About Jackdaws

“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!”

“The new studio is a joy to work in with the benefit of a lovely view and it was easy for us to remain socially distanced”

“Any initial covid safety concerns I had soon dissipated, making for a really relaxing and enjoyable weekend with great food, in a beautiful setting”

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

“All Covid precautions had been thought through, ensuring that we were kept safe”

“It was really lovely to be back at Jackdaws, playing together again. I very much appreciate all the effort that must have gone into making this possible.”

“In respect of feedback, I can only say how much I enjoyed the course, it was a classic “Jackdaws Experience” which was much needed after a long lockdown.”

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

“We were all so grateful to Tutors and Jackdaws team who worked tirelessly through seemingly endless Government rule changes to make this live course possible”

“It was an absolute joy to make music together again”

 

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

“Michael [Harper] is a brilliant, sensitive and supportive teacher with superb communicative skills as well as being passionate about his music – and he makes you feel at ease with the singing”

“Rosa Mannion is superlative at creating a safe, supportive and constructive working environment within which she guides, nurtures and challenges each student, bringing out the very best in each participant”

“Jess [Jessica Walker] is the first tutor I’ve had in a variety of venues who talked about the changes and difficulties facing singers as their voices and bodies age, and why certain things become more difficult.  Such a help and a positive experience!”

“We all had a really great weekend of music and hard work and laughter. I’m still trying to process everything I learned. I hope I can build on it. [Joan Rodgers]”

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.”