The Castle - Kastel Vitturi

I do it every summer and every summer I can’t believe how lucky I am. I go and teach on my summer course in Croatia. It is the most special, magical place with the most special magical people. If I could have a fantasy trip, I’m sure this would fit the bill. I even get a bit jealous of myself thinking about it.

Ana with me eating black risotto

I’ve got some lovely friends in Croatia – Ana Domancic is a professional flute teacher out there. I met her many years ago at the Slovenian flute convention when Emanuel Pahud had been delayed on his flight. Matej Zupan, who was organising the convention, asked me to cover Pahud’s class, which I did. Ana had come to see Pahud in action and got me instead. She liked what she saw and immediately invited me to Croatia. That was way back in the 90s. Many happy summers have past and for the last few years I’ve been teaching for 2 weeks in this amazing medieval castle right on the sea. My other grown up friends are Najda and Inga who make the course possible. I now have masses of young friends out there.

Najda and Inga

My lovely young friends

This year was special because my son Mark and Samantha came to ‘carry my bags’ – Mark did literally! and 2 families came, the Barrett’s with Emma (flute player) and sister Alice (who learnt to play the fife) and the Coates with Sarah and Tom. It’s always uncomfortable recommending a holiday for people, but I had no real cause for concern, they all loved it!

We meet in the castle every morning for 3 hours and have fun playing musical games and learning new music. The players are always from beginners to professional level. At the end of the 2 weeks we have a concert – and the TV cameras are present. This year I took a ‘Birthday treat’ theme for the concert. I needed to get Zig Zag Zoo in somehow so thsi is what we did:

Happy Birthday (this is a great set of variations which was written by a good friend of mine, Duncan Ried for the 50th birthday of James Galway 20 years ago!)

Soldier’s Joy Hornpipe (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to dance – she said ‘no’)

Fairground Ride/Whirligig (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go on a fairground ride – she said ‘no’)

Merrily We Roll – begiiner fifes (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to hear a piece – she said ‘no’)

James Bond Theme (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go to see a movie- she said ‘no’)

*Queen of the Night (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go to an opera – she said ‘no’)

**Drunken Sailor – (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to have a drink – she said ‘no’)

Hey Joe – birthday present factory rap (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted a present – she said ‘no’)

Mamma Mia (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to see a show – she said ‘no’)

Ken and Barbie (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to have a barbecue – she said ‘no’)

Misty (we asked the ‘birthday person’ if she wanted to go out for a nice meal – she said ‘no’)

So we asked her what she wanted to do and she said go to the Zoo – so we sang ‘Going to the Zoo’

then played Zig Zag Zoo.

Clever, ey?

I’m hoping we’ll hear from Emma, Alice, Sarah and Tom and all of their parents about what they thought of the trip. We stayed in the lovely Villa Soulavy in Kastela Luksic which is relatively near Split. It’s so easy to get to and quite inexpensive. I’ll be there again next year, the dates will be confirmed soon. Fancy joining me? It’s a great place for a family holiday – and parents, just think, I take the kids off your hands for 3 hours every morning!

*This was very, very special for me because I did the arrangement and Klaudia played part 1 on the violin, it was wonderful, even awesome.

** Duje played this on trumpet, very cool.