A Day at Summer School

Participants spend their days studying and observing classes, and attend performances in the evening. There are four teaching sessions per day. A brochure of performances is sent to all Summer School participants in June. Access to all performances is included in the Summer School fee for each week – you can attend as many events as you like.

Session One

9.15am – 10.45am
The first teaching session features the all-comers choir or orchestra.

Main Choir
The Choir is the perfect morning wake-up call for those who want to raise their voices in song and learn a major work from scratch in less than a week. The choir is open to all and not auditioned. The course culminates in a public performance with orchestra in Dartington’s historic Great Hall.

Orchestral Workshop / String Orchestra
Like the choir, these tutti ensembles are un-auditioned and open to all instruments and abilities. These groups extend a warm welcome to everyone, and are perfect for those who fancy anything from Haydn to Grainger after breakfast.

Session Two, Three and Four

11.15am – 12.45pm
2.00pm – 3.30pm
3.45pm – 5.00pm

All other courses run at one of the above times although there are sometimes slight variations in start times and sometimes sessions run for longer than an hour and a half. Please take a look at our online course timetable before you make your booking.

Instrumental and Vocal Masterclasses and Workshops
Professional tuition is offered in a wide range of vocal and instrumental disciplines – voice, wind, brass, strings, percussion, piano and piano accompaniment. However, not every instrument is represented each week, so please choose your week(s) carefully.

Masterclasses are marked with a *. They aim at high technical standards suitable for those playing at above grade 8 level: students and emerging professionals.

Masterclass students will receive a minimum of 45 minutes dedicated tuition during the week, in addition to what is learnt through observing each other within the group. Observing masterclasses is also a wonderful learning experience and all masterclasses are open to anyone to sit in and listen.

Workshops are open to all abilities (grade 5 and above). We leave the exact structure of the course to the discretion of the tutor. This could involve a mix of working with each participant individually or with the group as a whole.

Chamber Music
We run a variety of chamber music courses, some structured, some more flexible. Most of the courses are open to pre-formed groups, as well as individuals looking to play with new people. All groups will have some opportunity for professional coaching. Please see individual course descriptions for further details. All participants intending to participate in chamber music MUST complete a chamber music booking form (also found on the back of the centre-spread booking sheet) when booking.

Other Courses
These include vocal ensembles, chamber choir, gamelan, baroque dance, samba, jazz, beginners’ composition and improvisation – to name but a few! Whilst most courses are open to everyone, there are also opportunities for students and emerging professionals to undertake more specialised courses (Click here for details).

Evening Performances

5.15pm
Performances, talks and illustrated lectures.

7.45pm & 10.00pm
Evening concerts are given by the artists teaching at Summer School – inspirational musicians of international standing – as well as end of course student performances at the end of the week.