We offer small-scale retreats in a beautiful off-grid farmhouse in the Spanish Alpujarra, Sierra Nevada mountains.
Our retreats combine tuition and practice time as well as making the most of the amazing location, which includes mountain walks, beaches, sea-swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing, star-gazing and horse riding as well as relaxing and, of course, eating and drinking.
Here are some videos to give you a taste of the kind of music, location and atmosphere at Finca Ara Oko.
Join us for a life-changing five-day songwriting retreat at Finca Ará Oko with the incredible singer-songwriter Jen Kearney. The week will offer daily lyric-writing workshops, melody crafting and chord progression development. You will participate in feedback sessions and interactive performances in a magnificently inspiring setting. You don’t need to play an instrument to participate, but you are encouraged to bring your instrument if desired. There will be a few instruments on site including a keyboard, guitar, Cuban Tres and various percussion instruments.
About Jen:
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Jen Kearney has spent some time seasoning her particular style of original music. Her sound is truly an amalgamation of musical styles including Soul,R&B, Funk, Rock, and Latin. Kearney’s music and attention to lyrics and has met critical acclaim nationally and internationally.
Kearney released an EP entitled “Atlantic” in March of 2022. She has written and produced six other studio albums and has done co-writing and session work with artists all over the world. She is a 2022 New England Music Award nominee for Soul/R&B act of the year.
Kearney tours both as a solo act and with a full band. She spent 2018-2020 living in London touring the UK/ Europe with her own act and with a 9-piece Latin band called Snowboy & the Latin Section who covered two of Kearney’s songs on their latest album. She has shared the stage with the likes of Maceo Parker, Los Lobos, Daryl Hall, Mavis Staples, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, The Derek Trucks Band and more.
Retreat prices – Only 10 places are available – Secure your place now!
All prices include accommodation, three meals a day and tuition. (Please see below for costs not included)
There are three different types of accommodation:
Single Room: We have 1 single room available (please note you will still be sharing a bathroom). Price £830
Shared Rooms (2-4 people): We have three rooms available. Price £690 each
Glamping (2 x 4m bell tents 2 people per tent): £520
In 2023, we will see the introduction of a two-bell tent glamping area. Our tents are luxurious, spacious and comfortable. (Please note; the photo is from the company that has made our bell tents)
Please visit our Accommodation page to read more about the facilities available at Finca Ará Oko.
How to book
Step 1: Secure your place by making a non-refundable deposit of £150. (payment details below)
Our Donation Policy
Would you like to support young artists (under 25 years) or female survivors of human trafficking to access our retreats? If you can spare any amount for this cause, we will match your funding. All you need to do is add the amount you would like to donate to your total when you make a bank transfer and let us know via the sign-up form. We will inform you as to how we spent the money. Thank you for your generosity.
Find out more about our work with female survivors of human trafficking – Moving Voices UK
Bank Details: Account name: Bombo Arts Account number: 63017399 Sort code: 08-92-99
Reference: Kearney 23
PayPal Deposit – Jen Kearney: £155 .
Not included in the price
– Extra accommodation per night: £25
– Extra meals: Breakfast £5, Lunch £7, Dinner £10
– Alcohol
– Flights: The nearest airport is Almeria (1 hr 20mins drive), then Granada (1 ½-hour drive), then Malaga (2-hour drive). Fares range from £50-350 return. Malaga is often the cheapest and has the most frequent flights.
– Transport to and from the airport: Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. The cheapest way is to coordinate your flight times with others attending the course. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time. Here are some taxi prices from 2022.
Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
Taxi to/from Motril €80.
Taxi to/from Granada €110
– Transport during your stay.
Car hire: Some of you may wish to hire a car during your stay. It is a lovely place to drive with good roads and no traffic. If you choose this option, please let us know as we have plenty of experience of how not to get ripped off by car-hire firms.
– Travel insurance: Please make your own arrangements.
– Extra lessons
– Extra excursions or activities: There are horse riding, cycling and water sports activities available nearby. If you would like us to organise any of these events, please let us know beforehand.
*If you wish to stay longer than 7 nights, please check with us to see if we can accommodate you. If we can’t for any reason, we will be able to suggest places to stay nearby.
We are delighted to offer a week-long winter batá retreat, which offers an intensive study of batá rhythm and song sequences whilst looking over a spectacular landscape. During the week, you will develop technique, stamina, timing and repertoire and meet and socialise with other like-minded people passionate about batá music.
This will be a small group retreat of five people. We will bring in the New Year drumming, singing and celebrating together.
Please visit our Accommodation page to read more about the facilities available at Finca Ará Oko.
Our Donation Policy
Would you like to support young artists (under 25 years) or female survivors of human trafficking to access our retreats? If you can spare any amount for this cause, we will match your funding. All you need to do is add the amount you would like to donate to your total when you make a bank transfer and let us know via the sign-up form. We will inform you as to how we spent the money. Thank you for your generosity.
Find out more about our work with female survivors of human trafficking – Moving Voices UK
Bank Details Account name: Bombo Arts Account number: 63017399 Sort code: 08-92-99 Reference: (Please add the name of the course)
Deposit – Bata Winter Retreat ’24
.
