About Easy Recorder Playing for Adults

This course is specifically designed for adults with a little experience of recorder playing who would like to improve their skills. Starting with lunch on the Monday and departing after breakfast on the Friday, the course is packed full of opportunities to extend your recorder technique and build up your confidence as a musician. You will be learning alongside other adults with a similar level of experience to you and the atmosphere will be encouraging, positive and supportive. This will allow you to relax, have a lot of fun and get the very most you can out of your time at Hothorpe Hall.

The course is designed to allow you to tailor it to suit your own interests and stamina! Should you wish to, there will be opportunities to play every day, all day from after breakfast until well into the evening. Along with recorder technique and ensemble classes there will be opportunities to learn about the history of music and music theory. Each day there will be at least one massed playing session when the entire course comes together to play Easy large scale pieces supported by Great and Contra Basses providing a solid and sonorous foundation.

The music has all been specially composed or arranged for adults with limited experience to ensure it is all satisfying to play, not mere facile exercises.

There will also be plenty for you to do should you appreciate a break from music making and course participants are welcome to choose to sit out of as many sessions as they wish. Jan Epps, a professional craft tutor, will provide a range of different classes during the course which will be suitable for both experienced crafters and beginners alike. Indoors there is a pool table, table tennis and board games and puzzles to enjoy. Hothorpe Hall is located in twelve acres of beautiful grounds with many interesting walks and basketball, volleyball and tennis courts.

There will be lots of opportunities to improve your recorder technique with patient and good humoured tutors. Maybe you'd like to get a bit more confident with rhythm, or try a new size of recorder, or simply improve on your tone or breathing. You may just appreciate the chance to do more playing and explore new pieces. As well as the massed playing sessions, there will be lots of smaller ensemble sessions featuring just three or four parts so that you will benefit from plenty of strength in numbers! Many of the sessions will have a choice of “Very Easy” and “Easy” ensembles to allow you to play at the level most appropriate to you.

The “Have a go” sessions were particularly popular at the 2012 course. In these classes you can borrow a new size of recorder and “Have a go” at playing some straightforward pieces under the direction of one of our patient and knowledgeable tutors. Each day we'll explore a different size of recorder so by the end of the course you could have “Had a go” on a treble, tenor and bass recorder.

You are welcome to attend the course as a resident staying in one of Hothorpe Hall's ensuite bedrooms. Alternatively, if you live locally you may wish to enrol as a non-resident and travel in to the course daily.

All music is provided for the course.

Please note: this course has been specifically designed for adults with very little playing experience or those who are looking to improve their basic technique. You are welcome to attend this course if you only play one size of recorder. However, this course is not suitable for complete beginners, nor for intermediate or advanced players.

If you are unsure if you would benefit from attending this Easy Recorder Playing course please contact Justine who will be happy to help you to come to a decision. Please phone her on 01264 319935 or email Justine on: