Wind & Water 2026

Bookings now open!

7:15pm on Friday 5 June to c. 4pm on Sunday 7 June 2026 (non-residential)

at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye, IV44 8RQ

Picture of Ostaig Beach on the Isle of Skye, looking across to the mainland

This is a light-hearted weekend course for wind players whose enthusiasm perhaps outweighs their expertise!  Wind & Water 2026 offers an opportunity for improver and intermediate-level wind players to make music in a mixed group – a cross between a wind chamber orchestra and a small band – with music carefully tailored to participants’ ability and confidence levels.

About the Course

Wind & Water 2026 is open to players aged 18 – 80+ years on orchestral woodwind, saxophones or brass/brass band instruments.  The weekend is aimed primarily at players from ABRSM Grade 3 – 6 level.

Music is chosen and/or arranged to suit the ability and confidence levels of those taking part, so please don’t forget to provide details when you apply!

Repertoire

Repertoire will be a variety of water and island themed pieces, with the set works as yet to be decided!

To give you an idea of the sort of material, past courses have included:

  • Extracts from Water Music Suites Nos. 1 & 2 (Handel)
  • Land of the Mountain and the Flood (Abridged) (MacCunn)
  • The Hebrides Overture (Mendelssohn)
  • A Life on the Ocean Wave (Traditional)
  • Fairest Isle (Purcell)
  • Nordseebilder (Strauss)
  • Stormy Evening on the Coast (Grieg)
  • We Sail the Ocean Blue (Sullivan)
  • Skye Boat Song (Traditional)
  • Hands across the Sea (Sousa)

Course Information

The course fee will be £205, which includes tuition and provision of practice parts for the principal pieces.  These will be e-mailed out in PDF form 7 – 10 days before the course.

Please note that the course fee does NOT include accommodation or meals. However, tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Bed and breakfast accommodation at the college can be booked separately, through Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.  To enquire, tel: 01471 888000 or e-mail fios@smo.uhi.ac.uk  

Alternatively, local Bed & Breakfast, hostel or hotel listings can be found on https://www.isleofskye.com, which also describes many of the attractions of the island.

In the past, participants have been able to purchase meals from the college refectory on a pay-as-you-go basis. However, uptake has tended to be extremely low, which doesn’t justify bringing staff in specially (as well as resulting in quite a bit of food wastage). So, for 2026, players are again asked to make their own arrangements for lunch and dinner. Meal breaks will be deliberately long, to allow for disappearing off campus! For those staying at the college, there is limited space to store/prepare food in the community kitchen in the residential block.

How to Apply

To apply, e-mail info@blowandblast.co.uk giving the following information: name, address, telephone number, instrument and approximate playing standard.  Making an application does not guarantee you a place – I will let you know if your application has been successful, at which point a non-returnable deposit of £35 will be required to reserve your space.

The balance of £170 should be paid by 24th April 2025. As Skye can be a popular tourist destination, I would recommend that you book accommodation before making your course payment (unless you happen to live locally or possess a camper van!)

The course is quite intensive, so if you are travelling from further afield, you might wish to consider arriving earlier in the week (or staying on afterwards), to give you time to explore the island.

Cancellations

Should participants be obliged to cancel after paying the full fee, the following terms apply:

Cancellation before 24th April 2026 – refund of £170 balance

Cancellation between 24th April & 8th May 2026 – refund of £80

Cancellation on or after 9th May 2026 – no automatic refund. Any money returned would be at the discretion of the tutor.

In the unlikely event of the Wind & Water 2026 course being cancelled (with or without notice) any fees paid would be refunded in full.  However, Blow & Blast accepts no liability for other costs incurred.  Players should be aware that they make their applications on this basis.

Instrument and personal safety

Applications should be made on the understanding that participants accept full responsibility for both their personal health and safety and that of their instrument throughout the weekend.

Should the college be obliged to re-introduce Covid or other health & safety precautions by the time the course takes place, players would be expected to conform to these, in the interests of everyone’s safety.

Accessibility/Special Needs

If you have special accessibility or dietary requirements that are a ‘make or break’ concern, please check with the venue before confirming your booking on the course.

Most of the music-making will take place at ground floor level in the original Àrainn Ostaig part of the campus, which has parking nearby.