Music & singing holidays

“I learned more in six or seven days than in whole terms of choral singing I have previously attended,” says one of our travellers of her experiences on a singing holiday. These trips are an opportunity to practise your scales, harmonise with a friendly small group that shares your passion, and develop your abilities – perhaps even giving a public performance or two. Professional tutors lead daily rehearsals, and time will also be spent exploring the destination you’re visiting. Experience is useful, but not essential, though you will typically find that most members of the group have some.

Our singing and music holidays aren’t always about taking part yourself. Sometimes they simply involve immersing yourself in the rhythm and seeing where it takes you. Musicians and dance troupes gather for annual festivals that celebrate traditional ways of life, and help them to survive, which is especially important in cultures where history is passed down orally. Our tours are led by local guides who show you around, and explain the significance of costumes, instruments and dances, helping you get a deeper understanding of the music and those performing it.

Take your musicianship to another level with holidays that offer immersive daily group classes (private classes are sometimes available, too). Depending on your instrument, instruction may come from renowned composers and teachers, or from musicians drawn from local communities, who can also give you a wonderful feeling for the culture in the place you’re staying. As an additional treat you may also visit the makers of instruments to witness these master craftspeople at work. Our music holidays are designed to broaden your repertoire while refining your existing techniques – most of the time these are not trips aimed at complete beginners.

You won’t spend all your time confined to the rehearsal space on our singing and music holidays. They also explore the wider culture of your destination, often in the company of your tutors who will guide you around the cities where they live. They may even take you out in the evenings to sample the atmosphere in a few local nightspots. In some cases, our holidays are deliberately timed to coincide with local festivals so that you can enjoy live performances and explore the diverse music scene of the region you’re visiting. And you may also take in other aspect of local culture, too, whether that be a wine-tasting session in a renowned vineyard, or trying your hand at making pottery or prints in an artisan cooperative.