We need a minimum number of guests for a retreat to go ahead. Please check with us before buying your flights. A full refund will be issued if Covid restrictions prevent the course from happening or if we do not have sufficient numbers for the retreat to run. Please also see our Retreat Cancellation and Participation Guide.
If you are interested in a bespoke percussion music retreat or would like to stay and have some 1-1 tuition, drop us a line. enquiries@fincaaraoko.com.
Not included in the price
– Extra accommodation: please see our accommodation page for prices.
– Extra meals: Breakfast £5, Lunch £7, Dinner £10
– Alcohol
– Flights: The nearest airport is Almeria (1 hr 20mins drive), then Granada (1 ½-hour drive), then Malaga (2-hour drive). Fares range from £50-350 return. Malaga is often the cheapest and has the most frequent flights.
– Transport to and from the airport: Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. The cheapest way is to coordinate your flight times with others attending the course. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time. Here are some taxi prices from 2022.
Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
Taxi to/from Motril €80.
Taxi to/from Granada €110
– Transport during your stay.
Car hire: Some of you may wish to hire a car during your stay. It is a lovely place to drive with good roads and no traffic. If you choose this option, please let us know as we have plenty of experience of how not to get ripped off by car-hire firms.
– Travel insurance: Please make your own arrangements.
– Extra lessons
– Extra excursions or activities: There are horse riding, cycling and water sports activities available nearby. If you would like us to organise any of these events, please let us know beforehand.
*If you wish to stay longer than 7 nights, please check with us to see if we can accommodate you. If we can’t for any reason, we will be able to suggest places to stay nearby.
We are offering a 7-day singing retreat at Finca Ara Oko, an ancient off-grid farmhouse in Southern Spain. Drawing on the choir Coro de Clave (based in London and Spain), this retreat provides ensemble and individual vocal development. You will learn stunning Cuban folkloric songs in three and four-part harmonies. Each day will consist of sessions that develop breathwork and diaphragm strengthening for vocals, musical confidence with rhythm and harmony, and lead and group singing.
We want you to leave our retreat a more confident, connected, and knowledgeable singer and take home with you a collection of beautiful songs and memories that you can keep forever.
The week works towards a performance at the Surlayr Festival in the beautiful village of Pampaneira, where we will be joined by members of the Spanish Coro de Clave.
The name Coro de Clave was given to choirs that proliferated in the black communities of Western Cuba from the last part of the 1800s until around 1920. They were mobile ensembles, often amassing over 100 members and would compete with other neighbouring groups. We have revived and transferred this beautiful idea of community singing to this century and expanded the repertoire to include other Cuban-based styles.
The retreat celebrates the music, historical context and culture of this tradition, the coming together of a wonderful community of people who enjoy singing these special songs and the beautiful surrounding landscape.
The week-long retreat is split between tuition, practice time and making the most of the amazing location (mountain walks, beaches, snorkelling, sunbathing, star-gazing, horse riding etc. ), relaxing and, of course, eating and drinking.
Prices: Included in the price are 7 nights accommodation, three meals a day and 5 days x 5 hours of tuition. (Please see below for costs not included).
*Earlybird rate, which is when a non-refundable deposit of £150 is paid before the Earlybird deadline or the regular rate, which is the deposit paid after this.
*Earlybird deadline £150 by March 25th.
Full payment by May 31st
We will use the glamping area as overflow accommodation if we have more than 7 people booking on the course. Our tents are luxurious, spacious and comfortable. (Please note; the photo is from the company that has made our bell tents)
Earlybird Glamping: £565 each Regular Glamping: £635
How to book
Step 1: Secure your place by making a non-refundable deposit of £150. (payment details below)
Our Donation Policy
Would you like to support young artists (under 29 years) or female survivors of human trafficking to access our retreats? If you can spare any amount for this cause, we will match your funding. All you need to do is add the amount you would like to donate to your total when you make a bank transfer and let us know via the sign-up form. We will inform you as to how we spent the money. Thank you for your generosity.
Find out more about our work with female survivors of human trafficking – Moving Voices UK
Bank Details Account name: Bombo Arts Account number: 63017399 Sort code: 08-92-99 Reference: (Please add the name of the course)
PayPal Deposit – Coro de Clave Retreat: £155 .
Not included in the price
– Extra accommodation: please see our accommodation page for prices.
– Extra meals: Breakfast £5, Lunch £7, Dinner £10
– Alcohol
– Flights: The nearest airport is Almeria (1 hr 20mins drive), then Granada (1 ½-hour drive), then Malaga (2-hour drive). Fares range from £50-350 return. Malaga is often the cheapest and has the most frequent flights.
– Transport to and from the airport: Public transport, unfortunately, is rubbish. The cheapest way is to coordinate your flight times with others attending the course. We will help facilitate this and may suggest a flight time. Here are some taxi prices from 2022.
Taxi to/from Almeria (7-seater) – €110.
Taxi to/from Malaga (7-seater) €170.
Bus to/from Malaga to Motril (Alsa bus company) – €10
Taxi to/from Motril €80.
