Folk Music Retreat
10-12 March 2023
Street YHA, Somerset
A joyful weekend of music and great company as we explore folk music together!
All instruments and levels welcome.
Meals and dormitory accommodation included.
Plus optional walks, informal sessions, tutor concert & chill out time!
Improve your skills, hone your style and have a great time learning new tunes and playing music with other lovely people! Come away with a heart full of music and head full of new tunes and awesome things to do try with them!
We will focus on learning and playing tunes by ear – I send audio and dots in advance for anyone who wants a head start – and will teach everything fully at the weekend! Don’t worry if you’ve never played by ear before, a willingness to get stuck in is all you need.
We’ll cover 4/5 tunes over the weekend, looking in detail at style as we go. We’ll do lots of work on pulse and rhythm. Each tune will help us focus on different aspects of traditional playing – ornamentation, variation, double stopping / chord notes, more rhythm and harmony. If you have specific things you’d like covered, please ask!
If you’re not sure whether you’re the right level or I can accommodate your instrument, please get in touch with any questions you have. If it sounds fun then I’m pretty sure it’s for you!
Practical Details
Meals
All meals from Friday tea through to Sunday lunch are provided. We will cook as a group, which is an important part of the retreat experience! Everyone is expected to participate in either preparing or washing up one meal.
Hot drinks, cold drinks, fruit and snacks available anytime!
Food will be vegetarian and basic but wholesome and tasty, and we’re able to cater for most allergies, etc.
Feel free to discuss any concerns before or after booking.
Accommodation
Opened in 1931, YHA Street is the oldest YHA hostel still in operation today. It has been has recently been refurbished with improvements to the rooms, common areas and washrooms as well as the addition of two new camping pods.
There are 7 rooms sleeping between 2 and 5 people. All dormitories are shared, but no-one will be sharing a bunk!
There are 3 showers and 3 toilets spread around the hostel.
If you would prefer to stay at a local B&B please do! However, please note that the retreat price remains the same as the total number of students we can accommodate in class is fixed.
Location
YHA Street is near Street, Somerset. The postcode is BA16 0TZ.
It’s a charming Swiss-style chalet surrounded by delightful National Trust land. There’s walks with great views from the hostel including of nearby Glastonbury Tor.
Nearest Stations: Castle Cary.
Concessions
* We offer concessions in order to make this event as accessible as possible. The concession price is intended for people on low income for whatever reason – low pension, student loans, or un/low-waged. Please use your discretion! We don’t want to exclude anyone from the retreat, but equally would ask you to pay the full price if you are able to.
** The remainder of the payment must be paid by BACS or by cheque one month before event date. If the payment is late, the deposit and the reserved place could be lost. If you are having any problems with the final payment and would like to discuss please get in touch.
Cost
£205 for the full weekend including all meals and dormitory accommodation
£150 Concessions*
– Please see further information for details of our concessions policy.
– If this is still to much please get in touch. I’m willing to trade some help for part payment!
£75 deposit** now to reserve your place, with full payment due one month prior to the event.
Folk Music Retreat – 10-12 March 2023
10-12 March 2023.
Street, Somerset