Music Course for Student Flute, Clarinet & Saxophone Players and friends.
2025 Student Summer Music Course
Earls Hall
The UK Student Summer Music Course 2025
for young musicians from the UK and Worldwide.
Earls Hall, Cockfield, Suffolk, UK
July 18th – July 23rd 2025.
5 nights 6 days
Our 16th year at this, our favourite, venue
Arrival from 18.00 End at 12.00 midday with a final concert at 11.00 in the local church.
Everything is included from evening meal on arrival day to breakfast on departure day.
“Nick and Julie are not just masters of their instruments, but master educators as well”.
Dan Miller Music Educator ~USA
Julie Wright. ARCM. LGSM. B.Ed Hons. MISM Director; Flute/Piccolo/Recorder/Bassoon/Piano
Nicholas Foster. GRNCM. MISM Clarinet/Saxophones SATB/Flute/Oboe/Violin/Cello/Piano
and ‘The Team’
1 : 6 ratio Teacher to Students
We have over 35 years experience as music summer school directors, performers and teachers.
(Both Julie and Nick have enhanced DBS clearance and safeguarding certification )
Members of the Incorporated Society of Musicians
Feedback from two new students July 2024
I don’t even know where to start other than – Wow! M had such an incredible time with you all at Earls Hall last week. She has not stopped talking about it!
I am so thrilled she was able to experience such an enriching few days immersed in music. She loved every aspect. We’ve been hearing all about the other students and she feels so happy to have spent time getting to know everyone.
Thank you so much to you, Nick and Emma for providing such a high quality experience. She’s very keen to attend again next year and I couldn’t be happier about it.
“I just wanted to say thank you for a great music camp. I have been very restrained in asking C questions (first time for everything) but she came home very happy and has slowly been regaling me with stories. She obviously had a wonderful time because at lunchtime today, she announced she wants to go back next year!!”
The extensive grounds where the students enjoy recreation time. Earls Hall is surrounded by typical English countryside which allows for a relaxing explore each day.
This is the Summer School to try – Play All Day – we don’t stop!
5 nights / 6 days of intensive, enjoyable and rewarding tuition and music making.
Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones and Friends.
10 -12 places only for 2025.
We offer a place to any flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, recorder, bassoon player.
Beginners and Early Grades to Diploma level – anyone keen to play
The course is very small for maximum attention – we accept only 12 students, so be sure to book early.
Ages 9 to 17 – in 2 different groups with a bespoke programme created to suit your exact playing needs.
Julie and Nick at work – we are experienced professional players and teachers of international acclaim – and we love our job!
Cost is fully inclusive of accommodation, food and all tuition plus 24/7 pastoral care.
Group 1 £655
Intermediate Players Grades 3 – 5
Classes at a gentle pace with lots of fun, motivation and progress – Time spent rhythm and note learning – Introduction to play in a small ensemble and with a pianist, too. Play new tunes every day. Music sessions all day intermingled with recreational time. Learning to be independent readers and confident players mixed with fun filled activities – The emphasis is on motivation and learning to play accurately with plenty of improvement each day. We will be working at a steady pace for an all round, comprehensive musical development. Plenty of recreational time off too!
Group 2 £775
More Competent Players Grades 6 – 8+ and Diploma
For advanced players looking for that extra sparkle and confidence in both solo and ensemble playing whilst working at a faster pace. We will be working at a more intense pace, aiming at accurate and fluent reading, empathy of ensemble playing and polished, musical performances.
Twice daily performance opportunities
The students may choose to bring ABRSM and Trinity Syllabus work for Grades 1 – 8 and diploma including Sight reading, Aurals, Repertoire Pieces, Study and Scales/Arpeggios.
Alternatively, a bespoke programme can be created by ourselves.
Dear Julie and Nick
I just wanted to thank you very much for looking after my children.
They came back so happy and proud of what they achieved
I am so impressed with your dedication and love .
Reference and a mother’s overview
My daughter has just turned 14 and she has been attending the Suffolk course for at least the last 4/5 years and attendance has now become something of a tradition.
I was nervous, to,o about originally sending ******** on the course as I, too, came across it via a web search but as it turned out, there was no reason for concern.
******** plays flute on the course and really enjoys attending. There is a mix of boys and girls as well as ages and those attending have really good fun and gel together well over the week. The days are a mix of practice sessions, individual tuition, learning new pieces / polishing old pieces, having fun and the children perform solo, duets, group ensembles at the final concert (some children attend for a shorter duration and there is usually a concert put on for that shorter duration course).
Julie and Nick are very welcoming and the tuition is first class – firm but fun and it is true to say that the playing ability of your son will definitely improve over the number of days that he attends.
Julie actually now teaches ******** via Skype lessons on a monthly basis and it is true to say that her flute playing dramatically increases with every lesson.
The week is catered to the children’s playing ability and all the children are genuinely supportive of each other, there is plenty of stretch opportunities if desired and ensemble groups are put together with skill by Julie and Nick so that you may have a variety of different standards playing within the ensemble but all the children are having fun playing the piece together.
