaching at the community level for almost twenty years; his early training was with ensemble wizard and mentor Steve Berry, and he has graduated to leading his own groups across the North, drawing in players from Morecambe to Humberside and from Newcastle to Nottingham.
Insatiably curious about music and sound, Richard plays a panoply of instruments and records and performs with artists from Durban to Dhaka to Dakhar to Manchester Deansgate, in a world- spanning range of styles, and he is still the co-author of ‘Elvis Costello and Thatcherism: a Psycho-social Exploration’

Stephanie Reeve

Stephanie studied clarinet at Trinity College of Music. As well as giving recitals and leading workshops with numerous chamber ensembles across the UK she has also given solo recitals, worked as a session musician and played for many theatre productions. Stephanie now works as a freelance musician and teacher and is based in Cambridgeshire.
In 2008 she took over as Principal Conductor of the Palace Band having been Assistant Conductor since 2002. She also coaches Walden Winds and the Ermine Street Band, and runs courses and playdays for the Clarinet & Saxophone Society, Benslow Music Trust, and Stapleford Granary. She also directs the Stapleford Clarinet Choir and is woodwind coach for the Saffron Walden Children’s Orchestra. Stephanie is an Executive Officer of the Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain and is a regular reviewer and contributor to the magazine. She also runs the Clarinet & Saxophone Society library.
Stephanie completed an MA in Psychology for Musicians in 2007 at the University of Sheffield and as part of a final year dissertation compared the ways in which adults and children learn musical instruments. She continues to take an interest in the ways in which all ages learn musical instruments.

Ryan Higgin

Ryan is a professional freelance trombonist, musical conductor, and classroom teacher, performing in a wide range of genres. Highlights of Ryan's career include performances at The Royal Albert Hall, King's College Chapel in Cambridge, and Ely Cathedral, as well as in pit orchestras for musicals such as West Side Story, Les Misérables, Oliver, and Kinky Boots. Ryan is also a dedicated classroom music teacher at Ely College and the conductor of Junior Prime Brass.

S - Symphony Orchestra

Aims to join together the various instrumental courses. Players of all standards are welcome, and we will try to support and accommodate less experienced players. However, we recommend a minimum playing level of about Grade 5/6. We aim to develop players’ sight-reading ability, so be prepared for some challenging repertoire. For more accomplished players, and for those already playing in orchestras, it will give an opportunity to build on technique and work with a different conductor for a week. We also study a wide range of repertoire. Clarinettists please bring your Clarinet in A if you have one. For brass players, parts will be available in an appropriate key for your instrument. It may be necessary to limit the number of players for some of the woodwind parts if oversubscribed, so early booking is advisable. Percussionists if you wish to play percussion in the Symphony Orchestra please apply for this course (limited to 8).

Orchestral & Band Percussion

If you like the sound of performing in a percussion section, and want to improve your abilities, this course will give you the skills to survive and thrive in an orchestra or wind band percussion section. Please note that it is a requirement that to play percussion within the Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Wind Band you must enrol on those individual courses as a Percussionist. Because of this, course numbers will be limited to the various ensembles. Also please note there will be no percussion ensemble within this course; please sign up for the separate Percussion Ensemble course where numbers will not be so limited. The sessions for Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Band are mostly full ensemble rehearsals. If you are a keen beginner, please let us know in advance, and we can utilise one tutor to overlook the section, and another tutor to do some sectional/more private work if required.
There will be opportunities to look at percussion parts from the orchestral repertoire and gain experience in sight reading. Whilst experience in playing percussion is not mandatory, it is helpful.
The tutors are flexible, and students should be too. Parts are changed around depending on abilities. This ensures you are not out your depth, and fun/enjoyment guaranteed!
The course will give both group and individual instruction on the following instruments: bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, timpani, xylophone and glockenspiel, tambourine, triangle and miscellaneous percussion. Instruments will be provided, however students are encouraged to bring any percussion instruments, sticks and beaters and any percussion music they may wish to study during the week. The course tutor will be on hand within the percussion sections to guide students through the music and to give advice on techniques to improve students playing abilities and build confidence towards the final performances at the conclusion of the week.

