We are delighted that Joe and Kevs Fiddle and Guitar folk workshop is now full. We do operate a waiting list so if you are interested in 2013 please get in touch via the the contact page on the site.

Need a good reason to have a great holiday…
…here are 10 why a Creative Vacances Music Holiday ticks all the boxes

1, Expert tuition

Our tutors are experts in their fields, They are all great musicians but also have ability and flexibilty to inspire and teach learners of all levels. There is no doubt that you will go home a better player than when you arrived, Whether you are a beginner , or a more experienced player the tutors will make sure that you get the maximum out of the week,
The atmosphere is always relaxed and there is no pressure to perform, you can go at your own pace , The emphasis is on having a great time,

2.A chance to play with other musicians

Many of the people who come on our music holidays have never played with anyone before , It is a wonderful opportunity and great fun to be able to make music with other people.
We have courses that are aimed at playing in groups and others where it is more individual with time to play and jam with other members in the group

3,Convivial Company,

People come on a Creative Vacances Music Holiday to have a great time- they want to play their instruments but also enjoy eating, drinking and chatting, People come from all over the world – so its always fascinating at meal times .Most people come on their own so you don’t have to worry that you will be surrounded by couples, although non participating partners are welcome and always enjoy themselves,

4.Fabulous Holiday Experience

Over 50% of our customers re book so they must have enjoyed themselves! A Creative Vacances holiday is a unique combination of music and fun- with great food and plenty of wine

5.Value for money

Everything is included in the price – accommodation, 20 hours expert tuition, and full board, Most people don’t spend a penny ( or euro) once they are here, We are certain that you won’t find a better value music holiday,

6 Sunshine

The Charente Maritime is blessed with a micro climate that means we get approximately the same number of hours of sunshine as the Cote D’Azure, We can’t guarantee the sunshine of course ! But the chances are that you will be able to relax in the sunshine during your week here,

7, Good Food

Two course lunches and four course evening meals, included in the price, All of the food is home cooked using products from the garden whenever possible, The meals are in a mediteranean style with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and whatever fish looks good in the market that week, We pride ourselves in making the menu as interesting as possible and change the whole menu each year so that people coming back the next year can have a treat !

8.French Wine

You will be in France so there has to plenty of wine !! We serve a local rosé at lunchtime, a white with the starter in the evening and then copious amounts of red !!

9, Great Surroundings

Creative Vacances is based in a little hamlet surrounded by sunflowers and vines, Our house is in over 3 acres of grounds so there is plenty of space and not many neighbours to complain about the noise coming from the music room, People arrive stressed from the hassle of England but quickly un wind, You can relax in the garden, or if the water is warm enough have a swim in our 10×5 metre swimming pool,

10.Brewery

And if all that isn’t enough we have a micro brewery 5 minutes walk away – Brasserie de Bercloux, Unsuprisingly this is very popular with all the groups who usually pop up there at least once after an afternoon session, They speak English and have a very interesting array of beers and love to meet our musicians who always enthuisiastically drink as much as they can !!!

Am I good enough?

This is everyones biggest worry, There will definitely be people of all standards on the holiday but the tutors are experts and will make sure that you go home a better player whatever your level, Most of the course pages have a video link- have a look and see what people have been up to other years.

Am I too young/too old?

The age range is 17-70 ( up ’till now) , Everyone who comes wants to play music and have a good time -it doesn’t matter what age you are to do this!

How do I get to you?

Many people drive so they can bring more than one instrument, La Rochelle airport is just over an hour away and is serviced by all the budget airlines from the regional airports, The transfer from the airport is included in the price.

Is it a hassle to bring an instrument on the plane?

People come with fiddles, saxophones, guitars, mandolins etc etc, Some airlines charge extra for carrying an instrument- you need to check, Make sure you have a hard case and carefully bubble wrap your instrument inside the case.

Can I have a single room?

We have room for 9 people on site in shared bedrooms, The single accommodation is usually off site- a short walk away, The single rooms are limited and so need to be booked early, There is a supplement.

Whats included in the price?

20 hours of tuition, accommodation, full board including wine and aperitifs, Transfer to and from La Rochelle airport is also included.

Diet problems- I don’t eat dairy products, Is that ok?

We can cater for vegetarians easily and make every effort to accomodate food dislikes, If you have a serious allergy which involves cooking completely different food, and buying in special ingredients then there is a small supplement.

Can my partner come and not participate?

No problem, We often have non participating partners, and people often say when they arrive that they wish they had brought their partners.

Will my non participating partner be bored?

We have never known anyone say they have been bored ! People do a variety of things, One person spent the week writing a book, another learnt her lines for an am/dram production she was in ,another spent the week taking photos, Sitting by the pool with a good book is the favorite! Its good walking and cycling around here and the historic towns of Saintes and Cognac are a short drive. The music sessions last for about 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon so there isn’t a lot of time to get bored,People enjoy the socialibility of the meal times,and of course listening to the great music coming out of the music room.

Is the course ever cancelled?

We need a minimum of 4 people to run a course, We have never had to cancel a course, We do recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance in the unlikely event that your holiday is cancelled.

Can I swim?

The pool is not heated but does have a thermal cover, It is usually swimable between the end of May and the end of September unless you are very hardy.

Can I arrive early?

Yes, if your flight comes in on a Saturday then we will pick you up and you have family meals with us until Sunday evening when the course starts, There is a charge for this, You can also come a week early( or stay an extra week) if you would like an extended holiday, Our cottages are for rent at a very competetive rate.

When do I need to arrive and when does it finish?

We ask that people arrive after 3 on Sunday afternoon in time for supper at 7,30pm, The tuition starts on Monday morning at 10am,
You leave on Saturday morning.

Is there anywhere interesting to visit?

There are the historic towns of Saintes and Cognac 20 minutes away, Both towns are fascinating . Royan on the coast is a 40 minute drive,
Closer to home is a micro brwery in the village, Well worth a visit!

What is the tree on your front drive?

Its a fabulous tree, with lilac wysteria type flowers before the huge leaves appear. The seed pods look like fruit and next years flowers are fluffy seeds that appear in the summer before it flowers the following autumn! No wonder it catches people eye. It is called a Royal Paulownia or Empress Tree..