Course Content
A typical day at HISS runs like this: at the end of breakfast a short course meeting provides notices for the day, any late amendments to the timetable, reminders, etc. Some tutors may lead a warm up. The first class is the “Progressive”, which centres on instrument specific tuition; the second morning session and afternoon session may be a “pick-and-mix”, usually for mixed ensembles, or joint sesions for combined groups, for which HISS is renowned, and why many return year after year. Then there are the ”polysembles”, where repertoire choices encompass a large variety of forces or larger works - these groups will generally for the basis of the final “sharing” performance which ends the course. Along the way there are also “Shorties”, when participants on the course are invited to give a 15 minute presentation on a subject of their own choosing (often witty, entertaining as well as gull of interesting information).
You see, there is a lot on offer at HISS. Find a sample daily overview here or scroll down to access information on our various classes and activities.
Click on the images below to learn more about each class type.
Course content
Progressives
The first class of the day, providing a cumulative series of sessions for your main study throughout the week.
Pick and mix
Explore a variety of genres, styles and instruments through our collection of one-off and two-part sessions.
Typically 2 sessions per day.
Polysembles
Normally the last session of the day, these are the large mixed ensemble sessions, and will generally be the groups that take part in the informal final sharing performance at the end of the course.
Other activities
As well as our classroom based tutored sessions, we have various other musical delights on offer during the week, including the tutors concert, musical banquet and evening bar sessions.
“Lots of interesting workshops available, just need to use a time machine to get to all of them.”