SWO - Symphonic Wind Orchestra

A large ensemble for wind, brass and percussion, playing an exciting and diverse mixture of original works and arrangements to stimulate and challenge. Players of all standards are welcome, and we will try to support and accommodate less experienced players. However, we recommend a minimum playing level of about Grade 5/6. For more accomplished players, and for those already playing in wind orchestras, it will give an opportunity to build on technique and work with a different conductor for a week. Percussionists if you wish to play percussion in the Symphonic Wind Orchestra please apply for this course (limited to 8).

Orchestral & Band Percussion

C - Choir

Does exactly what it says on the tin! Suitable for those with some sight singing experience, including those of us who have always secretly wanted to sing in a four-part (SATB) choir and those of us who haven’t sung since school (regardless of how long ago that was). We also aim to offer experienced singers and musicians plenty of challenges so there will be plenty of new repertoire to develop your sight-singing abilities. This is best described as a fantastic bonding experience for all who attend. Fun warm-ups, little bits of useless information about how to make a decent noise and exciting repertoire.

F - Folk

My Love is in America

We will look at songs and tunes that travelled with people who left England, Ireland and Scotland to settle in the USA and Canada and how this music influenced musical styles that emerged as a result. As well as playing and singing traditional songs and tunes, we will also have two working groups that will either compose a reel or write a song in the Old Time American or Bluegrass style. There will be opportunities for students of all abilities to participate..

This will be limited to 20 players

U - Ukulele

Two groups. Improvers & Advanced We will continue with separate groups to accommodate different abilities and will have examples of the music we are going to study available at the start of the week for students to view and decide what is best for them. We will also be happy to advise any students who are not sure which group they should join. There will be an Improvers group that will study all the basics of good playing technique within a broad range of songs and instrumental pieces. There will also be the Advanced group that will study more advanced chords and right hand strumming patterns as well as some higher level instrumental pieces and songs. If there are enough students who want to play purely instrumental music, we will have a further separate group to cater for this. Chris or John will then work between the two groups to help them move on with their work.

This will be limited to 25 players

Playing in the Band (Ceilidh)

There are no set classes for the ceilidh band and students are encouraged to download the books and play through the music in preparation for the Friday night ceilidh which is the closing event at summer school. Students will find themselves alongside tutors from all the courses and will enjoy a fun evening of music and dancing. The two existing ceilidh band books will be available to download from Chris McShane’s website from the beginning of January. (Also available on the M4P website)There will also be a 3rd book with new music to play for some new dances that Chris will be calling at this year’s ceilidh. This book should be his website by July 2025.

This will be limited to 30 players

This is not timetabled and there are no rehearsals. You will be playing for the ceilidh on the Friday night.

BSE - Baroque String Ensemble

Please note that this will be a course using your own, modern string instrument

This course brings together many elements of chamber playing with an exploration of the wealth of Baroque music written for strings.
This flexible group will begin the week playing as a large, conductor-less ensemble led by the tutors. As the week progresses, and as numbers allow, there will be opportunities to break out into smaller chamber groups to work on specific repertoire. Concerti Grossi will give the opportunity, for those students who wish it, to take on a solo role in the ensemble.
Work during the week will include exploring Baroque technique on a modern instrument, leading and following in the group, building listening skills and rehearsing and creating a performance with no conductor.
The string tutors are very happy to accept anyone wishing to apply for the baroque string ensemble , regardless of prior experience. However, for your own comfort and enjoyment we suggest a minimum playing level of around grade 3 to 4.

Directed by Helen Dawson & Clare Douglas

SO - String Orchestra

Please note this course is now a double session, periods 2 & 3.
This course aims to provide a good introduction to string orchestra playing for those new to large ensemble work, whilst allowing more experienced players to develop their ensemble skills, learn to lead a section, or take a solo role.
Sessions typically start with a warm up, focussing on a particular aspect of instrumental technique (e.g. tone production) or ensemble skills (e.g. matching bowing style in a string section) before moving on to rehearse a variety of string orchestra repertoire.
A range of music will be studied during the week: some more simple pieces to really concentrate on quality ensemble playing and some more difficult repertoire to stretch ourselves – or just simply for the experience!
The string tutors are very happy to accept anyone wishing to apply for the string orchestra, regardless of prior experience. However, for your own comfort and enjoyment we suggest a minimum playing level of around grade 3 to 4.

