Instrumental Folk Ensemble

Directed by Adam Clark and Nic Zuppardi

About the course

Explore the rich melodic traditions of folk music with Adam Clark and Nic Zuppardi. Drawing on music from the British Isles, Scandinavia and America, this practical course invites instrumentalists to discover tunes, develop confidence in learning by ear and enjoy the creativity of playing together. Through short-form folk pieces, participants will explore the building blocks of melody and how tunes can be shaped into arrangements for an instrumental ensemble. With an emphasis on listening, collaboration and musical discovery, the course offers an engaging way to encounter different folk traditions and make music as a group.

Who is it for?

This course welcomes instrumentalists who play C instruments and are interested in exploring folk music in an ensemble setting. Players with a range of experience are welcome. Most music will be learned by ear, with sheet music also available, so confident sight-reading is not essential. Participants should be comfortable playing their instrument in a group.

What to expect

Daily sessions will introduce tunes from the British Isles, Scandinavia and America, with Adam and Nic guiding participants through the melodies by ear. The group will explore phrasing, musical patterns and the building blocks of folk tunes before experimenting with ways to arrange short pieces for ensemble. Listening and playing together will be central to the course, with written music available to support learning. Participants will have opportunities to contribute ideas and develop arrangements collaboratively in a welcoming, practical environment.

Practical information