About The Stables Music Week
About the course
The Stables Music Week offers five days of intensive, fun and creative music making, where young musicians can come together to share their love of music, play with other young people and be part of an exciting group exploring different kinds of music.
You’ll also make new connections with other young musicians and build your confidence, teamwork and communication skills.
The week is designed to be an open, affordable, accessible music-making experience, bringing together young people from all walks of life, in a non-competitive, supportive and focused music making environment. We hope to take away as many barriers as possible to help you grow as a musician.
Who is it for?
The Music Week is for any young musician, aged 11-18, who plays an instrument, whether in an orchestra or band, or if you’ve just discovered how great it is to play with other young musicians.
The course is open to all young people interested in music, regardless of playing standard - there is no minimum grade and you don’t need to audition.
You can’t be an absolute beginner though and you’ll need to have some playing experience on your instrument. Most people will usually have been playing their instruments for a few years, but not everyone has had formal lessons or taken any music exams. You can always ask us at education@stables.org for advice.
The most important requirement is that you already play, love music and are keen to develop your talent!
Where is it happening?
The course takes place in the building and surrounding grounds of The Stables, one of the UK’s best-loved music venues.
Founded by the world-famous jazz musicians Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine in 1970, the venue presents more than 400 performances each year across all musical genres and welcomes more than 100,000 customers through its doors.
Learning and participation are central to The Stables’ activities, and our year-round programme of music-related workshops and courses offers a wealth of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to develop their skills and experience.
What will I be doing?
You’ll play your main instrument in anything from small group sessions to a full ‘All-In’ Orchestra, playing different styles of music. You’ll also get the chance to try out new musical activities and instruments, and play and perform for each other as well as to family and friends at the end of the week.
You could be playing classical to jazz, from rock and pop to folk, as well as trying instruments and musical styles that may be new to you.
Expert musicians and teachers will lead daily workshops across a wide range of instruments (string, woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard, guitars, bass, drums, traditional and folk instruments) in an exciting range of musical styles.
Each day you’ll take part in four or five different musical activities, including an ‘All-In orchestra’ session, an ‘A’ session playing your main instrument, a ‘B’ session playing different instruments or a different style of music, a ‘C’ session trying new and different things, and a session to perform, watch and create music with other musicians.
