Stephanie Reeve’s Woodwind Band

Join us for a weekend of woodwind music-making and improve your ensemble playing and sight-reading skills alongside other like-minded musicians. Led by the infectiously enthusiastic Stephanie Reeve and George Sleightholme, you’ll be introduced to a variety of musical repertoire for ensemble, learning and workshopping the pieces with expert guidance throughout. Enjoy playing both popular and lesser known music in a range of styles, from Baroque pieces to contemporary and world music. Stephanie and George will also teach technical skills to help improve your playing, from breathing and posture to musicianship and interpretation. The main focus is the large ensemble, which works on four-part arrangements and original works. You’ll also have the opportunity to break out into smaller ensembles to look at some chamber music pieces.

By the end of the course you will: Feel more confident playing in both large and small woodwind ensembles. Be inspired with a range of new musical repertoire to explore. Connect with like-minded woodwind players and potential collaborators. Experience the joy of ensemble music-making and gain a range of helpful tips and advice to take away with you.

We’ll rehearse together as a large group, with each session focusing on one of our chosen pieces (five or six in total). In a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, we’ll explore a piece’s musical features, as well as helpful playing techniques - from breathing and posture to articulation, finger-work and effective practice strategies. We always welcome questions. There’s also the opportunity to form smaller chamber groups after the first session, working one-to-a-part and developing more detailed ensemble skills with guidance from Stephanie and George. The course will finish with an informal sharing concert for the full group and smaller ensembles.

We’re looking for players of the following instruments, who can read music to a good level; flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, bass clarinet and saxophone (all types welcome). There are also parts for French horn.

You don’t need to prepare anything - all music will be provided on the course. But you are welcome to bring some chamber pieces if there is anything you’re keen to work on with us. Please bring your instrument with you as well as any necessary equipment such as reeds.