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Realising your dream
the joy of working wood well - whatever your level or interest
What is the Academy?
The Jeremy Broun Academy of Wood is a ‘one-stop’ place where his uniquely vast and varied woodworking experience of over half a century in Education and professional practice is contained under one roof.
The initial ‘Design and make in wood’ course is aimed at English speaking beginners worldwide over the age of 16 who have a desire to learn from scratch how to work wood well in any situation. It also serves as a refresher for old hands. The teaching model is based on an American psychologist John Dewey (1859-1952) who said:
‘The skill that is intelligently acquired is the skill intelligently used’. Elon Musk refers to going back to first principles and in woodworking the default mode tends to be to copy or adapt tradition. Jordan Petersen refers to ‘learning how to think, not what to think’. These are principles Jeremy Broun has been using from his early teaching days.
At the Academy you will have access to: Jeremy's videos on woodworking, furniture making and design (some initially drawn from his YouTube channel) and also his WOODOMAIN online store woodworking multimedia.
The Academy will also be a meeting place for students to interact with Jeremy Broun and each other (eg on a dedicated Facebook page). The basic enrolment fee offers a set number of online tutorials/consultations with options for paid consultations.
Jeremy had the idea for an online woodworking school over a decade ago and with his YouTube videos increasingly lost on YouTube that has become entertainment and gimmick orientated, it is time for a special platform that expresses his clear mission and has the potential to grow .
Jeremy's lifelong passion has been for wood and passing on ideas and knowledge. The potential of the Academy is great - with Best student prizes for Basic and Advanced woodworking in the pipeline.
Why not be part of an exciting new venture and apply to become the first dozen or so students for FREE REGISTRATION by filling in the Feedback form below and help shape the initial content of the BASIC and ADVANCED packages.
The initial ‘Design and make in wood’ course is aimed at English speaking beginners worldwide over the age of 16 who have a desire to learn from scratch how to work wood well in any situation. It also serves as a refresher for old hands. The teaching model is based on an American psychologist John Dewey (1859-1952) who said:
‘The skill that is intelligently acquired is the skill intelligently used’. Elon Musk refers to going back to first principles and in woodworking the default mode tends to be to copy or adapt tradition. Jordan Petersen refers to ‘learning how to think, not what to think’. These are principles Jeremy Broun has been using from his early teaching days.
At the Academy you will have access to: Jeremy's videos on woodworking, furniture making and design (some initially drawn from his YouTube channel) and also his WOODOMAIN online store woodworking multimedia.
The Academy will also be a meeting place for students to interact with Jeremy Broun and each other (eg on a dedicated Facebook page). The basic enrolment fee offers a set number of online tutorials/consultations with options for paid consultations.
Jeremy had the idea for an online woodworking school over a decade ago and with his YouTube videos increasingly lost on YouTube that has become entertainment and gimmick orientated, it is time for a special platform that expresses his clear mission and has the potential to grow .
Jeremy's lifelong passion has been for wood and passing on ideas and knowledge. The potential of the Academy is great - with Best student prizes for Basic and Advanced woodworking in the pipeline.
Why not be part of an exciting new venture and apply to become the first dozen or so students for FREE REGISTRATION by filling in the Feedback form below and help shape the initial content of the BASIC and ADVANCED packages.
Who is Jeremy Broun?
After early discouragement from an academic father, Jeremy Broun failed GCE O level with the rest of the class at Abbotsholme schol. Then, under the guidance of a brilliant and inspiring new teacher he gained an A grade at A level woodwork in just 2 terms (on a 2 year course).
He went on to become an award-winning woodworker and author and considered ro be in the top rank of innovative British furniture designer makers for over three decades, paving the way for others today. He has won several awards including a Churchill Travel Scholarship.
After a brief school teaching career culminating at Millfield School, Jeremy set up a small workshop in Bath in 1973 and showed his unique furniture designs widely for several decades at major group exhibitions, whilst teaching part-time at leading colleges such as Goldsmiths, Bristol Polytechnic, Rycotewood College and the Letterfrack Furniture School.
In 2013 he was invited to become an inspector for The British Accreditation Council. Currently he is organizer and one of the judges for the Alan Peters Furniture Award.
His woodworking experience is uniquely vast and varied ranging from guitar making and outdoor buildings, to boatbuilding and innovative furniture. He has taught at all skill levels including City & Guilds Carpentry as well as running pioneer intensive design and make courses for total beginners since the mid 1980s.
