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Reviews

Suffolk Flute and Clarinet Co-operative August 2026 

I arrived home yesterday completely exhausted, having loved every minute of the course.

What a wonderful week. There was so much music, fun and laughter.  It was a brilliant group, I really enjoyed playing with everyone.  By midnight on the last evening, I realised I’d played duets with everyone there at some point…..which in itself was a learning experience as different things and music worked with different people.

Most of all it is always a privilege to listen to and play with both of you.  Playing Autumn Leaves is going to get me every time.  I’m missing it all already but lots to think about, practise and apply…. 

I still don’t know how you both manage to do what you do.  Coping with the ever-changing demands of different groups, tailoring things to individual needs, and at the same time producing such amazing food and a welcoming environment. All truly remarkable.  Thank you for everything. RL

Thank you so so much for the terrific course this week. I enjoyed absolutely everything about it, from the music, teaching and food to the company and fun that was generated.  It really was great and inspiring. BB
Thank you so much for all the work you put in this week (and always) to put on such a fabulous course. It was absolutely brilliant, I genuinely loved every minute of it. EB
Thank you both so much for another lovely course.  It was great fun with delicious food and good company. And, as always, interesting and instructive. There is something about Earls Hall that adds yet another layer of magic!
Thank you again. I hope I’ll be able to come on another course soon – they are good for me in so many ways. JN
 
 

Suffolk Woodwind Workshop July 2026

Thank you very much for the course, it was great to be able to play all 3 of my instruments and play sax in a small group. Thank you to Nick for making suitable parts in the arrangements we did and giving me some tips. And as ever thanks for coming up with creative meals that taste so good. MH

MD. September 2025

Hope, Derbyshire. November 2025 : Thank you both again for another wonderfully stimulating course. I continue to feel rather proud and lucky to be a member of such musical , well-focussed and jolly groups and the musical ethos and discipline reflect the high quality of the whole package – course content and delivery and, not least, the outstanding food.

Eardisland, Herefordshire : Just a brief message to thank both you and Julie for a really  outstanding and memorable course – challenging, rewarding and stimulating.  Thank you for your continued hard work and your inspired course content – both culinary and musical! 

Suffolk 1 : 1 2025

Earls Hall Suffolk : What a fantastic few days…thank you both so much, it’s been wonderful. Although I fully admit to feeling knackered when I got back, maybe just due to the shock of reentry to normal life! It’s been great to have spent time in an environment full of both learning and fun. And where it’s seen as quite normal to start playing at 8am…! I loved playing with the group yesterday and today. You’ve created something special. Great venue too. Specially the greenhouse. Love the garden. Food was superb. Mushrooms sublime. I’ve been inspired with my fresh picked courgettes to do a soup and agrodolce today… But, I have no idea how you juggle running the course alongside providing wonderful food. RL August 2025

“It was so uplifting of course to get to play gorgeous music and to be reminded of why I love the clarinet. Here’s hoping I can do more playing once I retire. Thank you again”

Church Stretton

Thank you so much for all your hard work (and extra hours) over the last week. I had a magical time in Church Stretton with everyone, really enjoyed both courses. I really did enjoy every minute and can’t thank you enough. I have booked for next year and sent the deposit before we left!! And I know Deborah is going to do the same when she returns home. Looking forward to seeing you again in September,

“It was so uplifting of course to get to play gorgeous music and to be reminded of why I love the clarinet. Here’s hoping I can do more playing once I retire. Thank you again”

Giggleswick June 2025

 I just wanted to write to thank you for a lovely (albeit challenging) few days in Yorkshire. Everyone was very friendly, the food was amazing and I learned a lot about how to improve my saxophone sound. Now I have to put it into practice! I’ll be back! AM

Brittany May 2025

Everything was great, as usual – food, company, music…. but the house and location were wonderful. And I so enjoyed the quartet playing. Definitely up there as one of the best courses Big thanks to you and Nick

Belgium, March 2025 :

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I feel so lucky, that I found such wonderful people like you. What you provide is just precious. The musical teaching and content as well as the fondly selected and cooked most delicate dishes you prepare, would each have been worth every mile to get to you and also every penny to spend on! The most pleasant company and community I experienced over the last week crowned the overall experience. I feel very privileged, as I know, that not everybody could witness that!

— TL

Upper Seagry, Wiltshire January/February 2025

“Many thanks to both of you for a really enjoyable course this week.  Thank you for your musicianship, tuition, food and PATIENCE! I felt so lucky to be with such delightful companions.  I hope you get another lovely group this weekend.” 

