Handel House is an ideal venue for teaching about baroque style and repertoire and our Composer-in-Residence is experienced in teaching composition to a wide variety of students. All visits to the House start with a tour of the House which includes listening to Handel’s music as well as giving it a basic historical context.
It is preferable for all school visits to take place on Mondays when Handel House is closed to the public. This means that we can make better use of the space and have noisy workshops without disturbing other visitors! However, we are aware of the timetabling difficulties involved at secondary school and therefore make our tour and concert available on any weekday.
Group sizes
Smaller group sizes (up to 20) are preferable but we will do our best to accommodate larger groups. Larger groups will need to be split up during their visit.
Lunch space
Unfortunately Handel House Museum does not have a dedicated space for eating packed lunches. However, depending on the loan agreements of our current exhibitions we may be able to accommodate you. Please ask about this when you book.
Cost
A limited number of free workshops are available to UK state schools each year. Please ask about these when you book.
London Handel Festival Opera Project
This exciting (and free) opportunity takes place between January and April each year. Students will work with the Handel House Composer-in-Residence to create their own new music in response to a Handel opera and will have the opportunity to attend a dress rehearsal of the London Handel Festival's production.
This opportunity is open to state secondary schools in London. For more information or to express an interest please phone Claire Parker on 020 7933 1953.
Composition Workshops
Led by the Handel House Museum’s Composer-in-Residence these workshops provide the ideal opportunity to discuss the current world of a real life composer as well as working with someone with extensive experience in teaching compositional techniques to young people.
Making Music
2 – 2.5 hour visit, including tour of house
£5 per student
Working with a professional musician and composer students will look at traditional compositional techniques and musical devices such as theme and variation, ground bass, structure and form. Students will look at each in turn and discuss to what extent they have been used in specific pieces of baroque music. Students will then work with the composer on ways in which these techniques can be incorporated into their own compositions or arrangements. Students may bring work in progress to the workshop or start a new composition.
Performance Workshops
Baroque Performance Coaching
2 hour visit, including tour of house
£5 per student
The workshop involves a discussion of baroque performance practice issues such as style, form and ornamentation used in music in London during the baroque era. Students will look at the harpsichord and discuss composition, pitch and temperament for it and other baroque instruments. They will also look at figured bass and harmony using pieces such as the Lament from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Students will have the opportunity to perform in the Rehearsal and Performance Room at Handel House if they wish.
Tour and Concert
60-75 minutes
This option is intended to provide a shorter alternative to the workshops and is offered on any weekday. The tour provides an introduction to Handel and life in 18th century London. The 30 minute concert is held in the room in which Handel used to rehearse and is an ideal introduction to Baroque music and the harpsichord.
Price: This is based on the number of musicians in the recital. The minimum is a harpsichordist at £50 and then each additional musician is £50.
Contact
To make an enquiry or booking, contact Claire Parker on +44 (0)20 7399 1953 or email Claire.