Lovin' summer

The country may be plunging still deeper into what is shaping up to be its third summer soaking in as many years, but while the nation's heliophiles curse, its melomanes at least have reason to be a little more cheerful.

The summer months are a time of musical abundance, with festivals both small and large striking up all over the place. And unlike the (sez I) misguided souls for whom a music festival equals feeble bands wailing away somewhere in the distance, drug-induced stupefaction and trench foot, your average classical music festival-goer will probably have to endure little more than unyielding church pews - the rest is all quality music at affordable prices in interesting venues and locations.

But it's not just the audiences who benefit from this musical bonanza. Musicians can buzz off to the numerous summer schools, as equally widespread geographically as the festivals and covering every conceivable aspect of music. There you'll find internationally renowned performers and teachers of the highest quality providing expert tuition to students of various ages and standards, all in the spirit of open musical collaboration.

Of course, such institutions are found in many other countries, often, dare we say it, with more reliably attractive climates. But with literally hundreds of courses on offer, Britain is at the forefront of the summer school movement.

Indeed, you can look forward to Barlines' own despatches from the granddaddy of British summer schools (actually more of a cross between a festival and summer school, with a substantial number of public performances) at Dartington, where, from the second week of August, your correspondent will be working away in the ranks of the Dartington Festival Orchestra. It's the school's house band, made up from freelancers, teachers, students and others, and accompanies the opera and choral courses, works with student conductors, and gives about 7 concerts over the three weeks it operates. Hard work for sure, but it gives a real insight into life at a classical music summer retreat.