• Course Dates
    June 18, 2027 6:30 pm –
    June 20, 2027 4:00 pm
  • Observer Pass
    June 19, 2027
    11:00 am - 1:00 pm

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Level: All
Fee: £410

Sing the Great Musicals – 1940 to the Present Day

with Stephen Dickinson and Simon Bashford

Acting through song is at the essence of Musical Theatre singing, so come and sing your favourite solo numbers under the guidance of two very experienced MT teachers in a collaborative Master Class, offering participants encouragement in a positive and inclusive environment.

Stephen Dickinson is a graduate of The Royal College of Music, with 50 years of experience in the business, he coached at Arts Ed, an accomplished composer and musician, he is joined by seasoned artist Simon Bashford who celebrates 40 years of musical theatre experience as both a performer and creative.

Learn to be more expressive in your performance skills, find the inner you, extend your vocal qualities by understanding the needs of the scores.
Bring up to six songs from any musical from approx.1940 to the present day. Props Welcome!

We encourage one Music Hall song, as music from this genre really demonstrates the art of storytelling.

We asked our course leaders to answer a few questions about their course and teaching:

Stephen Dickinson:

  1. To gain confidence in performing and to enjoy their  chosen repertoire.
  2. To advance technically (whilst also developing their interpretation) through the way that we teach and not be inhibited. We are there to encourage as well!
  3. To observe  and encourage fellow participants whilst also learning  from them.

“I love working with amateur singers because they bring considerable enthusiasm and commitment to the work. It is also very rewarding for us to see their progress over a comparatively short time. And to see THEM  registering that they have made significant progress.”

Simon Bashford:

  • I want participants to feel totally at ease, in a collaborative safe artistic environment where they feel supported whilst they explore their favourite MT Songs and improve their performance skills.
  • I want participants to feel their growth and improvement which will ultimately improve their confidence in what they are doing in performance and technically.
  • Ultimately and above all else, I want participants to have a great time, to work collaboratively with us, to go away fulfilled and content with their accomplishments.

I have to thank Stephen Dickinson for inviting me to join him as a tutor on this course, I had always held Jackdaw’s in great regard and having the opportunity to be part of this wonderful team is so special to me and means a great deal. My courses at Jackdaws are without doubt my favourite dates in my diary, I love working there, I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity to do so.

Some course feedback:

I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend course at Jackdaws. – Stephen and Simon were both supportive and encouraging.”.

It was a great course run by inspirational tutors. The group of participants was very supportive. It was a joyful experience to see how everyone grew in confidence and skill across the weekend.

Each day was a joyous experience of learning and listening, with excellent  camaraderie and encouragement from all group members. Being able to hear a wide range of repertoire from other singers was a very pleasant experience too! It was a pleasure to take part in, and I hope to be there again next year!

 

Read more about what participants say about Jackdaws Courses.

A £100 deposit is required to secure your place on this course. The balance of fees, including accommodation, is due 3 weeks before the course start date.

You can also buy an Observer Pass for this course. The Observer Pass entitles you to attend on SATURDAY from 11am–1pm as an observer only and costs £10. This can be redeemed against a subsequent course booking. Places are limited. More info and terms and conditions here.

Details Price Qty
Attendee - Deposit £100.00 GBP  
Observer Pass £10.00 GBP  

Venue:  

Venue Phone: 07880 091066

Address:
Jackdaws Music Education Trust, Great Elm, Frome, BA11 3NY, United Kingdom

Description:

Course Information

Is this Course right for me?

The answer is probably yes as we welcome musicians of all abilities and backgrounds on our courses but if you would like to find out more before you book please read about our course levels, or email or call our office manager Karolyn on 07880 091066 / music@jackdaws.org and she will be able to offer further guidance.

If you are still unsure then maybe consider one of our “Try before you buy” Observer Passes which enable you to come and see one session in action.

Full Observer places may also be bookable for a whole weekend subject to availability. Call / email the office for more information.

Please see our General Course Information pages for further details and schedule information.

Our Courses are for adult musicians (except where stated) and take place at Jackdaws in Great Elm, near Frome in Somerset. The Course Fee includes all tuition, meals and refreshments at Jackdaws. Courses take place in the main studio, with Steinway piano, and generally follow a masterclass format. There are several practice rooms here, too.

Repertoire

For Voice, Piano & Wind courses; participants are usually requested to prepare 2 – 3 pieces in advance. We will ask you to provide a repertoire list for the tutor (& accompanist) ahead of the course.

For Ensemble courses; direction will be given by the course leaders.

Accommodation

If you require B&B, we can arrange that for you; accommodation fees are payable in addition to the course fee.

Meals and Refreshments

Lunch, Supper and morning/afternoon refreshments will be prepared on site by our dedicated Cooks.  If you are vegetarian/vegan, or have a food allergy, you must let us know in advance, so that our cooks can plan the meals for the weekend accordingly. We are ‘allergy aware’, but we rely on participants letting us know if they have specific food allergies. Please also let us know if you carry any emergency medication.

By booking onto a Jackdaws course you agree to abide by our Terms and Conditions and understand the Privacy Policy regarding our handling of your data.