Sampler Days
Play by ear and develop your creativity
Learn from inspiring professional musicians
Explore folk music
Find out about the National Youth Folk Ensemble
We’re running online Youth Folk Sampler Days across England in May half-term.
Sampler Days are free, but you need to book in advance.
We are happy to say that our Youth Folk Sampler Days will happen online in May 2020! We have cancelled the events scheduled in venues due to the coronavirus pandemic, and we are encouraging young musicians to take part from home.
The National Youth Folk Ensemble team will deliver virtual workshops introducing young musicians to folk tunes, techniques and creative ideas. We are planning a mix of pre-recorded tutorials and interactive activities using readily available online technology.
Young musicians can still audition for the 2020-21 National Youth Folk Ensemble by registering for a Youth Folk Sampler Day. We hope that the final auditions will still happen in person at Cecil Sharp House on 11 and 12 July 2020. If this is not possible, we will organise alternative provision.
Please register for your preferred Sampler Day date. Each date is still tied to the venue where it would have taken place – but wherever you live in England, you can now apply for any of the eight dates.
We will send you further details about the workshops and auditions as soon as we can.
To register for a Sampler Day you will need to:
- be aged 12–18
- live in England
- be able to play confidently on your chosen instrument
Sampler Days are open to players of any instrument. No experience of folk music necessary. All playing and learning will be done by ear.
Places are free, but numbers are limited.
Reserve yours now!
Saturday 23 May
11am–4pm
Sunday 24 May
11am–4pm
Monday 25 May
11am–4pm
Tuesday 26 May
11am–4pm
Thursday 28 May
11am–4pm
Friday 29 May
11am–4pm
Saturday 30 May
11am–4pm
Sunday 31 May
11am–4pm
I absolutely loved this experience and it was very empowering playing with others, playing traditional English tunes but making them our own
If you’re interested in joining the National Youth Folk Ensemble, you’ll need to attend a Sampler Day to start the audition process. Find out more
Sampler Days have previously taken place in Bristol, Birmingham, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Derby, Didcot, Durham, Exeter, Gateshead, Leeds, Liskeard, London, Manchester, Okehampton, Sheffield, Southampton and York.
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