A swinging day of tantalizing melodies, crunchy harmonies and fiendish rhythms. This Jazz and swing harmonies workshop is inspired by the complex, close harmonies found in British and American popular songs from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The day can include standards from this period, unexpected songs that have been given the jazz or swing treatment and songs that have been created purely for these workshops. Some of the melodies may be familiar and therefore fairly quick to pick up, but the harmony parts tend to take longer to learn and can offer a challenge even to experienced acapella singers.

The workshop will be at the Footprint building, the National Trust’s eco-base at St Catherine’s Woods near Windermere in the Lake District National Park. It has been constructed with straw bale walls, car tyre foundations, local timber frames, floors and walkways, an oak shake roof, clay and lime plasters and sheep’s wool insulation. For cold days, there’s a very efficient wood burner.  It’s a beautiful and inspirational space, located in an enchanting wood! Singing for Larks only uses venues that are accessible to disabled people.

It is about a 30 minute drive from the M6. Local buses stop near the end of the drive, on the A 592 Kirkstone Pass. However, the recommended way to travel there is by train to Windermere station and then a 20 minute walk on paths which take you through beautiful woodland and give great views of the lake.