Directed by Helen Dawson & Clare Douglas

D - Dalcrose Eurhythmics

Instructed by Helen Dawson
Dalcroze Eurhythmics explores the elements of music (rhythm, pitch, phrasing, form etc.) through whole body movement. Exercises might involve stepping a rhythm, feeling a steady pulse in various parts of the body, or mapping out the phrases of a piece of music in movement.
Objects such as balls, hoops and scarves are used to help the body feel specific movement qualities: a ball might be bounced to feel the weight of the downbeat, or rolled to express the duration of a note. A scarf might be used to show the line of a musical phrase. Through these exercises a physical feeling for music is developed, increasing rhythmic confidence, developing co-ordination and control, and building skills of communication, expression and creativity.
Course in session 7
This course will take place in the dance studio and is for those who wish to dig a little deeper into Dalcroze Eurhythmics. Over the course of the week we will explore pulse, rhythm, pitch, phrasing and form in a variety of ways and work on developing co-ordination and musical awareness. Besides using movement we will use simple percussion instruments and we will make a brief exploration of sol-fa (singing with do-re-mi – please don’t worry if you don’t usually sing!).
Some activities will be differentiated to allow those with more experience to stretch themselves, and there will be an opportunity, for those who wish it, to try playing/singing for some of the movement exercises.
Please wear something you feel comfortable moving in and be prepared to work with bare feet or in socks that have grips.

JB - Just Brass

This course is open to Brass players of all abilities. We aim to have a mix of both large and small ensemble groups so that most students can experience both. Repertoire can include quartets, quintets and larger ensemble pieces. The tutors will work with the groups in order to help them progress and improve throughout the week working on sight reading, stamina development and enhancing ensemble skills. At the end of the week we intend to perform in one of the concerts as a mass ensemble of all the students on the course. There will also be some opportunity for smaller groups to perform if they wish to. Time will be spent helping individuals progress in their weaker areas within a supportive environment and also time addressing 'next-steps' to continue player development.
Directed by Ryan Higgins

BS - Brass & Sax

This course is open to Brass players and Saxophone players of all abilities and levels of experience. We will rehearse a wide variety of music and musical styles as a large multi-part group ensemble. Time will be spent working on a number of pieces with the aim of improving each player's music reading, interpretation and technique in a supportive environment where we hope to make noticeable improvements throughout the week. The group will perform some of the music rehearsed, in the summer school final concert.
Directed by Craig Brown

Course now FULL

P - Percussion Ensemble

So much more than just "CRASH, BANG, WALLOP!", percussion ensemble takes an accommodating and extremely musical approach to the diverse and exciting world of all things hittable. Improve your listening skills and build your confidence by exploring a variety of orchestral and battery percussion instruments within a team. Music reading is advantageous, but by no means essential!
Performances will take place at the end of the week. A great course for building on your rhythmic abilities, gaining confidence in your performance and/ or exploring a world outside of your regular musical endeavours! This course can get LOUD at points, so you are advised to protect your hearing accordingly! Please note that numbers on this course are limited to 18 places on a first come, first served basis.

Directed by Tom Atherton

SC - Saxophone Choir

A course for all saxophones. Repertoire will include original works for saxophone choir as well as recent and popular arrangements of well-known works. There may be opportunity to try other sizes of saxophone.

This will be limited to 20 players

Directed by Stephanie Reeve

CC - Clarinet Choir

A course exploring the many and varied works for clarinet choir including original works alongside effective arrangements. We hope for as full an ensemble as possible so do bring auxiliary instruments. There will be the opportunity to try other members of the clarinet family. This course is more suitable for grade 5 players and above.
Directed by George Sleightholme

Course now FULL

CW - Chamber Winds

A course to develop ensemble skills in small one-to-a-part groups focussing on listening, leading/following and rehearsal techniques. Confidence in music reading is essential for this course as ensembles will rehearse independently as well as being visited by one of the tutors for coaching each day. The focus will be on wind quartets and quintets and while we aim to use original music some arrangements may be used to allow for numbers and variety of instruments. Please do bring your own music if you have anything you would like to try. Ensembles may combine to try octet and dectet repertoire halfway through the week. Please fill in the student information form with details of your current playing level and previous chamber music experience. Tutors may contact students before the start of summer school to ensure that they are placed in suitable groups. Informal performances to be given in the final session. Less advanced players may like to try Woodwind Ensemble.

