News
ANNOUNCING: Sore Fingers Week 2023
10th Nov 2022
Dates 10th to 14th April,2023 - Kingham Hill School – Chipping Norton – Oxfordshire – OX7 6TH
At last, we are pleased to bring you long awaited news of the 2023 Sore Fingers Week.
After wrestling with some pandemic induced financial “technicalities” and cash flow management, we are set fair to continue our work producing one of the best music camps this side of the Smoky Mountains. Recovery from the difficult times will be a long-term process but we hope to revert to a semblance of “business as usual” from this point onwards. Our sincere thanks extend to all those who have supported us in these endeavours.
A good turnout in 2023 will help ensure the future of this fantastic event. We urge you to book as early or as soon as you can to help us plan for additional tutors and classes according to demand. Early booking will also avoid the disappointment of finding preferred classes or accommodation facilities becoming fully booked or unavailable to you.
“TARGET 300” is our motto for this year. To ensure the future of this wonderful event we would like to achieve 300 student attendees. The record year was 2015 when we housed 317 students comfortably and, with some new school facilities it is now even more feasible.
Help us bring about this goal and create a solid base for better times ahead.
If you haven’t tried Sore Fingers, take a look at our brand-new promo video on the web site home page (www.sorefingers.co.uk) It will give you a taste of what to expect. If you’re a regular, look at it anyway to remind yourself why you keep coming back.
And so, to the heart of the matter: Here is the tutor list so far. The search is still ongoing for a Singing Tutor and additional Tutors will be added in line with demand and as existing courses fill up. Further news will follow.
This stellar line-up of musicians assures great tuition and just imagine the unique musical fireworks their Showcases and Tutor Concert will produce!
Detailed Bios are on the website (see link below).
AUTOHARP - MIKE FENTON
BANJO 1 - GINA FURTADO
BANJO 2 - T.B.A. depending on demand
BEGINNERS (All Instruments) – ED HICKS/PETER EARLE
BASS – MISSY RAINES
DOBRO – NOEL DASHWOOD
FIDDLE - ANNIE STANINEC
MANDOLIN 1 – DAVID BENEDICT
MANDOLIN 2 – MARK STOFFEL
MUSIC DEVELOPMENT – ANDY MACKENZIE
GUITAR 1 – ROSS MARTIN
GUITAR 2 – PETER MCLAUGHLIN
OLD TIME BANJO – CHRIS COOLE
OLD TIME FIDDLE – JOHN SHOWMAN
SINGING – T.B.A.
SONGWRITING - JOHN LOWELL
UKULELE - PERCY COPLEY
More details, booking forms and tutor bios at this link: https://www.sorefingers.co.uk/courses.php
As regular students will surely testify, Sore Fingers Week isn’t just about classroom tuition.
Students are presented with five very full days:
On Monday Tuesday and Wednesday there are optional activities to choose from: Immediately after Dinner there is a range of hour-long electives, covering a variety of subjects, at no extra charge. The Electives are followed each evening by two 45 minute showcase concerts which you may also wish to attend for a small fee.
Thursday sees the amazing Sore Fingers Student Scratch Band Concert and on Friday we close out with the Tutor Finale Concert.
Oh, and did I mention the various jam sessions, the real ale bar, the slow jam, and general all-round fun and frolics? Even the food –hearty consumption of which was witnessed at our recent October event - deserves a special mention because burning the candle at both ends during Sore Fingers Week certainly fuels the appetite, and there’s always plenty to eat at mealtimes.
We have loads of useful information on the website and you might like to read the following web pages for insight:
The “Experience” page describes both the classroom experience and all the extra-curricular activities: https://www.sorefingers.co.uk/experience.php
The “What Course Should I Go On” if you are a little confused as to which class would best suit your musical needs: https://www.sorefingers.co.uk/whatcourse.php
Check the “FAQ’s” page for answers to general and practical questions such as “What should I bring?”, etc:
https://www.sorefingers.co.uk/faq.php
Follow this link to get a daily schedule of activities:
https://www.sorefingers.co.uk/docs/Master%20Daily%20Programme%20Easter.pdf