Our unique Saturday morning Learning Programme

Starting at 9:30 am, the morning comprises four teaching sessions:-

• One dedicated to developing technique on your chosen instrument
• another to acquiring essential musicianship skills
• two to playing in ensembles.

And of course the all-important break for tea and sandwiches...

Group technique classes

Depending on your technical ability and the instrument you play, you will be in one of five stages (Stage 1 for complete beginners, up to more experienced players in Stage 5).  You will appraise yourself against ELLSO's special scheme of work for that stage in conjunction with your tutor's advice. This ensures that you’re in the appropriate stage relative to your experience and skills.

Musicianship classes

We spend a good deal of the morning with people who are at a broadly similar stage to ourselves, but we all learn musicianship at the same time to allow for free choice from several options.The options on offer vary from time to time depending on the tutors available; currently we are running classes in

• Theory 
• Ear training through singing
• Rhythm work
• Playing by ear
• Harmony and composition

Ensembles

Nothing is quite like the feeling you get when you play in the orchestra for the first time - this is where your newly found skills will join with those of others to make that wonderful sound which is the orchestra rehearsing and improving week by week!