A series of summer courses has been announced at Hitchin's Benslow Music.

Offering you the chance to rediscover your love of music, courses are aimed at all aims and abilities.

Throughout the year, Benslow Music hosts a series of courses, concerts, talks and events across many genres including classical, early, folk and jazz.

Upcoming courses and events include:

Big Band Summer School with Paul Eshelby

Sun 4 August - Fri 9 August 2024

This course provides a "wonderful opportunity" to enjoy and share your love for the sound of the Big Band in the company of the like-minded.

Organisers said: "We'll cover a wide range of repertoire under the expert guidance of Paul Eshelby, who has worked with the BBC Big Band, BBC Radio Orchestra, and performed with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Phil Collins, Shirley Bassey and George Benson.

"There will be sectionals, and visiting tutors will also provide solo coaching."

More info here.

Big Band Singing Summer School

Sun 4 Aug - Fri 9 August 2024

Tutors: Anton Browne, Jenny Howe

Working under the guidance of Anton Browne and Jenny Howe, two of the finest Big Band singers around, you will explore and develop vocal techniques relevant to the genre, study the art of stagecraft and presentation, discover how to make a well-known song your own, and learn about microphone technique and improvisation.

"We'd like you to prepare two jazz standard songs and to bring along chord charts, we can allocate a big band song from our library or you can bring your own arrangement," the Benslow team said.

"A recording and playback device will also prove useful."

More info here.

Elementary Strings with Janet Hicks and Willie Hicks

Fri 16 - Sun 18 August 2024

This well-established course offers the perfect opportunity for players of elementary standard to unite and experience the joys of playing in a full ensemble.

The tutors will offer technical support, help with sight-reading and give valuable advice on how to progress.

The course will cover a wide spectrum of music specially arranged to be accessible to elementary players.

The music will start at a very basic level and progress gently during the duration of the course.

Find our more here.