Midwinter Festive Singing Weekend
A unique weekend exploring traditional and contemporary folk songs, all themed around the winter season BOOK NOWWHEN:
Friday 6 – Sunday 8 December 2024
TUTORS:
Julu Irvine, Heg Brignall, Rachel Sweeney
VENUE:
Dartington Trust, South Devon
AGE SUITABILITY:
PRICING (Bursaries are available):
COURSE FEE
£290
COURSE FEE PLUS ACCOMMODATION
£410
About this course
Julu Irvine and Heg Brignall of folk duo Suthering lead this joyful and engaging festive harmony singing course. Their hugely popular Suthering Singing Retreats come to Schumacher College for a unique weekend exploring traditional and contemporary folk songs, all themed around the winter season.
During the weekend there will be workshops where you will learn singing and breathing techniques which you will then apply to an array of different folk songs. The group will also get the chance to sing some festive songs around the fire in the woods. There will also be evening sing and share where together we fill the spaces at Schumacher College with harmony.
Every song is carefully selected and arranged especially for a cappella choral harmony – from easy rounds and loop songs to more challenging choral material which aims to help you expand your harmony singing skills. These carefully researched and selected festive songs (both traditional and contemporary) stem from folk traditions and evoke the sound of the season.
Julu and Heg expertly intertwine their extensive knowledge of singing technique, folk music and choral skills with fun and humour, helping each singer to explore their singing, build their confidence and create incredible music together as a group. There will be a public evening performance from the duo on Saturday 7th December.
Rachel Sweeney, Programme Lead for the MSc in Movement, Mind and Ecology, will guide us as we gently start the day focusing on body posture and alignment. She will offer image-based explorations of the anatomy, awareness of breath and muscular synchronization to help us release tension and to support our vocal work.
In our wonderful outdoor classroom, Rachel will also hold a session on the interconnections between our bodies and the environment, encouraging us to make use of all our senses. By experiencing how our voices are connected with other living matter across scales, we can increase both breath control and vocal resonance, and tune into the frequencies and rhythms that surround us through deep listening.
Come and join us on the beautiful Dartington Estate, where you can rest, breathe and sing together as part of a collective. No choir experience is required for this course, just a willingness to participate!
on this course you will
- Learn easy rounds, loops and warm-up songs
- Learn more challenging folk songs in a cappella harmony
- Build confidence
- Explore singing and breathing techniques through holistic practices
- Improve harmony singing skills
- Enjoy the fun and joy of a festive folk singaround
- Explore the interconnection between our environment, our bodies and our voice
what participants said about this course
“Heg & Julu’s singing retreats, from the moment you arrive, allow you the luxury of putting your life on hold as the group immerses itself in forming new friendships, learning beautiful harmonies, sharing delicious food and making wonderful memories. Heg & Julu create an open, sharing atmosphere that it felt so safe & healthy to release your emotions. I absolutely love the retreats, we all leave feeling incredibly uplifted but a definite feeling of sadness that the weekend is over… When can I go again?!”
“The weekend helped me move to a different level with my singing. Thank you very much for all your skill and encouragement.”
typical schedule for short courses
- Check-in to the room is between 3-3.45pm on the day of arrival. Check-out is 11am on the day of departure, although if travelling by public transport, luggage can be left at the Welcome Centre until the course has completed.
- Teaching generally begins at 4pm on the first day and ends at 2pm Fridays or 4pm Sunday (whichever is the last day of the course).
- The daily timetable can start at 9.30am and end around 9.15pm, with free time available at set times throughout the day.
- For residential participants breakfast is included, followed by a morning gathering and community work groups on weekdays, which are open to all participants and the college community. Non-residential participants can pay extra if they wish to have breakfast on one or more of the days.
- Lunch for all participants is between 1-2pm and supper is 6.30-7.30pm (both meals are included in the residential and non-residential course fee).