His published books include 'The Encylopedia of Woodworking Techniques' (a top UK award-winning book) and the pioneer book 'The Incredible Router'.
Jeremy's interests include vehicle restoration and performing with the guitars that he builds.
He went on to become an award-winning woodworker and author and considered ro be in the top rank of innovative British furniture designer makers for over three decades, paving the way for others today. He has won several awards including a Churchill Travel Scholarship.
After a brief school teaching career culminating at Millfield School, Jeremy set up a small workshop in Bath in 1973 and showed his unique furniture designs widely for several decades at major group exhibitions, whilst teaching part-time at leading colleges such as Goldsmiths, Bristol Polytechnic, Rycotewood College and the Letterfrack Furniture School.
In 2013 he was invited to become an inspector for The British Accreditation Council. Currently he is organizer and one of the judges for the Alan Peters Furniture Award.
His woodworking experience is uniquely vast and varied ranging from guitar making and outdoor buildings, to boatbuilding and innovative furniture. He has taught at all skill levels including City & Guilds Carpentry as well as running pioneer intensive design and make courses for total beginners since the mid 1980s.
His published books include 'The Encylopedia of Woodworking Techniques' (a top UK award-winning book) and the pioneer book 'The Incredible Router'.
Jeremy's interests include vehicle restoration and performing with the guitars that he builds.
Working wood well
What does 'Working wood well' mean?
It means working wood appropriate to the task in hand, using the most appropriate materials, tools and construction methods for the job without wasting time or material.
There is no point making a window box to hold flowers using dovetail joints on the corners and finishing it with a lacquer to a very high standard.
Jeremy Broun draws from the best of old and new methods, using hand and powered tools and a variety of wood materials (eg plywood) and shares his analytical approach to efficient woodworking methodology, challenging but not dismissing tradition.
Getting it right first time is an important woodworking principle and each task should take no longer than is needed. At the academy you learn this from the start.
It means working wood appropriate to the task in hand, using the most appropriate materials, tools and construction methods for the job without wasting time or material.
There is no point making a window box to hold flowers using dovetail joints on the corners and finishing it with a lacquer to a very high standard.
Jeremy Broun draws from the best of old and new methods, using hand and powered tools and a variety of wood materials (eg plywood) and shares his analytical approach to efficient woodworking methodology, challenging but not dismissing tradition.
Getting it right first time is an important woodworking principle and each task should take no longer than is needed. At the academy you learn this from the start.
Why join the Academy?
In the early days of the Internet there was an expert advice forum on subjects ranging from hairdressing to law and including woodworking. It was called 'Askme' and when Jeremy Broun joined he was ranked expert no 1360. Within three months he rose to global expert no 3 based on woodworkers' ratings of his answers to a wide variety of questions.
By joining the Academy you are in the hands of someone who knows what he is talking about and you will be part of an evolving centre of excellence based on your needs and Jeremy's ideas and expertise in woodworking and design.
By joining the Academy you are in the hands of someone who knows what he is talking about and you will be part of an evolving centre of excellence based on your needs and Jeremy's ideas and expertise in woodworking and design.
Be inspired by a leader
Inspiration is the key to learning and Jeremy Broun shares his passion and vast range of knowledge over half a century.
Ahead of his time he was one of the first teachers to encourage females to take up woodworking at secondary school level. He has trained trainee teachers at Bristol Polytechnic and helped established private workshops such as the Bath Womens' Workshop.
As a pioneering furniture designer maker he was part of a small group in the 1970s British Craft Revival redefining the boundaries of the craft and paving the way for others today. His exploitation of the beauty of plywood for instance dates back to the 1970s. He became the acknowledged pioneer of creative routing which he dubbed the most versatile tool in the world in his 1989 book ‘The Incredible Router’.
Ahead of his time he was one of the first teachers to encourage females to take up woodworking at secondary school level. He has trained trainee teachers at Bristol Polytechnic and helped established private workshops such as the Bath Womens' Workshop.
As a pioneering furniture designer maker he was part of a small group in the 1970s British Craft Revival redefining the boundaries of the craft and paving the way for others today. His exploitation of the beauty of plywood for instance dates back to the 1970s. He became the acknowledged pioneer of creative routing which he dubbed the most versatile tool in the world in his 1989 book ