​So child friendly and such an enjoyable experience... Everyone got to play in different styles and experience so much music without it feeling regimented... The improv showed that the kids got a chance to experience other aspects of music that they might not always get when they are ploughing through grades. The enthusiasm of the teachers was amazing... it would be hard to find a course which has got the balance as well as Priory Farm has.
Andrea Monaghan 2017​
COVID STATEMENT
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We were very sad not to offer PFMC 2020 for everyone who had applied - Coronavirus put a stop to so many lovely plans this year but it felt terrible having to cancel our event. Our thoughts are with the many families affected by the pandemic: NHS workers, carers and people who have lost their lives to the virus. We send our solidarity to all who are suffering from the economic lockdown, and from the sad loss of  live music and arts and all the fabulous opportunities that these thrive in and create.

Applications

If your child is interested in joining us at Priory Farm Music Camp in August, please fill in our application form online here. If you have any difficulties accessing this form, or filling it in, please email us here. You can also use this address to arrange a chat over the phone, in case you have any questions that you can't find the answer to here.
To find out more before you apply, please scroll down the page for details about the camp, and about course fees including information about family discounts and bursaries.

Our next dates: 
1 - 7 August 2021


Musicians aged about 8-11 (the age range is flexible) are welcome to apply for a place on this residential camp. Our small size and friendly setting enable us to encourage musical development in each child, through orchestral and ensemble playing with the help of specialist instrumental coaching.

With the unknown landscape caused by COVID we are unable to say for certain where our next camp will be running from but we are determined to prepare a fantastic week and have all the structures in place to set up camp in a wonderful new space. If you apply for a place anyway it does not commit you to anything but it means we can be sure that you will be updated with any useful info as it comes in. 
As we have learnt from 2020, we cannot guarantee that this camp will definitely go ahead, but we very much hope that by next summer gatherings of this kind will be allowed and encouraged.

Children will camp in tents, and spend much of their time outdoors, playing music and having fun with new friends. PFMC is the perfect setting for children to grow in confidence: not just musically, but socially. We will make it a priority to ensure that lots of natural space is at their fingertips, so that it will be, as always, a fantastic summer adventure!

BURSARIES ARE AVAILABLE
"PFMC is for EVERYONE!"
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Our bursary awards are by kind donation of past parents and generous friends of Priory Farm Music Camp, and are awarded on the basis of financial need. Please do click here for a bursary application form if cost is a concern as we don't want money to be a barrier. Please email if you would like help with filling out this form or if you need one sent in a different format. 

If you would like to donate towards this fund either as a one-off or annually, please email us about this, and thank you for helping us in our aim to reach more children who could not otherwise attend PFMC.

We welcome requests for information and applications from people from all backgrounds. Every year we have the excitement of welcoming a new generation of musicians. The more diverse this group can be, the more enriched and wonderful it will be for all, so please do feel that you can apply. We want our wholesome and heart-filled music camp to reach absolutely all children who love music and the outdoors, regardless of background, ability, or financial barriers.

PFMC Fee 2020: £530   

The fee covers absolutely everything: delicious and healthy food, fantastic care, adventure, sports and fun and the very highest quality chamber, choir and orchestra tuition for 7 days and 6 nights. There are no hidden costs although we will have merchandise available to purchase on camp, including our lovely hoodies, t-shirts and frisbees.

Families with more than one sibling coming will receive a 15% discount off the total bill.


Who is it for and how does it work?

A fun and friendly, adventurous week. Priory Farm Music Camp encourages each and every child to grow in confidence both on their instrument and with their friends, through music, play and adventure in idyllic rural surroundings. In smaller chamber and jazz groups, in orchestra and in choir, in bare feet or wellies, we create tailor-made parts to suit each child, and provide them with expert tuition. The standard of our applicants ranges from beginner to grade 8+, and children seem to respond really well to the mix of abilities that surround them, whether they themselves excel at their instrument or are only just starting out. 
​We offer specialist tuition in strings, brass, wind, & percussion.
Any and All children who have started having lessons on their chosen instrument are welcome to apply. 

PFMC is bursting with interactive musical education and appreciation but it is unusual in that it doesn't apply pressure on children to play solos or be the best. It emphasises the art of teamwork through group playing and group learning, in informal and friendly settings. Children learn old and new songs and rounds; they play body-percussion games and discover different kinds of music; and each year there are added extras, from song-writing, performing and composing to Scottish reels, improv and garden percussion. All the kids participate in PFMC's daily singing sessions and with a variety of musical and non-musical activities in the evenings, there are numerous opportunities and experiences packed into the week. At the end the children help to put on a fantastic concert for family and friends.

Is music all we do?​​

Not at all!  Lunch is followed each day by 2 hours of free play. Children can swim and play tennis, plus there are the opportunities to have a go at rugby, frisbee, football and rounders.  A picnic, camp-fire, ceilidh and disco are highlights of the week. If it rains we have plenty of fun and creative indoor activities to do, like table-tennis, story-reading, arts and crafts, and loads of games.
  The evenings are cosy and gentle, with stories and lullabies to help the young adventurers relax and get ready for a good night's sleep. PFMC staff camp in tents too, and are on duty to help smooth out any first-time camping worries.

Pastoral Care

Families are encouraged (but not required) to bring along tents, and the children camp in carefully chosen groups. No-one camps alone!

All our staff offer their care and guidance throughout the week. We constantly strive for an atmosphere of friendship and teamwork between staff and children and the high staff:child ratio of 1:5 means that if problems such as homesickness do arise they are easily spotted and quickly sorted.
Who are we?

Our tutors are professional musicians, who come from across the UK to teach at Priory Farm. We have a violinist and the first In Harmony Artistic Director from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Sally Anne Anderson) and a percussionist and music arranger from the esteemed Hackney Colliery Band (Olly Blackman) who bring their very different but complementing skills, and equal levels of enthusiasm and inventive teaching (often outdoors). Ceri Essex and Adelaide Carlow run their own practices teaching music in schools and at home in Wales and Scotland. Adelaide is occasional lower strings tutor with Sistema Scotland. Meghan Perry is an Edinburgh-based cellist who specialises in chamber music. Meghan is also a hospital consultant and offers experienced support to our on-site first-aiders. Grace Dale, Timothy Cape, Rosamund Hawkins and Ben Handysides are all brilliant musicians and teachers on keyboard, wind, strings, brass and percussion.  Grace leads our fabulous Scottish ceilidh, We have a vibrant and growing group of under-grads and graduates of music, and also previous attendees of PFMC in their younger days and together they form our experienced, caring and energetic welfare team.  Georgina Thomson is our lovely head chef,  providing healthy and balanced food to suit busy, outdoors children: sustaining, yummy meals, along with lovely cakes... 

Staff in pictures

Cakes made by Georgina Thomson, Photographs taken by Michael Robarts and Guy Jamieson
Click here to apply for a place on our music camp. The link will take you to a google form which you have to complete online - this should only take a few minutes. 


'Wonderful and inspirational" "Magical" "Joy and confidence"
​"Thought and energy" "Excellent and extraordinary"