Taxi to/from Granada €110
– Transport during your stay.
Car hire: Some of you may wish to hire a car during your stay. It is a lovely place to drive with good roads and no traffic. If you choose this option, please let us know as we have plenty of experience of how not to get ripped off by car-hire firms.
– Travel insurance: Please make your own arrangements.
– Extra lessons
– Extra excursions or activities: There are horse riding, cycling and water sports activities available nearby. If you would like us to organise any of these events, please let us know beforehand.
*If you wish to stay longer than 7 nights, please check with us to see if we can accommodate you. If we can’t for any reason, we will be able to suggest places to stay nearby.
“Just back from a glorious week playing salsa at Finca Ara Oko. What an amazing place to escape for a music retreat with stunning views over the mountains and a great feeling of space. Add to that expert and patient tuition from Dave, the generous hospitality of both Vicky and Dave, and great company, and you’ve got yourself a perfect holiday. ” Alison 2022
2nd – 9th September 2024
A course for those wanting to learn and improve their salsa percussion skills. This course will include technique development, ensemble playing and drum variations for bongo, congas, güiro and timbales and cover styles such as salsa, son, charanga, mozambique and guaguanco.
The week-long retreats are split between tuition and practice time, making the most of the amazing location (mountain walks, beaches, snorkelling, sunbathing, star-gazing, horse riding etc. ), relaxing and of course, eating and drinking.
Course tutor David Pattman. David’s experience includes playing with Omara Portuondo of the Buena Vista Social Club, Cachaito Lopez, Cubanismo, Anga Diaz, Roberto Plá, Snowboy, Django Bates, Alex Wilson, Slim Gailard, Carlos ‘Patato’ Valdez and Daniel Ponce as well as Jacob Collier and Paul McCartney.
Prices: Included in the price are 7 nights accommodation, three meals a day and 5 days x 5 hours of tuition. (Please see below for costs not included).
*Earlybird rate, which is when a non-refundable deposit of £150 is paid before the Earlybird deadline or the regular rate which is the deposit paid after this.
*Earlybird deadline £150 by May 18th.
Full payment by June 18th.
We will use the glamping area as overflow accommodation if we have more than 7 people booking on the course. Our tents are luxurious, spacious and comfortable. (Please note; the photo is from the company that has made our bell tents)
Earlybird Glamping: £565 each
Regular Glamping: £635
How to book
Step 1: Secure your place by making a non-refundable deposit of £150. (payment details below)
Finca Ará Oko is an ancient off-grid Andalusian farmhouse with original features offering three separate apartments with their own entrances and a total of six bedrooms (sleeping up to 12 people). We have a two-bell tent glamping area ( sleeping between 4-8 people). The grounds consist of three terraces (one is covered by a pergola), a plunge pool enclosure, and a long porch. Our property uses solar energy and a water filtration system. It has stunning views of the sea and the mountains.
You can rent rooms for us or hire the whole space to run your own retreat. Please get in touch.
The Porch House – 2 bedrooms (sleeps up to 4)
The Porch house has its own entrance, small kitchen, bathroom and a large porch overlooking the sea. The porch is a favourite spot for outdoor meals or just relaxation with a beautiful view. Guests in the Porch house can also enjoy the plunge pool, a large terrace offering space for yoga, siestas in a hammock and stunning sunrises.
£55 – 1-2 people
£70 – 3-4 people
*Discounts are offered for stays of 5 nights or longer
Poolside Apartment – 2 bedrooms (sleeps up to 4)
The Poolside Apartment is next to the plunge pool courtyard. It offers a bathroom and two rooms separated by a curtain. Guests in the Poolside apartment can also enjoy the plunge pool, a large terrace offering space for yoga, siestas in a hammock and stunning sunrises.
Room 1: One double bed and one single bed
Room 2: A day bed & sofabed
£45 – 1-2 people per night
£65 – 3-4 people per night
*Discounts are offered for stays of 5 nights or longer
Main House – 2 Bedrooms (Sleeps up to 4)
The main house has two bedrooms (two double or one double and a twin) with amazing views. The apartment has a bathroom and additional toilet, a large kitchen and a living room. You also have access to two terraces as well as the porch and poolside if there are no other guests at the property.
£80 per night
Glamping (2 x 4m bell tents, 2-4 people per tent): 2023 will see the introduction of a two-bell tent glamping area. Our tents are luxurious, spacious and comfortable. We also have a fantastic outdoor shower.
£45 – 1-2 people per night
£65 – 3–4 people per night
*Discounts are offered for stays of 5 nights or longer
,
Outside Shower
The Workshop Space
We have a covered outdoor space which can fit up to 10 people dancing, practising yoga or up to 15 people sitting in a circle playing music.
If you would like to run a retreat at Finca Ará Oko get in contact and we can have a chat enquiries@fincaaraoko.com
We offer small-scale retreats in a beautiful off-grid farmhouse in the Spanish Alpujarra, Sierra Nevada mountains.
Our retreats combine tuition and practice time as well as making the most of the amazing location, which includes mountain walks, beaches, sea-swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing, star-gazing and horse riding as well as relaxing and, of course, eating and drinking.
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