British BMG (Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar) Federation Summer School 2027

We are delighted to be welcoming back the British BMG Federation for their 2027 Summer School. Choose from 3 courses – Fingerstyle ‘Classic’ Banjo with Elias Sibley; Play-Learn-Explore with Barbara Pommerenke-Steel; or Roots Across the Continent - Travelling Europe through Traditional Music with Nick Wyke – and let us know your choice when booking.

Who is it for?

Three courses are on offer; please let us know when booking which course you would like to enroll on. If you have further queries about course content and the ability level required for each group, please contact the
BMG Federation course co-ordinator Sandra Woodruff on [email protected].

Elias Sibley: Fingerstyle ‘Classic’ Banjo

This course is open to all players of the 5-string banjo with a sound, practical knowledge of the instrument and music reading. We will focus on the preparation and performance of three set works, representative of the ‘classic’ banjo genre. Using this as a starting point, we will explore important areas of practical musicianship, such as interpretation, tone production, effective practice techniques, confidence building and ensemble playing. Music reading skills will be required and all repertoire will be sent out to participants in advance, complete with second banjo accompaniments.

Barbara Pommerenke-Steel: Play-Learn-Explore

At the 2027 summer school we will play three pieces from different styles and backgrounds; an arrangement of a traditional tune, a piece of classical music (in the wider sense) and a more recent rhythmic composition. Together we will explore the interpretation, ensuring that stylistic features are considered. We will discuss solutions to technical questions as they arise in the pieces. Examples from the pieces will be used to learn how to rehearse as an ensemble. Participants can look forward to an enjoyable time exploring and playing the music, and to finishing the weekend feeling equipped to apply the covered ideas and approaches to other pieces. Music will be arranged in different parts to make it accessible to players of different standards. This course is open to mandolin family instruments, classical guitar and bass and will be suitable for intermediate to advanced players.

Nick Wyke: Roots Across the Continent - Travelling Europe through Traditional Music

Join this immersive, hands-on journey across continental Europe’s rich musical landscape. We’ll dive into the rhythmic drive of Breton fest-noz dance tunes, explore the haunting melodies of Finnish valssi, and bask in the tremolo-rich textures of Mediterranean folk traditions among others. We’ll look at common elements in different traditions, as well as what makes them unique. We’ll also use this music to explore concepts of melody, harmony, theory and arrangement. It is open to mixed strings from both the plucked and bowed families, including mandolin, banjo, guitar, violin and cello amongst others. Music will be provided in advance in the form of notation or tablature with chord names, and on the day by-ear if preferred. Parts will be provided for players of varying abilities, but a grasp of music reading, tablature or confident ear-learning would be an advantage, along with the ability to play some scales, tunes, chords or pieces confidently on your instrument as a minimum skill level.

The Tutors

Elias Sibley is one of the world’s leading exponents of the classic banjo, an earlier style of 5-string banjo playing, predating the development of bluegrass. Having studied the instrument from the age of ten with James Allgrove and with subsequent study at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal College of Music, Elias now divides his time between concertising and teaching. Elias regularly performs with other distinguished fretted instrumentalists, such as banjo supremo Chris Sands and mandolin virtuoso Simon Mayor. As an orchestral banjoist, Elias has performed and recorded with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Elias is a sought-after teacher with over twenty years’ experience and has worked with students of all ages and abilities. He has taught many previous residential courses for the British BMG Federation and enjoys helping others to discover the classic banjo.

Barbara Pommerenke-Steel studied Music in Berlin and at Strathclyde University. She also gained a diploma in mandolin teaching from the Bundesakademie, Trossingen, Germany and through Victoria College of Music, London. She is a class teacher at a secondary school for young people with additional support needs. Barbara co-founded the Lanarkshire Guitar and Mandolin Association and has designed, developed and delivered a wide range of music courses for young people, adults and professional musicians and tutors. Through her work with the British BMG Federation she has been involved in the development of the syllabus for mandolin. Barbara has been teaching mandolin and classical guitar for more than 25 years, and has developed materials, arranged and composed music for solo mandolin and ensemble. She is co-conductor of Da Capo Alba Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra.

Nick Wyke is an experienced professional guitarist, fiddler, mandolinist and tutor and has worked in the industry for over 20 years. His main field has been in playing and researching folk and traditional music and he has played and recorded with Jim Moray, Jackie Oates, Jim Causley, and many more. He currently performs as a duo with Becki Driscoll and is the fiddle player in Gadarene. He has worked in community music for 18 years, mainly with Wren Music, and has run orchestras, choirs and youth groups, as well as many one-off workshops in guitar, fiddle and folk band. He has also run Wren’s ‘Mandolin Orchestra of Devon’ conducting, writing and arranging pieces for mandolin-family instruments.