Each day the children go for a walk and they usually play cards / board games / chat in the evening. Girls and boys room in separate wings of the house and the accommodation is comfortable with a large garden and vegetable garden.
Julie and Nick ensure that all the children eat well and it literally is a children’s house party.
Mobiles are collected in prior to bedtime and then given out at breakfast and this helps to provide comfort that they are not on their phones late at night!
Altogether a fantastic experience.
Solos, Duets, Trios, Quartets and Larger Mixed Ensembles with the emphasis on secure technique, good tone, performance confidence and the development of a wide musical understanding.
Students are generally grouped according to playing ability, although we will keep you with friends and related age groups, where possible. Nick writes the parts to suit, so that everyone feels comfortable musically, or ‘stretched’ towards where they are aiming to be. Our objective is to help everyone to improve quickly and to find their true potential, whilst having a great time!
Start time 18.00 on July 18th End time 12.00 on July 23rd
with a formal final concert for parents and friends starting at 11.00 and finishing at 12.00 midday.
2021 Final Concert in the garden of Earls Hall
2019 Final Concert in St Peter’s Church
Cost
£655 for Level 1
£775 for Level 2
This includes everything with no hidden extras. All group tuition and access to our library of music, individual lessons, 3 full meals each day and snacks/drinks at break times, 5 nights sleeping accommodation and 24 hour pastoral care.
The UK Student Summer Music School with Julie and Nick includes all woodwind players from beginners to advanced plus friends on classical guitar, violin and cello. The course is small, friendly with carefully structured tuition to give maximum attention to each student. Flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, recorder, classical guitar, violin and cello players are invited. Auxiliary instruments ( piccolo, tenor, baritone saxophones etc) welcome as are instrument playing siblings. International students are also very welcome to combine music making with English practice. The tutors also speak French, Italian and Spanish. To date, we have welcomed students from Spain, Italy, Malaysia, USA, Portugal, Bermuda, Luxembourg, Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, Thailand, France, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Bahrain as well as the UK.
Supervised recreation time is always built into the full daily teaching timetable. The course is small. relaxed and friendly with full pastoral care and good home cooking all set in the expansive and beautiful grounds of Earls Hall. We aim to enthuse and motivate our students and can guarantee a year’s improvement in just a few days!
Course Content
For entry-level / beginner grade students to intermediate players we offer Individual tuition, coached ensembles, sight-reading, rhythm and counting, tone, technique, aural, scales, piano accompaniment, exam assistance and help with polishing a performance for everyone.
For more advanced students, we include all items from the above list and also Masterclasses, sessions on conducting and directing ensembles, musical appreciation, memory tips, transposition and developing key sense, programme selection, platform presentation + confidence and understanding the basic principles and pedagogy of how to teach your instrument.
There will be an optional solo competition (3 levels) for which you should bring a well prepared piece of music to demonstrate your playing at its best.
Repertoire list for solo work and individual tuition
Intermediate Level Students – Please bring an exam or test piece that you have worked on with your teacher. Remember the piano part if there is one.
Advanced Students – Please bring a movement from any Sonata or set exam piece or well-known repertoire piece for your instrument with piano part, if it is accompanied.
Repertoire for mixed ensembles
We provide all of the music, but do bring something of your own, if you would particularly like to try it out. The repertoire to be coached includes music by Bach, Handel, Telemann Mozart, Schubert, Devienne, Dvorak and Elgar + opera, ballet, contemporary popular music and music theatre/show tunes. Every student will perform their ensembles at the final concert.
Typical group combinations in the past have been :- Flute ensemble, Clarinet ensemble, Saxophone group SATB, Flute or Recorder and Guitar, Flute with Clarinet, Flute and Oboe, Flute, Violin and Cello, Two flutes with bassoon, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon, Recorder with Cello, Flute and Violin and a Tutti group with one of Nick’s special arrangements. We have a library of over 300 titles and the parts can be adapted for any combination of instruments so that everyone gets the chance to play in different ensembles.
Duke of Edinburgh Award students are welcome to attend for accreditation.
Earls Hall is originally a 17th century house with a Georgian frontage and magnificent gardens set in the rural tranquillity of the sprawling village of Cockfield with its one Church, one school and one village shop. The house has a music room with antique grand piano, dining room, large sitting room and recreation room with table tennis table, two kitchens and plenty of bedrooms with 3 full bathrooms and an extra downstairs cloakroom. The gardens are ours for the duration of the stay and we can enjoy the fresh produce from the vegetable areas. “Shabby chic” in style and everyone loves it – unspoilt and welcoming.
Food. Shared, sit down meal times with delicious, international home cooking and home-grown vegetables are an important signature feature of the course. We aim to include everyone’s likes and avoid dislikes, where possible, and do our best with special diets and even the most selective of eaters. The students are invited to help us make bread, pizzas, homemade soup and burgers etc. as well as setting the table and helping to load the dishwasher! Fruit, toast and small snacks are always available for anyone who feels hungry outside meal times.
Accommodation. Everyone lives inside the house itself, with separate wings and bathrooms for girls and boys. The rooms are shared, dormitory style and students are grouped according to age and friends. You may choose to move room as you make new friends – this is fine, so long as you ask first and we know exactly where you are. We offer 24 hour pastoral care and the team of tutors also live on site.
