JACKDAWS

15/10/2026

🎹 2026 – 2027 Season!

Piano Courses 🎼 #2026

✨ There are five exciting new piano courses to explore this year: The Romantic Pianist with Karl Lutchmayer, Making it Simple for Pianists with Nicholas Walker, Beethoven 2027 with Sarah Beth Briggs, The Classy Classics with Julian Jacobson, and The Persuasive Pianist – A World of Pure Imagination with Anthony Williams. 🎶

🎵 Alongside our wide range of regular piano courses—covering diverse repertoire, technique, and musical understanding—there’s something to inspire every player, whatever their level or style. 🌟

All Piano Courses: https://www.jackdaws.org.uk/courses/

12/10/2026

🎶 Singing the Italian Way with Owain Browne

📅 November 6, 2026, 6:30 pm – November 8, 2026, 4:00 pm

🌟 Come and discover — or renew — the joy of singing the Italian way on this new course with Owain Browne, who has previously led Discover Your Voice and Breathing Life into Text.

Singing Italian provides a fantastic foundation for an efficient and strong vocal technique, giving singers easier access to a beautiful legato line and helping the breath work for us rather than against us.

This new course is designed for singers of all levels of experience and confidence, offering the opportunity to explore the expressive and vocal possibilities of an Italian approach to singing.

Through practical exercises and guided work on text and technique, we’ll explore how to harness the qualities of Italian diction to enhance vocal ease, projection and emotional connection — and how to apply these principles to any repertoire.

❓ Do I need to bring Italian repertoire?

✨ Absolutely not! The principles of singing in Italian provide a technical basis for singing in any language. Bring whatever repertoire you like, or ask for suggestions if you’d like something new to work on in Italian.

Hear from Owain: https://youtu.be/79-9g1pJy3w?si=IST-372-ODnx2n5x

🎟️ Book your place now: https://www.jackdaws.org.uk/events/3762/

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/10/2026

Featuring the brilliant Jackdaws recorder group led by the amazing Mary Hooper at 11.45 followed by the also brilliant Jackdaws Songbirds led by the equally amazing Caroline Radcliffe! Please go along and show them your support if you can 🤩

07/10/2026

🎶 Delighted to see our brilliant Song Story project for SEND settings nominated for an award in this year’s Music & Drama Education Awards! 🏆

Keep your fingers crossed for us! 🤞

We’re delighted to be among such a fantastic group of nominees. 🎭🎵

06/10/2026

🎶 Practise, Play, and Recharge at Jackdaws

Looking for a peaceful place to practise, recharge, or simply enjoy time at the piano?

Our beautiful Lehane–Wishart Studio is now available to hire on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

🌟 What’s included:

A world-class Steinway piano 🎶

Glorious acoustics and inspiring garden views 🌿

A space that’s entirely yours — for a morning, an afternoon, or even the whole day 🕰️

A supportive team on site, plus the freedom to bring your own lunch for a true retreat-style day 🥪🐦

💷 Rates: £15 for the first hour, £12 per hour thereafter.
Take a break from the everyday and give yourself the gift of uninterrupted music-making.

📧 Email [email protected] or 📞 call 07880 091066 to book your piano away-day. See less

05/10/2026

🎶 Singing to Recover Your Breath
with Marta Fontanals-Simmons

📅 27 November 2026, 6:30pm – 29 November 2026, 6:30pm
🎵 Level: All

This supportive and inspiring weekend retreat is designed for anyone looking to regain breath control, strengthen their voice, and restore confidence in their singing** — perhaps you are recovering from illness such as COVID-19 or other respiratory conditions, or you feel your voice is changing because of age or other factors.

With International Mezzo Soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons, you will be led through a holistic weekend focusing on:

🌬️ Reconnecting breath with voice through carefully structured breathwork
🎵 Improving vocal stamina with innovative SOVT vocal exercises
💪 Developing trust in your instrument through physical strengthening
🧘 Enhancing your overall wellbeing with mindful relaxation techniques

🎼 You will work towards performing **two pieces of your choice**, suited to your vocal range, with full support from the course leader. Whether you are an experienced singer or new to classical repertoire, the emphasis is on progress, not perfection. ✨

🎶 Sessions will include guided warm-ups, breath-focused vocal exercises, and group singing in a relaxed, non-judgmental environment. One-to-one guidance will also be available to help you navigate any vocal or breathing challenges.

By the end of the weekend, you will have a deeper understanding of how to use your breath effectively, feel more in control of your voice, and take away practical exercises to continue at home. 🌱

💛 This retreat welcomes all levels of singers, from beginners to experienced vocalists. If you have been struggling with breathlessness, vocal fatigue, or simply want to reconnect with your voice in a supportive setting, this weekend will offer you the tools and encouragement to move forward with confidence.

Book Your Place Now: https://www.jackdaws.org.uk/events/3765/

01/10/2026

🎶 The Singer’s Tune-Up 🎶
A Weekend of Renewal
with Audrey Hyland & Saffron van Zwanenberg

📅 22–24 January 2027

A weekend of renewal for your voice, your artistry, and your love of performing.

The Singer’s Tune-Up is an immersive weekend designed for classically trained singers who want to refresh their technique, deepen their artistry, build confidence and simply enjoy performing.

Perhaps you are preparing for a performance, audition or exam. Perhaps you have repertoire you want to explore, technical questions you would like to work through, or simply a desire to receive fresh input and inspiration while spending a few days immersed in singing, surrounded by others who share your passion.

You’ll receive personalised feedback through masterclasses and one-to-one sessions, alongside group activities designed to help bring musicality, interpretation and performance into focus and encourage collaboration, curiosity and camaraderie with your fellow singers.

An opportunity to step out of the everyday, give yourself time to focus on your voice, and re-engage with the valuable experience of working with teachers, coaches and other singers.

There is no expectation to arrive at a particular level or with a particular goal. This is a space to explore, experiment and grow, with encouragement, expert guidance and plenty of enjoyment along the way.

Give your voice some time. Give yourself some time. Come away refreshed, energised and ready to sing.

Bring any repertoire you are interested in working on, suggest 2-3 pieces. 🎵

🔗 Book Your Place Now: https://www.jackdaws.org.uk/events/3771/

30/09/2026

🎶 Our first session of MMPJ (Music Man Project Jackdaws) last week was brilliant!

🎵 We made some amazing music, had lots of fun and started getting to know each other.

✨ Session two is now underway, and we can already hear the joyful sounds coming from the studio!

🙌 There are very limited spaces left to join us this term, so if you’d like to find out more, take a look here:

🔗 https://www.jackdaws.org.uk/community/the-music-man-project-jackdaws/



The Music Man Project UK The National Lottery Community Fund

30/09/2026

🎵 Somerset Music Conference is taking place on Friday 16th October at Taunton Racecourse.

📣 There’s still time to secure your place!

🌟 Be inspired by keynote speaker Charles Hazlewood, connect with colleagues and leave with practical ideas you can take straight back to your setting.

🎶 The conference is designed for all key stages and school phases, offering a valuable opportunity to connect and network with colleagues from across the county.

🎓 Alongside the keynote, the day will include a range of practical workshops, giving delegates the chance to explore new ideas, share practice and develop their skills as music educators.

The cost for the conference is £95.

🔗 To book a place, please use the link below. Each school should have a designated person with login details for the booking system.

📚 The conference can be found on the SSE website under ‘Training & Events’ – Primary Music Conference 2026
Course code: SC-MUS-1026-T001

https://supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Event/299509

📧 For more information, please contact [email protected]