Musicianship, Friendship & Community
Since 1990 Fantasia Music School has run summer courses for young musicians aged 6 to 18 that offer a welcoming, inclusive environment for instrumentalists to play together in small and large groups, exploring a variety of musical styles and experiences.
Fantasia now offers four different courses, run over two weeks in August each year, and tailored to the specific music teaching needs of children of different age ranges and instrumental abilities.
“I look forward to Fantasia every year and would definitely recommend it to all young budding musicians.”
Courses 1, 2 and 3 run concurrently in the first week, allowing a carefully structured mix of individual and group teaching for children from 6 years and up. Courses 1 and 2 cater for both day and residential students. Course 3 is all residential.
Course 4 follows in the second week and is an all-residential course designed for older children aged 11 and up and offers a more intensive programme of rehearsal and performance.
Teaching Programmes
All courses offer a core programme that includes orchestra, choir and chamber groups for all students. In addition there are three core performance activities: an informal student concert in which any student can play to their peers, a staff concert in which the music teaching staff perform on their own instruments, and a final student concert at the end of each week.
All courses include teaching activities and optional groups tailored by the course director and staff to the individual student instrumentalists attending, hence no specific additional activity can be guaranteed to be offered in any year.
Course 1
Introductory: Up to Grade 1, ages 6–8
For students with at least one term’s tuition on an instrument.
Each day combines playing, listening to and exploring music and includes opportunities for more experienced students to play together as a group.
Course 2
Intermediate: Grades 1–3, ages 8–11
For students with at least one year’s tuition on an instrument who are ready to start playing in a group.
Typical additional activities: string orchestra, wind band, recorders, piano, listening and composition.
Course 3
Intermediate: Grades 3–5, ages 10–14
For students who have gained a good proficiency on their instrument and who are keen to improve their group-playing skills.
Typical additional activities: string orchestra, wind band, recorders, piano, listening, composition, folk band and swing band.
Course 4
Advanced: Grades 5–8+, ages 11–18
For students at grade 5 and above who wish to explore a wider range of musical styles and specialist options.
Typical additional activities: folk band, swing band, chamber choir, composition, improvisation and piano.
“The main thing is that Fantasia feels like a family, that’s why we come back every year.”
Lavant House School
Fantasia is held at Lavant House School, near the historic cathedral city of Chichester in West Sussex, England. Set in the quiet countryside between the South Downs and the coast, Lavant House is surrounded by fields and woodland that create a tranquil and secure environment, and offers a good standard of accommodation and excellent range of facilities, including a swimming pool, tennis courts and a well-equipped music department with individual practice rooms and teaching spaces.
Kate Bartholomew
Headmistress of Lavant House School
It has been a pleasure to welcome Fantasia Music School to Lavant House for the fourth year in succession. I am passionate about teaching music in schools, believing firmly that it has many far-reaching benefits for our youngsters, and I look forward to music occupying an even more prominent place at Lavant House over the next few years.
Fantasia this year was particularly special for me. Although my own daughter has enjoyed her Fantasia week for some years, I have spent many days over the holidays working in school this year and have been lucky enough to see and hear at first-hand the opportunities on offer for the Fantasia musicians and to witness their progress over the two weeks. The final concert saw some exceptional performances, and as a parent, as well as the Headmistress of Lavant House, I could not have felt more proud.
I look forward with great pleasure to welcoming Fantasia back to Lavant House in 2010 for the twentieth anniversary.
Please feel free to visit Lavant House School’s own website which has much more information about the school.
“This is my ninth year at Fantasia and I think it’s fantastic, not just for music, but for seeing all my friends too.”
More than the Music
Fantasia has always been family owned and run, and that sense of family is as important to us as the students’ musicianship. The students and staff all live, work and eat together, enjoying a good variety of freshly prepared food; each day also includes sports and recreational activites for all – including the teaching and pastoral staff!