Wind & Water 2027

7:15pm on Friday 14 May to c. 4pm on Sunday 16 May 2027 (non-residential)

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

**Bookings open 1st November 2026**

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 2027 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 2027 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 instruments and experience 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 £215, 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 (again from 1st November 2026)  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.

For those staying at the college, there is limited space to store/prepare food in the community kitchen in the residential block. If there are other courses running concurrently, it may be possible for participants to purchase meals from the college refectory on a pay-as-you-go basis – please check back for updates on this situation nearer the time. In the past, many players have enjoyed taking the opportunity to explore off campus – meal breaks are deliberately long, to allow for so doing.

Applications

Applications open on 1st November 2026 – look out for an application form appearing on this webpage!

Please be aware that 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 £45 will be required to reserve your space.

The balance of £170 should be paid by 2nd April 2027. 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 2nd April 2027 – refund of £170 balance

Cancellation between 2nd and 16th April 2027 – refund of £80

Cancellation on or after 17th April 2027 – no automatic refund. Any money returned would be at the discretion of the tutor.

In the unlikely event of the Wind & Water 2027 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.