Is the Summer School for me?

Singing is one of the core activities of the Summer School, so you could pick a week which suits your availability.

If you have flexibility you could choose your week on the basis of the music the choir is singing, as well as the other courses on offer. You will have a main point of contact once you have arrived because the registrar and house parents look after everyone staying in the different areas of accommodation.

Everyone has dinner together and goes to the first evening concert, where you’ll see you aren’t the only new person! There are welcome meetings on the Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

If you came to week 2 this year you might sing in the Choir first thing in the morning, (the choir is open to everyone and un-auditioned), and then go to the Improve your Sight Singing course after coffee.

Mealtimes are very sociable and you’ll quickly find yourself getting to know people on the courses you are doing. In the afternoon you might give your voice a rest and sit in on the Yvonne Minton masterclass and listen to some advanced students, or have walk round the gardens, and then go to the afternoon Choir session to work in more depth on the repertoire.

After that, talks, dinner and evening concerts give you a chance to relax, hear some of the week’s tutors perform, have a drink with new friends, and on the Friday night perform yourself in the main Choir concert accompanied by the Baroque Orchestra.

Weeks 3, 4 and 5 all have instrumental activities: cello classes, chamber music and orchestral workshop or string ensemble, as well as options for complete beginners.

In week 5 for example you could play music all day if you wanted, or might opt only for the Orchestral Workshop while your partner sings in the main choir (which is open to everyone), then together they could try Salsa dance.

After lunch you could play some more in the chamber music course whilst your partner is inspired by observing masterclasses. You will find there are people here who play all day and those who come to participate in just one class and then listen to others.

The experience can be as relaxed or as intense as you want to make it, and is always very sociable.

Yes absolutely...

Weeks 1 and 4 are ideal.
Weeks 1 and 4 offer lots for families. Come in week 4 and play in the orchestral workshop with your partner while your children sing in the children’s choir. Then try the creative composition course for teachers, while your partner and children try out samba drumming, and in the afternoon you could all do the Junk Music course together.

You can also make the most of the Dartington estate, the concerts and Devon.
If it’s sunny make the most of the outdoor pool or go on an expedition through the beautiful grounds to the river. Concerts are included in your pass so bring your children along and return to your yurt or stay in a local house or camp. Enjoy some star gazing and sleep.