​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​

1-7 August 2021

I am really sorry but applications have now closed. However, you can still apply and you will automatically be put on a waiting list and our mailing list for future dates. It is advised to apply early for PFMC as we are often oversubscribed. 

We are so happy to announce that PFMC is planning to go ahead this summer. Not only that but we have found an amazing venue in the north of England. 

Eryholme Manor is the home of Clarey and Barney Wrightson. It consists of a huge walled garden, a private bridge, lots of safe woodland and a lovely big house which we will have the use of for making chamber music. The venue sits right on the River Tees and we have plans to include plenty of woodland and riverbank fun in amongst all the camping and music-making.

Our next dates: 
1 - 7 August 2021


Musicians aged about 8-11 (the age range is flexible) are welcome 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 if our next camp will be allowed to take place, but we are determined to prepare a fantastic week and have all the structures in place to set up camp in a wonderful space. If you apply for a place 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. 
After the year we've had, this is the week that all children are going to need - reconnecting with other children, getting outside (and staying there!) - a chance to be independent from families again with a completely screen free week of fun in store.
Children will camp in tents, and spend much of their time outdoors, playing music and having fun with new friends in a beautiful, private and natural space so that it will be, as always, a fantastic summer adventure!

BURSARIES ARE AVAILABLE
"PFMC is for EVERYONE!"
​
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.  

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 thinking of helping us 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. We want the way we run our music camp (innovative, accessible, carefully tailored, fun and energetic) to reach 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. We will have merchandise available to purchase on camp, including our lovely hoodies, t-shirts and frisbees but we will have some second hand items for free too. 

Families with more than one sibling coming will receive a 15% discount.


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 explore, cycle, 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 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  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 professional 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"