workshops & courses learn and take part

Harmonica Beginners Part 2 Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 4 March or Saturday 6 May, 10am-3pm £34

Learn more of the basics of harmonica playing in this Beginners Part 2 workshop. This session will consolidate the work you have already done on improvisation, tune playing and chugging at Part 1 and move on to the fundamental blues technique of note bending. Participants will need a 10-hole harmonica in C. Prior attendance on Beginners Part 1 is recommended.

Blues Guitar Beginners Part 2 Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 11 March or Saturday 3 June, 10am-3pm £36

Improve your blues playing with this workshop designed to help you move on with your technique. By looking at tunes by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker, you’ll learn about 12-bar progressions, the blues scale and shuffle rhythms in more depth. Please bring a six-string acoustic guitar with you; prior attendance on the Beginners Part 1 workshop is recommended.

Refresher Sax from Scratch Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 18 March or Saturday 17 June, 9.30am-12.30pm £26

Following on from the absolute beginners Sax from Scratch workshop, this Refresher workshop will enable students to have more fun playing on one of our saxophones, or bring their own sax, with a view to developing their skills and techniques. Ideal for those that have attended previous Sax from Scratch workshops, or for early beginners who would like to develop their playing.

Harmonica Beginners Part 1 Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 1 April, 10am-3pm £34

Learn the basics of playing harmonica in this popular workshop, where you’ll be introduced to tune playing, chord-playing and blues improvisation. No previous harmonica experience is necessary, but you’ll need to bring a 10-hole harmonica in C. (The follow-on Harmonica Beginners Part 2 workshop on Saturday 6 May)

Saxophone from Scratch Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 8 April, 9.30am-12.30pm or 1-4pm £26

Have you ever wanted to try the saxophone but didn’t know where to start? Do you want to try it for the first time or have a go before buying one? Starting with the absolute basics, this workshop takes you on a on a step-by-step approach to making your first sounds, breathing tips, exercises, learning fingerings and scale patterns and playing simple melodies from those scales. No previous musical experience is required. You’ll be in a small group of beginners and in a friendly and supportive learning environment. Instruments are provided for use in the workshop, but if you have your own you are welcome to bring it along for advice and comparison, especially if it is one you may be practicing on after the workshop.

Saxophone Beginners Course Adult/15+ Course

Saturdays 15 April, 13 May, 10 June, 8 July, 9.30am-12.30pm

(four-session course) £69

This course offers beginner saxophonists the opportunity to learn as part of a group.

Through practical musical activities and exploring tunes you’ll start to build confidence and develop some of the technical and musical skills to play the saxophone. The course is suitable for beginners who have attended our Sax from Scratch or Refresher workshops or had another basic introduction to the saxophone. Participants will need to bring their own tenor, alto or baritone sax.

Ukulele Beginners Part 1 Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 22 April, 10am-3pm £36

The ukulele is a fun and accessible instrument making a big comeback in popular music and in education. This workshop is ideal for beginners to learn the basics of playing, how to accompany songs and ukulele techniques. Come and take part in the ukulele revival! No prior experience necessary! Participants will need to bring a soprano-, concert- or tenor-sized ukulele.

Saxophone Improving Beginners Course Adult/15+ Course

Saturdays 15 April, 13 May, 10 June, 8 July, 1-4pm (four-session course)

£69

This course offers returning saxophonists the opportunity to learn as part of a group through a fun programme of practical musical activities and performance. It aims to help students develop core technical, performance and improvisation skills and build confidence. Students must have their own instruments and ideally have attended previous Stables Saxophone from Scratch, Refresher and Improving Beginners workshops. If you have any other recent playing experience and are interested in joining the course, contact education@stables.

Saxophone Study Group Adult/15+ Course

Saturdays 29 April, 27 May, 24 June, 15 July (four-session course)

Group 1, 9.30am-12.30pm OR Group 2, 1-4pm

£69

This course is for saxophonists with more than two years’ experience and looking to reach an intermediate standard (equivalent to Grade 3 plus) on their instrument. You will have the opportunity to learn through a structured programme of study, incorporating a mixture of scale and study work, duet and group performance and improvisation activities.

The focus is on having fun, building confidence and competence in a supportive environment which enables students to progress in their musical development. Contact us on education@stables.org to find out availability of places, and also so we can advise you which of the two groups is suitable to join and if your recent sax playing experience is suitable for the course.

Loop Pedal Workshop Adult/15+ Workshop

Sunday 30 April, 10am-12pm OR 12.30-2.30pm

£26

As used by beatboxers, percussionists, rappers, songwriters and musicians from many different genres, the loop pedal can turn one solo performer into a band, layering rhythms, harmonies and effects.

This workshop is an introduction to using, arranging and performing into a loop pedal and to basic concepts and theories of looping, popular models of looper, set-up and general live/ studio troubleshooting. Although looping is usually solo, for technical and teaching reasons this workshop is based around group working with one pedal, as the group tries out themes and patterns to show how to build an improvised performance.

The workshop is open to musicians from different genres and is suitable for any acoustic instruments with pick-up and also for intermediate players with some experience of performing live. (No amplifiers please). Vocalists are also welcome. No previous loop pedal experience is needed, but you must be reasonably confident on your instrument or voice and have an understanding of chords and keys. (Contact education@stables.org if you have any questions about your instrument suitability for this workshop.)

Led by Daniel Turnbull aka Funke and the Two Tone Baby. Playing a unique blend of dance music, blues and folk styling, Funke has pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved live with loopers and samplers. He has played shows across the world and wowed audiences from Glastonbury to Sziget, WOMAD to Boomtown.

