COURSE WEEKS & WEEKENDS & SUMMER-SCHOOLS
in Donegal, North-west Ireland
Harp Summer-school - 2 weeks from June 30th 2024
in Warwick (British Midlands) UK
Summer-school, Winter & Spring Harp Weeks, and Harp Weekends
at Marlborough College (Wiltshire) UK
Harp courses with Janet at the famous Summer-school (www.summerschool.co.uk)
Live and Anytime Online training and more....
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2024 DONEGAL HARP SUMMER-SCHOOLS
in Donegal on Ireland's wild north-west Atlantic coast (close to Donegal Airport)
JUNE 30 - JULY 6 Adults Only! (Sunday to Saturday)
JULY 7 - 13 Players and Teachers (Saturday or Sunday to Saturday)
2024 Summer-schools are located in a village of holiday cottages in Dungloe, adjacent to the town and the sea... and this year Janet presents two quite different weeks...
The first (June 30 - July 6) is a regular summer-school for adult players (over 18s) featuring all you would expect from previous years - Daily tuition in large and small groups, workshops, lectures, concerts, sessions and trips out. A superb week of happy harping: skill, repertoire and confidence-building, group music-making, and social connections for life!
The second (July 7 - 13) is a week specifically designed for STUDENTS AND TEACHERS in oral teaching. For Teachers: Whichever background you come from (trad/classical/folk/Celtic), and whether you are already professional, improving or just starting out - this is a week that inspire and build confidence, hone your leadership skills, equip you with relevant repertoire, build competence in all the necessary teaching skills, and show you how to enhance your arranging and accompaniment abilities to take back to your own practises and ensembles. Exceptional learning is guaranteed from the experience of Ireland's 'teacher of champions'.
This second (July 7 - 13) week for STUDENTS is a super week featuring morning classes (from 10am-1pm) only with lots of teacher-attention - often with one-on-one training - all supervised by Janet. This allows for afternoons to explore the wonders of Donegal and the local area: with walking, hiking, swimming, shopping - and even practising or relaxing! Students may also consider to 'observe' on the teachers' course (but there's a fee for this!). Everyone is invited to join in the eveningtime activities - including the 'teachers' concert' on Wednesday, the 'big quiz' on Thursday evening and the 'finale night' on Friday with the big session at Húdí Beag's into the small hours (and a bus home)... Whichever you are: student or teacher, we guarantee that everyone will get a great week's training, a wild Donegal experience and a whole new community of for-ever harpy friends. Another bonus for adult students staying over from Week 1, is a free night's accommodation on the Saturday night in-between the courses (6th).
Week 1 (ADULT PLAYERS): Arrive Sunday June 30th and join us for dinner at 7pm. The course proper starts at 9.30am on Monday July 1st. Depart Saturday 6th after breakfast. (Accommodation on Saturday 29th June is also available on arrangement.)
Week 2 (STUDENTS ALL AGES & STAGES): This course starts at 10am on Monday 8th with accommodation from Sunday 7th. But for those staying over from Week 1, in-between-courses-day (Saturday 6th) accommodation is free.
Week 2 (TEACHERS' COURSE): This course starts at 3pm on Sunday 7th. Arrive Saturday or Sunday (no extra cost for Saturday 6th accommodation)
Our Course Venue
On the Wild Atlantic Way (coast) and on the edge of the famous Donegal town, Dungloe, our summer school venue is in the Fairgreen Cottages complex of holiday homes, just a minute's walk from the coast and nearby beach, and beside the Waterfront Hotel which has a spa and health centre! We have 2-bedroomed and 4-bedroomed cottages - all with twin or double beds (your choice!). The 2-bedroomed cottages share a bathroom (so are not 'en-suite') but the 4-bedroomed cottages, all with twin or double rooms, are all en-suite. All the cottages also have sitting rooms and their own fully equipped kitchens (so people can choose how they wish to have their evening meals - cooking in or out!). The expectation is that we might have 'hosting' evenings (party nights!) in different cottages....
Afternoon options
For walks, swims, exploring, shopping, relaxing, practising! Dungloe is a typical Donegal town with lots to inspire shoppers for every kind of Irish product - especially Donegal knits and giftware. Also, we are closely located to Mount Errigal, Donegal's most spectacular mountain that is a favourite for climbers (mid level) in the most scenic surround of mountains. Also, we are on the edge of the Glenveigh National Park which is the central part of Donegal county and a preserved area of natural beauty and nature conservation. Included in our Wednesday afternoon trips-out is the highlight boat trip to Gola Island - now deserted but a very special place of Donegal natural wilderness - much celebrated in Donegal songs.
