About Jackdaws

“The venue itself is beautiful, tucked away into a hidden corner and surrounded by beautiful plant life and a wonderful garden. The kitchen and dining area are cosy and welcoming, and the purpose built rehearsal and teaching room is just the right size, filled with light and with an excellent piano” 

“Thank you for providing such a wonderful programme of music education. The intimacy of the Jackdaws experience, coupled with expert tuition, lovely food and excellent facilities i.e. the ’new’ studio provides a unique musical experience. I will return!”

“Overall my impression was one of a very inclusive, supportive and constructive weekend and I enjoyed it immensely. It seemed like such a good idea when I booked it last year but towards the end of last week I was starting to panic! My mind was quickly put to rest when I met the other participants – they were a lovely supportive bunch!”

“I learned much and I felt encouraged and enabled by the teaching and by the response of my fellow students to my playing. It was the kind of immersive, thoroughly enjoyable experience that is all too rare”

“The group were all so supportive and friendly that any nerves soon vanished”

“I find the range of experience of the attendees to be a real strength of the course. Watching and listening to players with a range of abilities all improve over the weekend is so helpful and inspiring” 

“I learned a lot from their acute observations and feedback, to myself and others, given in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere” 

“It was good to leave feeling energised, with a wealth of things to think about, explore and practise”

“I was very happy in my B&B accommodation.   I was made to feel really welcome and the room was excellent – plus a good breakfast!”  

“The structure of the course where we’re eating together in a small group meant there was plenty of time to get to know everyone and to have wider conversations about music and the piano beyond the work in the main sessions. I learnt a lot during meal times as well – going home with a reading list and ideas about new approaches to practice sessions and new ideas”

“It is worth adding that the whole Jackdaws experience, with the birdsong filtering through into the room from the lovely garden outside and the home cooked food and delicious snacks at every break time make being there a really nurturing and enjoyable time. I will definitely be back!”

“I really enjoyed the Course.  It was re-assuring to hear that some of my issues were not unique to me!  The warm, friendly atmosphere was a great backdrop to learning. I was impressed with the way the tutor was able to work with us collectively across our various individual stages of development”  

“I have booked to come back next year, and on other courses in the mean time!”

“Thank you all for a substantial and valuable workshop”

“this was just like being on holiday and was one of the most enjoyable weekends I have had for a very long time!”

“e-mailed updates prior to the course were really helpful and informative”

“The studio is a wonderful place to be, and we were very lucky to be able to spend time outdoors in the beautiful surroundings”

“I always feel much healthier after a spell at Jackdaws!”

“Jackdaws is still the peaceful retreat I had hoped for and feels so welcoming, like home from home”

“Thank you – I had a wonderfully rewarding weekend and I was very pleased to share it with such a lovely group of people”

 

 

 

Meals

“Delicious food in abundance provided with such warmth, care and kindness.”

“Requiring a special diet I have so often in my life felt like a second-class citizen or, worse, a total nuisance. Alex, however, without fuss or bother, produced interesting food for all of us and, as if that weren’t enough, was a wonderfully calming presence there in the background for us.”

Praise for our Tutors

Piano

“Inspirational and a wonderful experience to be immersed with a like minded group of people for the weekend”

“I noticed tangible improvements in my playing during the short duration of the course”

“Excellent – and eye-opening.  It was just what I was looking for, addressing fundamental issues with technique and finding steps to take to improve”

“Absolutely first class. Alisdair [Hogarth] was a total gem! He was so helpful and enthusiastic and utterly generous with his time. I got a tremendous amount out of the weekend. Couldn’t have been better.”

“It was a truly excellent 3 days and we benefited greatly from Margaret [Fingerhut]’s insight and guidance. It really was a privilege to be able to attend a course led by a pianist of such standing and profile.”

Voice

“The learning environment created by these wonderful musicians was fun, kind, and non-competitive while challenging us to find new levels of music making. I loved the open-minded approach to genre as well, and the emphasis on using different colours for different genres and pieces” Pianissimo to Fortissimo

“I like Richard Jackson’s teaching method and greatly admire the way he has something fresh to teach each member of the group. I learned so much from my own sessions, and also from those of the other singers”. 

“Sandra Ford facilitated the course so well and sensitively, accommodating carefully to a very mixed group of singers in terms of experience and ability. I learned a lot from her personally, and found her to be an excellent and constructive teacher”.

“Each piece I any anyone offered was significantly improved in a really empathetic truthful way. Their depth of knowledge is remarkable plus the tutors are great fun!” The 3 R’s of Singing

“As a participant, ‘Singing and Imagination’ was my first Jackdaws weekend and I see now how people get hooked on the experience! There was a range of talent, which I thought I would find intimidating in terms of the number of excellent singers. I was not intimidated, being made welcome by all attendees as well as the tutors”. 

“The quality of the accompanists was of the very highest order. Their skills, kindness and knowledge were fantastic and it simply brought so much pleasure to the whole experience”.

“It was intense and exhausting, but in a good way because I felt engaged in a constant process of learning, both from the tutors and from the other students. Mary (Plazas) and Robert (Chevara) were generous with their guidance and the 1-to-1 sessions with Mary were incredibly helpful”. Opera Workshop

Wind

“We all felt included and valued and Bob [Robert Codd] frequently checked that what he was offering was what we wanted”

Ensemble

“It is always a delight to work with Bill and Dickie [William Lyons and Richard Thomas] and as ever, at Jackdaws, there is a lovely relaxed and happy atmosphere fostered by them. The music was lovely to play with the right level of challenge and enjoyment and some excellent advice and teaching seamlessly included in the playing opportunities.”

“I found the weekend to be a tremendously uplifting and musically confidence boosting experience and am looking forward to next year”.

“The whole experience was extremely valuable from both a musical and social point of view. The tutors were very encouraging to me, as someone who had not previously participated, and those musicians who had attended before were exceptionally friendly and welcoming. The repertoire selection was varied and engaging and I liked the theme that Stephen (Gutman) had chosen very much”. Chamber Music