The morning 'Meet & Greet' sessions are a time for us to introduce ourselves, say hello to old friends, and generally enjoy each other's company before the classes begin. (If you're not a morning person, don't worry - attendance is not obligatory!). You can even bring your morning cuppa - or even breakfast, we won't judge!

Robin Hood and the tales of his and his 'Merry Men's' exploits have become the stuff of English legend. Many of the stories we tell today about Robin and Sherwood Forest were passed down in songs from the medieval time and he is a prevalent figure throughout English folklore and British music.

In this session we will explore some of the beautiful music inspired by the romantic figure of Robin Hood.

From its origins as a Polish folk dance, the Mazurka has spread far and wide and is now a common dance in many countries.

The form was especially popular in France, where many Classical composers (most notably Chopin) wrote pieces based on this form, morphing them from folk dances to Classical solos, full of counterpoint and elaborate decoration.

However, the Mazurka continues to be a very popular form in French folk music, and there are some wonderful tunes to be discovered, both traditional and modern.

In this session we will learn a traditional Mazurka from the Auvergne region in central France, and also look at a more contemporary one from a video game soundtrack!

The Italian Triple Harp originated in Italy in the 16th century and was popular throughout Europe until around 1750. These days, however, it is played by a vanishingly small number of people.

We are delighted to have Belgian harpist Lise Vandersmissen with us this festival to talk about and demonstrate this fabulous and unusual type of harp.

Lise aims to reintroduce the Italian triple harp as a solo instrument. She has just released a solo album TRE on Etcetera Records, which consists of old and new repertoire ranging from Alonso Mudarra and Barbara Strozzi to her own compositions.

Lise is intrigued by the triple harp's sound world and has made it her goal to promote the soloist capabilities of this unique Baroque harp with three rows of strings.

Whatever your level, performing to an audience - be it of 1 or 101 people - is always an occasion, and we've all been in the situation when the music we play perfectly in our practise by ourselves suddenly seems to vanish from our brains and fingers once we have an audience, no matter how friendly!

In this session we will chat about why we can get anxious about performing and discuss research on the subject as well as examining strategies and techniques to help combat the nerves we may feel.

There will also time for some participants to perform in this lovely friendly online environment, so if you would like to share your music (be it a section or a whole piece!) please do email Lucy at harp@lucynolan.co to let her know in advance!

Have you ever taken a jazz course and just been... a bit lost? Do chord symbols just make you look the other way in despair? How do some people just seem to know when to change levers when the music doesn't always tell you to?!

If any of these sentences ring a bell, this is the course for you!

We will begin by looking at some basic chord theory before moving on to demystify some of the common types of chord you will come across in jazz, such as major and minor 7ths - as well as those pesky dominant 7ths!

This course is aimed at beginners to jazz, or those who'd like to brush up their knowledge. All playing levels are welcome as it will be primarily theory-based, though as we will be referring to written-out chords as examples a (very) basic knowledge of music theory is helpful (if you know the names of the notes and where they appear on the staff you should be good!).

Originating as a folk tradition in Trinidad and Tobago, Calypso music is upbeat and rhythmic and the perfect antidote to our cold English winters! Come along to this session to warm up those fingers as we move and groove to specially arranged Calypso tunes for harp.

Are you just getting started on the harp? Or perhaps you've been playing a while and you're just a bit afraid to tear yourself away from the printed music?

In this relaxed course aimed at beginners and improvers (or those who'd just like to go at a slower pace!) we will look at learning a simple tune and accompaniment by ear - and also look at the ways we can make this easier for ourselves by looking at memorisation techniques and discussing fingering.

So if you've always wanted to play the harp by ear but weren't sure where to start, or if you're coming back to it after a long break, DO come along and join us to just have some fun and (re)discover the joy of playing, free from the music!

We all need a break from playing - join us in the common room before the tea concert to meet other attendees and have a relaxed chat about, well, anything really!

Join Lucy and Tamsin for a relaxed late-afternoon performance and see just how versatile the harp can be as they share their very different approaches to the instrument.

In the Baroque era music was inseparably linked to dance and each directly influenced the development of the other. In this session we will explore some of the most common Baroque dance forms and their defining characteristics as we learn arrangements of this elegantly refined music.

Improvisation is one of those things that has developed a bit of a mystique around it, making it feel sometimes as though it's a skill far out of reach to us ordinary mortals!

However, fear not - the truth is that we just need to learn a) how to get started and b) how to practise this seemingly elusive skill. And we can ALL do it!

In this course we will learn some some techniques that will help us to improvise around any set of chords in a folk style.

All playing levels *except total beginners* are welcome to attend this course. The techniques shown will range from very basic to more complex, so that you may play at your own level.

Back by popular request, a Yoga class aimed specifically at harpists!

Sitting at your harp in front of a computer for long periods of time can make you very stiff!

Yoga teacher Hannah Lenton will lead a gentle yoga session to help us unwind and refresh our energy. Hannah has been teaching yoga since 2018 to students aged between 3-85! Her teaching is focused on conscious breath, nourishing movement, and cultivating a sense of peace in the body and mind. She believes that yoga is for everybody and her hope is that you will feel physically stronger and mentally lighter, long after you step off your mat.

No equipment or prior experience is necessary — just find a bit of floor space and wear some comfy clothes that you can move freely in. If you have any concerns, injuries, are pregnant, or have things you'd like Hannah to know about in advance, feel free to contact her directly on hannahlouiselenton@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE: this session will not be recorded for later viewing.

Norway is a country steeped in fascinating folklore which has heavily influenced and shaped its music traditions, leading to bewitching melodies and compelling lyrics. These often fit perfectly on the harp and in this session we will explore some of the haunting sounds of Norway.

It's been pointed out to us a few times now that we always run our festival in November - and yet we never include any Christmas repertoire...!

So for those of you who'd like to get into the festive spirit, come along and learn a great fun Christmas medley of traditional carols, full of Yuletide cheer! You'll get a new piece for that festive concert (or annual family gathering!), guaranteed to raise a smile as people recognise their favourites!

An opportunity to get together with everyone who's been attending the Festival and discuss what you've learned.

This session is FREE for all Festival attendees - everyone will receive the link closer to the event.

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