This will be limited to 30 players

Directed by the Woodwind team

Course now FULL

WE - Woodwind Ensemble

A larger directed woodwind choir exploring symphonic movements and lighter arrangements alongside original works. As a flexible ensemble parts are adapted to sit numbers applying and there will be advanced and intermediate parts available for most instruments. While there will be some variety of repertoire these rehearsals will eventually focus on two or three pieces for the final performance, with the aim of developing techniques such as listening and playing with good ensemble skills. There will be a limit on numbers accepted onto this course. For smaller, one-to-a-part groups please see Chamber Winds.

This will be limited to 25 players

Directed by Jenni Britton

ComC - Community Choir

An opportunity for everyone to come together to sing - no experience needed. In fact newbies welcomed with open arms. The focus is on enjoying singing together, singing your heart out and having fun. We will look at a range of repertoire - spirituals, rounds and easy part songs taught by ear with no sight reading required. Come and join us and have a hoot!

CSS - Classical Solo Singing

This is a class focusing on the classical music repertoire - Opera, Oratorio, English song, Chanson and Lieder. This will be an invigorating, but fun class where we investigate together all the elements which make a performance (vocal technique, language, posture, interpretation etc). Please bring repertoire that you are familiar with but also use it as an opportunity to think outside the box - try that piece you’ve always wanted to have a go at but never had the courage to do so. Please bring enough repertoire to cover all the week as ideally everyone will perform every day. Also please bring copies for our wonderful pianist.

8 - 10 Max

OTP - Opera/ Music Theatre Performance

A performance focused class where we all learn and stage songs from shows and opera. No experience needed. Our primary aim is to have fun, do something different and enjoy working as a team. We learn a wide range of musical material over the week from opera, music theatre and contemporary song and then we create our own special show that we present at the end of the week. The main aim of the course is to create our very own unique Company and, in the process, help develop new skills, extend creative horizons, and most importantly have a lot of fun and laughs. No stage or singing experience is needed nor do you have to prepare anything for the week- just turn up. Be curious and give it a go!

Performance Confidence

Louisa is pleased to be returning to M4P this year with her Performance Confidence workshops. These will be one-hour group sessions on performance confidence and tips on how to overcome stage fright. Louisa aims to help those who are either not used to performing in front of others or those who get particularly nervous to gain a positive mental attitude towards performing.
Please sign up for a space at the beginning of the week as places are limited. One on one sessions will also be available on request.

CRR - CRREATE

CRREATE is a making and performing course.
C - converse
R - reflect
R - respond
E - explore
A - amend
T - tweak
E - evolve
The course begins with talking through ideas for a new piece of music to be made by ourselves and to be performed by ourselves. Then throughout the week the course moves through and cycles around all the actions listed above. At the outset ideas will be developed to form a focus from which a new piece of music will eventually be created. This may involve an image, a text, stories, our own stories, memorablemoments, places, people, events, possibly current affairs.
Working both as a single large group and in small breakout groups students collaborate on the identified focus and, with tutor guidance, draw upon any music making and composing techniques available. Then through a process of trying out ideas, improvising, sharing, combining and gradual refinement we progressively approach the end point of the course which is to create a new unique piece and make a unique performance.
Please bring your instrument, voice, manuscript paper, blank paper, open ears and lots of musical ideas.
All instruments and voices are welcome – traditional, non-traditional, percussion, keyboards, synths and laptops, scratch homemade instruments, electronics, computer sound, found sound all welcome. The greater the range the better.
The ethos of the course is about making it up as we go along, improvising, composing, trying out, refining, practicing and performing.
Come let your musical imagination go … and CRREATE!

Min 6 - Max circa 20

G - Composing Skills: Picture This ...