If you have any questions about your course schedule please contact shortcourses@dartington.org
what to bring
- Water bottle
- Loose fitting clothing (better for easy breathing and singing)
- Pen or pencil
- Songs to share in the evening
TUTORS
Julu Irvine and Heg Brignall
Julu and Heg, are folk duo Suthering. A couple in life and music, the pair met in a choir whilst living in Bristol. They moved from Bristol to Devon in 2019, just before the pandemic hit, in a bid to create a life more connected to community and nature. These themes can be found woven into their retreats as well as their own music and in their band name (which means "the sound of the wind through the trees") which was inspired by the Robert Macfarlane book Landmarks.
Dr Rachel Sweeney
Rachel is a practicing movement artist specialising in transdisciplinary approaches to decolonizing body-place relationships, engaging creatively and imaginatively with cultural heritage and sustainability discourses.
Rachel is currently Programme Lead for the MA in Movement Mind and Ecology at Schumacher College and is graduate of the BA Theatre Degree at the former Dartington College of Arts. Read More
OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY
Our courses are part of the wider Learning programme at Dartington, and you will join a community of students on site studying at Schumacher College and Dartington Arts School as well as other short course participants, volunteers and visitors.
While you are here we invite you to take part in our learning community life by attending morning meetings, taking part in activities such as meal preparation and clearing, and evening social events. This is entirely voluntary, but participants tell us that taking part adds to their experience at Dartington.
accommodation
We recommend that if possible, you stay on-site during your course. All our courses are best experienced holistically: through studying, relaxing, eating and staying with other course participants, volunteers, staff and tutors.
When you book your course with accommodation this includes one of our hostel-style single rooms with shared facilities and easy access to your main learning space. They are the perfect base to rest your head, relax and recharge. You can find out more about the rooms here.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the duration of the course, each made with fresh, locally-sourced produce by our award-winning team.
Accommodation is available at a discounted rate for course attendees, and on a first come, first served basis only. Choose this option by selecting ‘Course Fee Plus Accommodation’ at checkout.
Your Title Goes Here
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
optional: upgrade to a courtyard room
It is also possible, subject to availability, to upgrade your accommodation to a single or double en-suite bedroom in our beautiful and historic courtyard. Upgrade pricing is as follows:
For courses starting before 1/9/2023
- Single room with en-suite bathroom: additional £27.25 per night
- Double room with en-suite bathroom is an additional £43.60 per night
For courses starting on or after 1/9/2023
- Single room with en-suite bathroom: additional £31.07 per night
- Double room with en-suite bathroom is an additional £49.70 per night
If you would like to upgrade, please first book with residential option included, and then contact our Guest Services team on 01803 847150 or email guestservices@dartingtonhall.com to check availability. Our Guest Services department is open daily, 8am–8pm.
Should you decide to upgrade to our en-suite accommodation, please be aware that this is 20 min walk, or 3 min drive, to the Old Postern site, where some of our courses are held. There is car parking available near to all venues on the estate.
OPTIONAL: STAY ON OUR CAMPSITE
You may like to stay on our beautiful and relaxing campsite, amidst the stunning rolling hills and ancient woodlands of Dartington. Find out more about the campsite here.
Should you decide to stay on the campsite, please be aware that this is 10 min walk, to either Schumacher College or Dartington Hall, where our courses are held. There is car parking available near to all venues on the estate.
Book now
Begin your online booking below. You will receive an e-ticket for this event. You are welcome to email us at shortcourses@dartington.org or call us at 01803 847008 with any queries you have. Full Short Course T&Cs can be found here >
If you place a deposit, you will be contacted by us four weeks before the course start date to pay the outstanding balance. You will also be contacted with full details about the course before you arrive.
Please note that in most cases bookings for all our Short Courses close at midday on the Thursday before the course begins. This enables us to give you the best possible course experience and ensures all bookers receive the relevant course materials before they arrive.