Medical. Naturally, we can cope in-house with minor ailments etc. In case you are unwell and need to visit a doctor or the hospital :-
UK students need to provide us with their home GP name and surgery address. Overseas students need to have a travel/medical insurance policy which covers medical care whilst on holiday.
Schedule The daily schedule is packed with sessions from early morning practice to evening recreation/bed time with fully supervised activities. Please let us know if there is anything that you would particularly like/need to work on.
July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 26
8.15 Early Birds Practice Early Birds Practice Early Birds Practice Early Birds Practice Early Birds Practice
8.45 Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast
9.30 Session :- Tone, Technique, Scales, Sight Reading and Solos. Session Solo Competition ( optional ) Solo Competition ( optional ) Rehearsal
11.00 Break Break
Break Break Final Concert at 11.00 ends at 12.00
11.30 Coached Ensembles Coached Ensembles Coached Ensembles Coached Ensembles
12.30 Lunchtime Concert Lunchtime Concert Lunchtime Concert Lunchtime Concert
13.00 Lunch Lunch and preparing Canapes for evening Lunch and prepare for alternative evening. Lunch and prepare for alternative evening.
14.00 Private Practice Private Practice Private Practice Private Practice
14.30 Session Session Ensemble Competition Ensemble Competition
16.30 Arrival from 18.00 Break and Recreation Time Break and Terrace Time Break and Recreation Time Break and Recreation Time
17.00 Ensembles Lessons and Work with Pianist Session Session Session
18.00 Informal Solo Soiree and Introduce us to how you play. Soiree Concert Soiree Concert Soiree Concert Soiree Concert
19.00 Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner
20.00 Tutors' Concert and Quiz Workshop on Performance Etiquette and Confidence. Masterclass
Alternative Evening where you entertain us .....sing, dance, play, juggle .....be as creative as you can. We sit back and relax! Alternative Evening where you entertain us .....sing, dance, play, juggle .....be as creative as you can. We sit back and relax!
21.00 Recreational Time Recreational Time Recreational Time Recreational Time Recreational Time
21.30 onwards Bedtime - by age Bedtime - by age Bedtime - by age Bedtime - by age Bedtime - by age
Contact and Gadgets We discourage the use of mobile phones as this is disruptive to the learning environment and can be upsetting for those who are unable to contact home. Students may make a call at breakfast time or before bed time, otherwise phones are collected and kept in a safe place with the tutors. Naturally, if a student feels homesick or if there is an urgent need to make contact, then we will do so. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from your child as this always means that they are happy and busy at work – You will probably miss them more than they will miss you..
Please do not bring electronic gadgets, tablets, laptops etc as your fingers will be fully occupied making music.
What to bring :-
- Please bring your instrument and a music stand.
- Pencils, notebook and a pack of playing cards, reading book or similar for recreation time.
- Light, casual clothes for daytime and something warmer for cooler evenings outside. Remember, you may want to cover up if you are prone to insect bites, as we are in the countryside.
- Any essential medication, which we will keep in a safe place for you to ask for each day. Please inform us of these details on your booking form.
- Sun protection, sun glasses and a hat for if the sun shines ! Hay fever and allergy tablets if you need them.
Smart concert dress – presentation is important !
- Black dress or skirt and black/white top for girls with smart shoes and tidy hair. No sports shoes.
- Dark trousers, white shirt and tie for boys and combed hair. No sports shoes.
From the UK, fees are payable by direct online bank transfer or cheque
From outside the UK, fees are payable by cash or international bank transfer. Please allow for and include any bank charges when calculating your payment.
A non returnable deposit of £200 secures the place when booking.
The final balance is due on or before June 18th, 2025.
Julie [email protected]
Nick [email protected]
Cost includes everything once you arrive at Earls Hall.
There is a non refundable deposit of £200 payable to secure your place.
Limited bursaries available on request.
Please don’t hesitate to make contact and ask questions before you book.
Where is Earls Hall ? (see map below)
Earls Hall is situated in Cockfield, Suffolk, the famous Romantic English painter, John Constable’s landscape county. Gainsborough was another, famous, Suffolk artist and Benjamin Britten, the English Composer lived here. The area is full of quaint villages with historical churches, thatched cottages and old pubs. Our local town of Lavenham, with its many tea shops, is well worth a visit and the University town of Cambridge is only just a few stops on the train from Bury St Edmunds.
Home to British Horse Racing at Newmarket, Adnams Brewery and Greene King Brewery, Coppella Apple Juice, Siver Spoon sugar production and so much more, gives you some insight into this fascinating area. And for those who love trivia – the malt needed for the centre of every ‘Malteser’ is also grown in Suffolk.
Travel Please ask for any detailed information. We can help with taxis or chaperoned meet and greet.
Plane to Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted and then train or pre-booked taxi from there.
From Central London or Cambridge area, take the train to Bury St Edmunds Station and then pre booked taxi to Earls Hall.
https://a1cars.co.uk/
Local bus service from Bury St Edmunds to Cockfield Village – Line 753 Stop = The Horseshoes Inn
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