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Principal daily sessions (progressive exploration of set repertoire through the week):
•    Ground bass (playing and improvising over these) for strings, winds, chordal instruments;
•    Exploration of Playford’s The Dancing Master also for strings, winds;
•    Songs from medieval, renaissance & folk traditions (both unaccompanied & accompanied);
•    Choral music from the Renaissance to the Restoration (especially Ravenscroft & Purcell);

Drop-in sessions (mainly one-off sessions open to all singers & instrumentalists):
•    English viol consort music of the seventeenth century (open to modern bowed strings too);
•    Large ensembles (eg Renaissance band & ‘Folk orchestra’);
•    Practice in part-reading, for newcomers to dots; practice in learning by ear, for the dot-bound;
•    Continuo players will have opportunities in most of these sessions, and possibly specialist sessions;
•    Have-a-go opportunities to play period-style instruments, including viols, lutes & baroque flutes.

"It certainly gave our group the confidence to perform on a more professional level, opening up a whole new range of performance opportunities for the future." - Helen Vincent (Phinot Sono, resident ensemble in 2011)

Full course sessions:
All course members will work on music from the Beggar’s Opera and related choral & dance music, with a performance on the final day.

“Shorties” – daily 15-20 minute talks, presentations, performances, demos etc from course members and tutors, adding further to the rich variety of music and musical expertise on offer.

Ad hoc sessions can be arranged by course members, eg for trio-sonatas, folk ensembles, madrigals (some coaching may be available). In addition, each evening the bar will offer space to relax, share experiences of the day, or to take part in traditional tune and singing sessions. There will also be informal performances by the tutors.

"Best things? Fellowship of involved musicians, and boundless energy from the tutors!"

_Monday (afternoon): Registration; meet the tutors & introductory sessions;
                (evening): first full course session; bar open
Tuesday:  (am) Warm-up and two working sessions;
                (pm) free time (for exploring York, music making, etc); 3rd working session
                plus evening session for all course members;
Wednesday: as Tuesday
Thursday: morning as Tuesday/Wednesday; (afternoon) full course session;
                (evening) Musical Banquet, at which groups are invited to perform short items between courses.
Friday:     The course ends after lunch with a final performance by full course;
                this is open to staff, visitors and any friends participants wish to invite.

"The best things for me: being able to play Lady Mary Hay's Scotch Measure faster than I ever thought possible. And the full sessions - fantastic to play with all the other instruments and singers!"