Click on the titles for the full course programmes (coming shortly) or
More info available soon...
Booking is open from November 1st, 2023
WARWICK UK HARP WEEKENDS
In Shakespeare's County, in the British Midlands
(close to Birmingham Airport)
New dates available soon
Group Training Courses
2-day courses for low to high Intermediate Adult Players (minimum 1 year experience) at the Harp Studio, St.Nicholas Park with a wild and wonderful 'Irish Night Out' on Saturday evening with dinner and a traditional Irish music session with lots of local Irish musicians at the New Bowling Green gastro-pub (just across the carpark from the Harp Studio).
Guaranteed to give gentle, effective and motivating group training in a social and progressive atmosphere. A maximum of 6 players participate on each Weekend so early booking advised!
A new feature is the 'Friday Extra' option of one or more dedicated one-on-one hour training sessions with Janet totally tailored to you!
Accommodation is recommended at the Castle Limes Hotel (5 minutes walk from the Studio) where we have secured a special discount for our participating harp players.
Click here for more details and to book
WARWICK UK HARP WEEK 
In Shakespeare's County, in the British Midlands
(close to Birmingham Airport)
5-day course featuring one-on-one (1 hr per day) & group (2 hrs per day) training with lectures, concerts & sessions- totally tailored to you! (Maximum number on this course: 5)
New dates available soon
For Adult Players and Teachers at all ages and levels of ability.
Every day features 3 hours of training:
A One-on-one Individual Lesson (1 hour duration)
"Harp-erobics" - A fun-filled Technical Training hour for everyone
A Workshop from a choice of topics: e.g. Carolan's music, session playing, arranging, ornamentation & variation, repertoire discovery...
Evening programme features:
Monday: Lecture-Recital #1 - Introducing the harp through history to the present day
Tuesday: Session #1 - with invited colleagues Carmel and John Burke on fiddle and accordion for an evening at Janet's home: showing how a session works
Wednesday: is a free evening to explore the locality!
Thursday: Lecture-Recital #2 - From the present day onwards - trad harping to the future!
Friday: Dinner out and Session #2 with local musicians - a 'finale night' to remember!
Cost of the course: £760
This includes your training, teas, coffees and light lunches with Janet, and organised evening activities including dinner on our final night.
Optional extra: Harp in your hotel room at £50 the week.
Come back soon for new dates
WARWICK HARP SUMMER SCHOOL
(near Birmingham Airport )
New dates available soon
4 - day Group training Summer-school
(Maximum number on this course: 10)
A super sociable and confidence building 3 1/2 -day course (Friday - Monday) at Janet Harbison's Harp Studio in St Nicholas Park, Warwick. By the foot of the spectacular Warwick Casle, and by the famous medieval town of Warwick, this course is back by popular demand and features group tuition and a host of evening activities including lecture-recitals and sessions with local Irish musicians in wonderful local venues ..
Cost of the course: £500
This includes your training (5 hrs per day x 3 days and 3 hrs Monday), teas, coffees, light lunches at the studio, evening activities, and session out on Saturday night (you pay your own menu choice or join us later) and dine out in the locality other evenings!
Stay at our discounted accommodation at the Castle Limes Hotel (@£70 per night. But, this must be booked directly with the hotel and tell them you're 'with Janet's harp school'. Do not book through an on-line agency).
Write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info...
MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE SUMMERSCHOOL 
Wiltshire, England (www.summerschool.co.uk)
July 23rd - 29th at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, UK
In this most celebrated of British summer schools in the magnificent setting of Marlborough College in Wiltshire (not far from Stonehenge). There are courses in everything from making stained glass windows, to choral singing, to political debating, to crafting. Courses for all family members, young and old, and 2 harp courses for you! Mornings: Course no.174: Harp of the British Isles (featuring music from all the regions) and Afternoons: Course no.175: Celtic Harp for Beginners. See: www.summerschool.co.uk for the full programme.
Booking opens very soon. Click here for the info:
The Harp of the British Isles - For Improvers
1-to-1 LIVE AND ON-LINE 'Regular' or 'Flexible' TUITION
One-on-one training from Janet at or from her Harp Studio in Warwick.
COMING SOON: Downloadable Harp Lessons from Beginner Level 1 - Advanced Level 4 - with live tutorial options
Please register your interest for more info. Email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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