Bristol Ballad School

15th January-4th of March 2024

Want to become a better ballad singer? In this eight week course, renowned balladeer Nick Hart will guide participants through an in-depth exploration of the nuances of narrative folk song. 
Together, we will investigate what makes the performance of ballads different to that of other songs, look at the history of the form and its notable exponents, examine the scope of the traditional material available to us in the 21st century and most importantly, explore techniques to better communicate the song to the listener.

This course is aimed at singers who have at least some experience of singing traditional songs. You do not have to have performed in public before, nor do you need to have a large repertoire of songs. While some understanding of music theory will be helpful, almost all teaching will be done by ear and an ability to read music is absolutely not a requirement. 

The course will take place over 8 two-hour sessions on Monday evenings, 7-9pm from the 15th of January to the 4th of March 2024. Teaching will be done in a group setting with places limited to 15 people and participants will be asked to prepare a ballad to bring with them, (let us know if you'd like help sourcing something). 

The cost of the course is £180, with a concessionary rate of £120 available to those on a low income. The course will be held upstairs at the Pickle Factory, 13 All Hallows Road, Easton, Bristol. BS5 0HH. There may be some accessibility issues, please let us know if that may affect you.

If you would like to book a place on the course, please use the contact form.