Courses

Come and discover Medieval music with Mary Mohan and Jude Rees.  Delve into the world of Medieval manuscripts, dance tunes, beautiful sacred music and more.

Tutors: Alison Crum, John Bryan, Peter Wendland, Ibi Aziz. Three days of viol consort playing in preformed groups of any level, studying in depth any music chosen by the group, coached by members of the Rose Consort of Viols.

William Lyons and Richard Thomas from The City Musick will be heading to Halsway Manor for the very first time, bringing with them all the joys of the festive season during the Renaissance.

Elementary, Lower Intermediate, Pre-formed Consorts.

Three days of viol consort playing in a variety of group sizes. Tutors: Alison Crum, Peter Wendland.

For pre-formed chamber groups on period instruments. Tutors: Theresa Caudle, Mark Caudle, Claire Williams, Stephen Preston.

Recorders@Plymouth are back for their annual visit to Halsway Manor, offering an opportunity to explore the huge diversity of recorder orchestra repertoire.

Explore the rich and varied repertoire of musicians from court and city in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, for wind and brass instruments: cornett, sackbut, shawm, dulcian, recorder (at 440) and crumhorn.

Advanced.

Exploring the world of late 16th-century popular music, as heard in both court and country.

For pre-formed chamber groups (with or without singer) who should bring at least 4 pieces to work on which can be at varying stages of readiness.  Work at 415 or 440Hz, with availability of one harpsichord playable at either pitch, plus Higham’s transposable electric pianos. Tutors: Katharine May and Michael Sanderson.

The 2025 winter course will focus on the works of J. Sebastian Bach’s predecessors. Tutors: Philip Scriven, Andrew Millington, Peter Parshall, Peter Lea-Cox, Richard Godfrey.

This course offers viol players the chance to explore consort repertoire from the viol’s Golden Age and to improve their technique along the way.

Plenty of opportunities to play at all levels of ability. Tutors: Jacob Heringman, Lynda Sayce, Matthew Spring, Sara Stowe, Evangelina Mascardi, Andrea Damiani.

This popular and highly acclaimed course provides an excellent opportunity for experienced players of viols and recorders to work on early music in a chamber setting.

Two parallel, friendly courses for players at any level, though not beginners.

Intermediate and Upper Intermediate.

Exploring national styles in suites and concertos by Purcell, Campra, Corelli, Vivaldi and Fasch. Tutors: Theresa Caudle, Mark Caudle, Claire Williams.

Four days of viol consort playing in a variety of group sizes with other players of an advanced and upper-intermediate level. Tutors: Alison Crum, Alison Kinder, Ibi Aziz, Peter Wendland.

An increasingly popular course for those interested in Baroque performance practice using modern instruments.

A course designed for players of recorders, viols and other early instruments, covering a wide repertoire from ancient to modern. Sessions include one-to-a-part groups, consort songs, trio sonatas, choir, large and small ensembles. Tutors: Ibi Aziz, Caoimhe de Paor, Pamela Flanagan, Philip Thorby, Peter Wendland.

Join Zarek Trio in a course focused on the baroque trio sonata.

The Linarol Consort's Renaissance Viol and Recorder course is for experienced viol and recorder players with an interest in improving their technique on Renaissance instruments and in reading from facsimile. Tutors: David Hatcher and Alison Kinder, assisted by Claire Horacek and Timothy Lin.

Intermediate and Upper Intermediate.  Run by Jacqui Robertson-Wade and Alison Kinder.

A friendly introduction for flute, lute and cello players to the rich but sometimes forbidding world of baroque chamber music.

This course offers viol players the chance to explore consort repertoire from the viol's Golden Age and to improve their technique along the way. Composers studied will include Jenkins, Purcell, Holborne, Lawes and Coperario.

Preformed Consorts.  Run by Jacqui Robertson-Wade and Alison Kinder.

Three days of viol consort playing in preformed groups of any level, studying in depth any music chosen by the group, coached by members of the Rose Consort of Viols.

Three days of viol consort playing in a variety of group sizes and exploring some lesser-known repertoire in addition to ‘old favourites’. Tutors: Alison Crum, Peter Wendland.

Inspirational and encouraging instruction in baroque style from expert tutors. For pre-formed chamber groups on period instruments. Tutors: Rachel Beckett, Theresa Caudle, Mark Caudle, Claire Williams, Oliver John Ruthven.

Explore the rich and varied repertoire of musicians from court and city in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, with William Lyons & Richard Thomas.

Preformed Consorts.  Run by Jacqui Robertson-Wade and Alison Kinder.

Real Roots!  Exploring the world of late 16th-century popular music.  The core of the programme will consist of playing in a mixture of large and small ensembles, as well as a range of other options each day, including a focus on ensemble techniques, ornamentation and will hopefully also include some vocal sessions.

This course offers viol players the chance to explore consort repertoire from the viol’s Golden Age and to improve their technique along the way, with Joanna Levine and Richard Boothby of Fretwork.

Advanced.  Run by Jacqui Robertson-Wade and Alison Kinder.

Plenty of opportunities to play at all levels of ability, and to socialise with like-minded early music enthusiasts. Tutors: Bor Zuljan, Peter Croton, Jacob Herringman, Lynda Sayce, Matthew Spring, Sara Stowe.