“Just wanted to say a big thank you again for a really enjoyable few days. There is always such a lot I take away from your courses, but it will probably take months for it all to be processed in my brain, or my fingers!  I’ll be looking for all those perfect 4ths and top D’s in my pieces now. Loved the varied choice of music, and the fact that we all had a go at different parts. 
What a great venue, and such a lovely group of people.
Many thanks to you and Nick for the super meals – I really don’t know how you manage to do it all, and direct the musical side, but it all seems to happen seamlessly, making it all  very relaxed for us. I always think of it as a holiday!”

— CJ

‘Thank you so much for the course in Wiltshire in January. It was a very enjoyable few days, lots of music, good food and laughs plus a good injection of motivation. I know you put a lot of work into these courses and it shows – there is always something interesting and different.”

— NBS

“Once again thank you both so much for a very valuable and enjoyable course. I felt by the end of it that my playing had really improved, and that was confirmed when I returned to my flute at the weekend to practise for Band. All your little ‘tips’ were still in my head. The house was lovely, the company a delight and of course the food delicious. 
I hope the following course has gone well, and look forward to seeing you again in the not too distant future.”

— SB

“Just a quick thank you for the last few days. I had a great time. I learnt a lot and enjoyed myself: and ate very well too. 
My sound has definitely changed with the adjusted technique and I know that I want to embed it and you have given me the tools to do that. And after playing with/against the bank of saxes over 4 days, I can honestly say I have never blown quite so hard – so my lungs got an unexpected but very good workout in the process. 
And I think I have developed a taste for after dinner chilled flute so may be I can learn how to add some jazzy embellishments next time.
Do let me know when there’s the right course for me (with space!) as I’d like come back for more!”

— JK

“Just to thank you again for providing the all encompassing woodwind workshop in Wiltshire. Everything was perfect.
 
My reflections.
  I was simply amazed that seven total strangers could come together for three days and become so quickly united and supportive to each other. The leadership and hospitality that you both provided was the main facilitator- and of course there was the common interest of playing music.   Thank you. 
 
The teaching and support given was second to none. From the moment I was taken from the group by Nick, and then gently challenged and supported throughout the course by Nick Julie and everyone, was amazing and has provided me with a passion for future playing. 
 
The hospitality provided was superb. Wonderful food. We all thought you were magicians being so able to provide many full tables of excellent food while  your focus was on teaching. 
 
So overall it was a wonderful experience, and most importantly, has given me the inspiration and an even greater passion for playing music.” 

— JC

“It was a great course, just what I needed and I’m enjoying the new ‘keys facing the ceiling’ flute position (especially now I’m playing in a room with a horizontal ceiling!).  So many tips old and new to incorporate into my playing – if I can remember to follow just some of them I’ll be pleased – and as you say the photos show some serious effort from us all!

Lovely music / lovely food as ever – thank you both.
Till the next time” 

— BC

The Cotswolds Flute Ensembles November 2024

Thanks for these pictures, Julie and Nick, and for the very happy and productive time we had with you last week. (We) left you full of enthusiasm, and hope to keep this enthusiasm going.

Hope Advanced Saxophones November 2024

Thank you both so much for another thought provoking course – inspirational coaching and for the lovely food.

— MD

Hope Advanced Saxophones November 2024

Thanks again for a super few days …it’s been very educational, beneficial and encouraging as always, so I hope I will build on what I’ve learned ready for our next meet in the new year !
 

— TW

Suffolk July 2024

I want to drop you a few lines to share and express my grateful memories with you. Where to start with my hymn of praise? Perhaps with the obvious purpose of my stay: The music and my wish to develop skills. Mission not only accomplished my “expectation channel” got rather overload!A few days with you opened my eyes to complete missing links and increased my motivation for pursuing new goals. Due to your high expertise, you always knew what to show and teach every student individually. I think that’s the secret of the quality of your course. Not a secret to mention, that playing duets with you was such a great joy for me  for the very first time, I really experienced how fabulous it is to interact with another musician. To be able to join in the Celtic Canon with the rest of the group at our final playing  it still overwhelms me and this piece will always have a special place in my heart. It was a nice group and as I already mentioned, J** and his extended interest in music inspired me a lot. On the same level of excellence I have to say, that you’re amazing hosts. The Venue, the atmosphere and (on top of all) your fantastic cooking  It’s unbelievable, how you’re able to manage that additional to your outstanding qualities as teachers. I want to let you know, that you’ve got a lot to give to other people and I consider it one of my best ideas to join your course. And maybe not for the last time!
 

— TL

Church Stretton June 2024

Many thanks for the course just gone by – you and Nick really don’t spare any trouble to make it a good time and to improve our playing and it is so much appreciated.

— M

Thanks so much for the course; they just get better and better. Great food, lovely music and convivial company. What more could one want.

— PM