Recorder Festival is a celebration of the recorder for all abilities from elementary to advanced with ensemble, technique and orchestral sessions. Recorders and music will be available to buy and there will be an evening concert from top class professional recorder players.
STANDARD: ALL
Resident: £412 Non-Resident: £302 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 25/270
Booking for Members opens at 9am on Wednesday 27 November 2024
Non-Member and online booking opens at 9am on Monday 16 December 2024
For details on how to become a Member to take advantage of early booking, see here
What is the course about?
Recorder Festival is a celebration of the recorder for all abilities from elementary to advanced with ensemble, technique and orchestral sessions. Recorders and music will be available to buy and there will be an evening concert from top class professional recorder players. Tutors will ensure that you are placed in a group at an appropriate level, and there may be movement between groups as the course progresses. Those of elementary standard, reasonably proficient at reading music, will benefit from a patient and sympathetic approach. Intermediate standard players will enjoy being stretched in technique and ensemble sessions with an option to explore one-to-a-part playing benefitting from relaxed and friendly guidance. Intermediate players should offer at least two instruments and be confident sight readers. Advanced players must be strong-sight readers with good rhythmic skills and the confidence to work on one-to-a-part repertoire. They should be able to play soprano-bass with equal proficiency and produce a good tone. Advanced players will benefit from exacting and highly skilled musical and technical guidance, delivered in a supportive manner. Entry to the performance on the Tuesday evening is included within the course fee.
What will the course cover?
Ensemble music will draw on a wide variety of music from the 15th to 21st centuries. Advice on good ensemble technique appropriate to the standard will be included. Technique sessions will focus on posture, breath control and tone, fingering and articulation. Each level will work on a piece appropriate to the standard. Advanced players may explore extended techniques. Orchestral sessions will have parts appropriate to all abilities. Tuesday evening a professional recorder group will give a concert.
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will be able to...
Approach a wide range of music in a more informed manner with the knowledge to interpret the music and the technical ability to work on a piece and improve it.
How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
This course will be taught by practical group work and tutor demonstration.
Will music be provided in advance of this course?
Music for the technique sessions may be recommended in advance and where possible via the Benslow Music website. All other music will be provided by the tutors although students are welcome to bring their own music for the one-to-a-part sessions.
Is there anything participants need to bring?
A range of recorders, particularly bass, great bass and contra bass. Music stand (optional), a chromatic tuner or tuning app and a metronome would also be useful.
Tutor biographies
Caroline Jones BA(Hons) LTCL ABSM LWCMD Caroline Jones studied recorder at Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating with distinction. Caroline is an SRP Music Adviser and a member of the National Committee and is a familiar face conducting SRP events, recorder orchestras and recorder festivals throughout the country - "infectious enthusiasm," "inspirational", "musically and technically brilliant" (The Recorder Magazine). Having taught for Warwick, Coventry and Birmingham Universities and Warwickshire College, Caroline now enjoys teaching freelance from beginners to advanced students both in person and online. She organises school workshops and adult courses, including Benslow Recorder Festival. In 1990 she founded Rugby Recorder Ensemble and in 2010 she founded ARO (Arden Recorder Orchestra) for advanced and professional players. Caroline joined SRP Wales as a student in 1983, she was Musical Director of Birmingham branch of the Society of Recorder Players from 2014-2022 and is now Musical Director of Wales Branch. In November 2024 she founded Wales Recorder Orchestra (WRO) with Lyndon Hilling. Caroline performs internationally. Her regular accompanists are Samuel Howley and Charles Matthews. With Charles Matthews she also has a Trio Sonata group with viol player Alison Crum.
Alyson Lewin Alyson's interest in music developed through piano, violin, singing in choirs at church and at school. She was first introduced to the recorder as a sixth-former in Belfast, and quickly fell in love with it both as a solo and consort instrument. She went on to read Music at Bristol University, where she specialised in recorder and developed a wider interest in Early Music (particularly Renaissance reeds) and Baroque flute. This was followed by a PGCE year at Padgate College in Warrington, where Colin Martin was one of her tutors, and introduced her to the joys of the Northern Recorder Course. She later studied under Peter Holtslag and subsequently gained the LGSM diploma. After several years teaching music in Staffordshire schools, Alyson now works as a freelance teacher, composer and arranger. She regularly tutors on playing days and residential courses, and has tutored on courses at Horncastle College (Lincolnshire), Pendrell Hall College (Staffordshire), The Clearing Folk School at Ellison Bay, Wisconsin, and several others. She is a regular tutor at Benslow Music Trust. Other activities include performing, occasionally adjudicating, and giving talks about aspects of Early Music. She is a founder member of Arden Recorder Orchestra, and performs with Duo Saltarello. In 1992, she jointly founded and now runs Hawthorns Music. SRP Panel of Visiting Conductors June 2024 Page 11 of 19 Alyson is a Musical Adviser of the SRP, Musical Director of South Staffs. Branch, and has served on the Conductors' Panel for more years than she cares to remember! She enjoys being a Pastoral Visitor, and likes to bring a wide variety of pieces and styles to her visits.
Miriam Monaghan Described as an 'incredible player' (Classic FM) Miriam Monaghan (née Nerval) leads a varied career as a recorder player, conductor, composer/arranger and teacher. Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she became the first recorder player to be profiled in BBC Music Magazine's Rising Star: Great Artists of Tomorrow feature; has recorded for Disney at Abbey Road Studios; won a City Music Foundation award for soloists and was asked by Classic FM to give a recorder lesson to former Top Gear presenter, James May. Miriam is a founding member of Palisander recorder quartet. The ensemble tour internationally, and have received several awards for ensemble playing. Miriam acts as the group's music director, curating programmes and arranging or composing much of the Palisander's repertoire. A passionate educator, Miriam is keen to share her love of recorder ensemble playing. As well as conducting at the SRP National Festival (2024), she is the recorder tutor at Morley College (adult education) in London, tutors for the Recorder Summer School and directs playing days with Palisander, including their newly established residential playing course at Hawkwood College. She is also a tutor for the National Youth Recorder Orchestra, and Head of Recorder and Music Makers (KS1) for Richmond Music Trust.