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Horn Camp 2021

2021 Dates announced soon!!!

Develop your skills on Trumpet or Sax in a small group, super relaxed environment in truly beautiful surroundings.

Spend a week in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Spain eating, sleeping and breathing music with two of the music industry's most in-demand horn players:

Johnny Thirkell & Snake Davis

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"It all seems like a dream. Thank you Snake and Johnny for a fantastic time and for sharing a lifetime of hard won skills with us all" - Glyn (Horn Camp 2019)

"To say simply 'Thank you', does not sufficiently communicate my appreciation of what I experienced and took away from the week. The experience was truly beyond my greatest expectation"

- Val (Horn Camp 2019)

For Snake and I it was something of a gamble to organise Horn Camp. We'd never done it before.

Would anyone come? Would they enjoy it?

However, it seems we needn't have worried. The whole thing was beyond our wildest expectations.

Not only did we have a week of immense fun and laughter, but we also met the most delightful group of people. We played, we talked, we laughed, we practised - all the while helping and supporting each other to become better players and musicians!

However, with 80% of the folks on Horn Camp 2019 having rebooked, fate then intervened and Covid-19 put paid to any camps in 2020.

But, as things start to get back to something like normality, we are now planning a whole series of Camps for 2021.

Dates will be announced very soon and, if you're interested, fill out the short contact form at the bottom of this page and we'll let you know as soon as we have the dates set. 

With the need to accommodate the postponed 2020 campers, we anticipate places will be at a premium so, by filling in the form you'll give yourself the best possible chance of getting one of the handful of places that will be available.

Johnny Thirkell

Johnny Thirkell is one of the UK’s top trumpet and flugelhorn players. He has played on hundreds of pop, rock & jazz recordings (including 23 No.1 Albums & Singles) and at one stage was on at least one album in the UK charts continuously, without a break, for over  13 years!

His credits include Buddy Rich Orchestra, Level 42, George Michael, Jamiroquai, Bruno Mars,Grace Jones, Phil Collins, UB40, Cher, Tina Turner, Pet Shop Boys, Swing Out Sister and Lisa Stansfield.  

In 2020 he scored his 25th No.1 with BTS "Dynamite"

Snake Davis

Snake Davis is one of the most in-demand sax players in the world, widely known for his solos on tracks such as Lisa Stansfield's “Change”, M-People's “Search For A Hero” and “Moving On Up” and Take That's “A Million Love Songs”.  He has played and recorded with artists ranging from James Brown to Tina Turner to Paul McCartney, The Eurythmics to Amy Winehouse – having recorded on more than 500 tracks in recent years for over 60 artists and played live with dozens more.

With only 8 students on each Horn Camp, tuition is tailored to suit individual needs and abilities in a safe and comfortable environment where we all support and help each other to improve. There'll be no judgment and no competitiveness.

We want to help you to progress on your instrument in any and every way we can: but more than that, we want to help you become better musicians, getting ever more satisfaction from your musical endeavours.

We won’t be forcing you to do anything you don’t want to do, we’ll always respect your right to "pass on this one’ - although we do hope you’ll be trying new things.

We'll encourage you to ask questions- no question is ‘stupid’... Ask us to go back over stuff.... Pause us while you write something down... take a video note... Whatever helps you to progress.

The Course

The course caters for players of all styles and abilities. Whether you've been playing for years or are returning after a break, our relaxed and nurturing approach means that you will see real progress over the course of the week. Our belief in focusing on getting the fundamentals right means that everything we teach will be relevant to you, irrespective of your ability.

Trumpet and Sax tuition will largely be separate but there will be plenty of opportunity to get everyone together, play some tunes and have some fun.

During the day, as well as individual and small group workshops on your instrument, we will explore a range of ancillary techniques to improve your playing and musicianship, such as:

  • Pilates for Musicians

  • Breathing Workshop

  • Maximising your practice time

  • Cognitive Learning techniques

  • Timing & Sight Reading

  • Improvisation (don't worry. You don't have to play on your own)

  • Ensemble playing

  • and much more...

In addition, in the evening after Dinner we can all relax and talk about whatever comes up. It can be music related or not. We will, however, offer a range of short talks on topics like:

  • Horn Arranging

  • Copyright & IP protection

  • Dealing with Performance Anxiety

  • Mindfulness

​But if you'd prefer you can just relax, have  a drink and ask questions in an informal environment. The house has a number of communal areas so you're free to join in or chill out somewhere else. Whatever you feel like.

There is space for non-playing partners to stay and there are plenty of places for them to explore while you are playing during the day. Or they can just relax by the pool.....

The Course
What can you expect?
Horn Camp 2019: The Movie

"I’m racking my brain to think of something you could improve, but I can’t. It was a perfect week, in a great setting hosted by two great masters in their field. You couldn’t have asked for more."

- Andy, Horn Camp 2019

"To me, the great benefit of something like Horn Camp is the facility of having time to take on board and to discuss the many facets of music being explained and demonstrated with those who are doing the tuition. To have 'time' is a luxury that simply cannot be evaluated."

- Val, Horn Camp 2019

The House

Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and only 20 minutes outside the beautiful historic city of Granada, Cortijo La Mata offers relaxed seclusion, a heated pool and easy access to the famous hanging bridges of the Los Cahorras. 

The House

For partners or for free time there is so much to do locally. The village of Monachil is a 10 minute walk and is a typical Andalusian village with a selection of great restaurants and bars. The house is on the route of the Los Cahorras gorge walk with its famous hanging bridges, and the historic city of Granada and the stunning Alhambra Palace are just 20 minutes away by bus from the village. 

Fees

Fees are all inclusive and cover:

  • 5 Days tuition

  • Tuition resources - Worksheets, Music etc.

  • Transfer to and from Malaga Airport *

  • Accommodation for 6 Nights

  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (except for one free evening)

  • All Wine, Beers and Soft Drinks

     

      * (Granada Airport is possible by prior arrangement)

Student in a Double Room: £1250

Student sharing a Twin Room: £950

Partner (non-playing): £650

Fees
Register Your Interest or Ask a Question

Or Call: +44 7768 684723

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