Latin Percussion for Beginners Adult/15+ Course

Sundays 30 April, 14 May, 4 June, 1.30-4.30pm

(three-session course)

£53

This introductory course is a chance to enjoy the experience of playing percussion in an ensemble, to develop your playing skills and an understanding of latin rhythms, instruments and styles. You’ll look at how the percussion is built up for a salsa band and how that can develop to play in other latin and popular music styles.

You’ll use instruments including congas, bongos, timbales, maracas, guiro, claves and cowbells, and learn how different percussion patterns interlock and work together to create energetic and infectious rhythms. Instruments are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you have them and would like to try playing them in a group.

The course is suitable for anyone who has a basic technique in hand drumming from playing conga or other hand drums (able to play basic patterns with bass, slap and open tone) and has some basic rhythm skills gained from playing drumkit or other percussion. (Contact education@ stables.org if you need further advice.)

Blues Guitar Beginners Part 1 Adult/15+ Workshop

Sunday 30 April, 10am-3pm £36

This practical workshop introduces the blues, looking at playing techniques such as turnarounds, shuffles and basic basslines, demystifying ‘V-IV-I’ blues chord sequences. We’ll also explore fundamental blues techniques such as finger picking, hammer-ons and pull-offs, using examples from classic Blues recordings. You will need to be comfortable with the chords of E, A and B7 and be able to change confidently between them. It will also be helpful if you have some knowledge of the E minor pentatonic scale. (The follow-on workshop Blues Guitar Beginners Part 2 takes place on Saturday 3 June.)

Singing Lead Vocals & Microphone Technique Adult/15+ Workshop

Sunday 14 May, 1.30-5pm £27

For singers who want to explore some of the technical, artistic and practical aspects of singing with a microphone. Perhaps you already sing in a choir, or play in a band, and want to try solo or lead vocals? You’ll look at equipment essentials, microphone technique and which mic to use, understanding monitoring, fold back and live mixing to get the best out of your sound, how to approach different styles of music such as rock, pop or jazz and how to tackle the challenges of fronting a band, whatever the size. You’ll also look at how ‘phrasing’ can help with the challenges of some songs and have a go at singing with backing tracks and stripped-down guitar accompaniment.

Ukulele Beginners Part 2

Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 20 May, 10am-3pm £36

This workshop is ideal for beginner ukulele players to develop their playing further. Building on Beginners Part 1, this workshop will help you to develop your rhythm and melody playing skills, add new chords and combine different strokes for rhythmic effects. Using a mix of contemporary and vintage material, you’ll also get the chance to practice as a ukulele band and try out playing the melody, accompanying and adding colour to the musical arrangements. Previous attendance at Ukulele Beginners Part 1 is recommended and you will need to bring a soprano-, tenor- or concert-sized ukulele.

Introduction to Music Recording and Production Part 1

Saturday 3 June, 10am-4pm

Adult/15+

Workshop

£48

Our popular course for anyone who would like a basic introduction to recording and production using music technology, looking at microphone techniques, recording different instruments, and production techniques. The workshop uses MAC computer and Logic Software, but uses them to look at the principles that apply generally across Digital Audio Workstations software such as Ableton, Cubase and Sonar. You will focus on recording and production rather than just creating within the software and you’ll be able to take away audio files of tracks produced to further practice the skills you’ve learned. If you play an instrument, please bring it along for the afternoon recording session to learn how best to record it. (The Part 2 follow-on workshop on Saturday 24 June looks in more detail into studio-based recording and production.)

The Rock Experience Adult/15+ Course

Sundays 4, 11, 18, 25 June, 2 July, 10am-1pm; Sunday 9 July 2-11pm (includes final 7.30pm performance)

£95 (£75 students)

The perfect course for aspiring rock and pop musicians who would like the chance to play in a band, meet other musicians and learn from experienced tutors. Whatever your instrument, whether you are a back-bedroom guitarist, budding vocalist, or interested in forming a band of your own, The Rock Experience is a great opportunity to take the first steps. You’ll be supported and coached by our tutors in rehearsal and performance skills, finishing on the final Sunday in a gig on The Stables stage.

To take part, you will need to have some experience of playing your instrument and be confident enough to have a go playing alongside other people, but no previous band experience is necessary. If you are in an existing or newly formed band and would like to take part, contact The Stables Learning and Participation Department for more information at education@stables.org.

Introduction to Music Recording and Production Part 2 Adult/15+ Workshop

Saturday 24 June, 10am-4pm

£48

Aimed at those who have attended the Intro to Music Recording and Production Part 1 workshop or who already have some experience of recording and music technology, this follow-up session will look in more depth at microphone technique, effects and processors, synthesis, MIDI, mixing and mastering and the techniques you need to create great recordings in your own home or DIY studio. The workshop uses MAC computer and Logic Software, but in a way that applies generally across Digital Audio Workstations software such as Ableton, Cubase and Sonar. If you play an instrument, please bring it along for the afternoon recording session. This course follows on from Introduction to Music Recording and Production Part 1 on Saturday 3 June.

Cajon Beginners Workshop Adult/15+ Workshop

Sunday 2 July, 1.30-4.30pm

£26

The Cajon (wooden box), the smallest drum kit in the world, is the perfect powerful accompaniment instrument to any kind of band, be it blues, hip hop, boogie, rock, pop, folk or latin – providing a full snare and rich bass sound. Cajones come in various shapes, sizes and styles and during this one-day workshop you’ll get hands-on experience to fully discover a range of possibilities this versatile instrument can provide. Covering tones, exercises and rhythms, this workshop is suitable for kit drummers and hand drummers alike. Please bring a cajon (with snare wires inside) if you have one or contact education@stables.org if you need to borrow one (limited numbers available).