This course is aimed at early stage and developing composing students who will benefit from a fairly tightly defined brief. After a group introduction on the first day, the course will be taught through either one-to-one tutorials of about 20 minutes or a whole group session each day supplemented with support at other times during play-throughs, try-outs and performance. The course this year will focus on using visual images as a starting point for composing.
Please bring to the first session a few (at least two) postcards showing interesting images. These might be postcards you already have or have received in the past. They might be from your travels in times gone by or between now and the start of summer school. They could be from you home town or locale. They could come from anywhere.
The postcard images might show absolutely any aspect of landscape, cityscape, architectural detail, nature in all its glory, people, costumes, museum exhibits, etc. etc. - the list is endless. The greater the variety of subject matter we collect together, the greater potential for inspiration. The more expressive, unusual, interestingly angled, imaginatively lit and selectively focussed the images are, the better.
Our aim in Session One will be to collect together all the pictures brought in and create an array of images which will act as starting point for your new work. To that end, part of the initial session will involve making choices and eventually focusing, individually, on perhaps diptychs, triptychs or even a single image selected from the assembled collection.
We will then develop ideas by considering how to make an aural interpretation and how to work towardsmaking a new piece of music. After that the course will continue with a combination of one-to-one tutorials and whole groups sessions to suit our progress through the week.
The M4P Summer School timetable presents a wide array of exciting and enticing courses. If you are considering enrolling on this course please resist the temptation to fill your entire day with courses! To get the most out of Composing Skills it is crucial that you leave sufficient space free during each day fortime to develop your composing. This will often mean going off to find a quiet place to work and write for several timetable sessions a day.

Max on course 10

CVA now FULL

CVA/B - Contemporary Voice A/B

In this class, the practice of contemporary singing will be delved in to, exploring not only how to use the voice, but how to develop your individuality and sense of style, to convey your ideas e ectively, to be a fully empowered musician in a band, and to create a meaningful and connected performance. To help improve all round skills, we will focus on songs that have been chosen by the tutor as well as an individual song chosen by each student with which they are already familiar. We will examine emotional motivations, phrasing of the melody, rhythmic feel, harmonic awareness, improvisational methods and performance skills through this repertoire. This class will work towards the solo performances of your chosen pieces and time will be spent on the arrangement of each piece in collaboration with the accompanist. We will also focus on learning about vocal technique and warm ups, practise methods and general musicianship skills. Class limit 8. There are two sessions CVA and CVB both are the same material. Sign up for either NOT both. The class will cover the following topics:

Physical and vocal warm-up
Voice technique
Rhythm work
Contemporary phrasing and expression
Basic improvisation
Choosing repertoire and exploring jazz standards
Exploring a variety of interpretations and emotional motivations
Using a microphone
Creating intros, endings, and simple arrangements that are your own
Understanding charts
Setting song keys and transposing
Band communication skills

There are two sessions CVA and CVB both are the same material. Sign up for either not both.

This will be limited to 8

Course now FULL

SE - Salsa Explosion! - Latin-Jazz Fusion

Following up on the success of 'Cha Cha and Mambo,' this class looks ahead to the 60s and 70s, New York and artists like Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and the Fania All-Stars.

Directed by Ben McCabe

Course now FULL

SJ - 60's Soul Jazz: How to be a Soul Survivor

'The funky sound of '60s soul jazz, featuring material by the likes of Cannonball Adderley, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Smith, George Benson and Lou Donaldson etc etc. Learn to improvise in the direct, effective style of the Blue Note masters and, most importantly, how to get in the groove and stay there. It's hip!

Directed by Julian Martin

HPBS - How To Play Better Solos

A session for improvisers with a few years' experience, this practical session will aim to help you build confidence, trust your ears and develop your creative 'blowing'.

Directed by Richard Ormrod

JR - Jazz Roots

A double session looking at the fundamentals of jazz and blues, featuring dixie, swing and mainstream material.

Directed by Julian Martin

TA - Tango Argentino

A brief history of Tango, from Gardel to Gotan, via Piazzolla and Saluzzi. All instruments welcome, there may be opportunities for improvisation but this is not primarily an improvisation class - it's a dance of fire born in the Milonga.

Directed by Pete Rosser

Course now FULL

SSO - The Settle-Ites Ska & Rocksteady Orchestra

The Thursday Night Dance Band returns to Jamaica for one more year, with a range of mid-60s dance material from Bluebeat to Rocksteady. If you enjoyed dancing to the group last year, we promise you that the only thing more fun is playing in it!

Directed by Richard Ormrod

HSJJ - How to Survive Jazz Jams

This year, the last session of the day in jazz world will be an informal ensemble featuring the whole jazz team, with a daily opportunity for you to play tunes with a professional rhythm section, ask questions and get feedback. Come and play, come and listen, have a go!

Directed by The Jazz Team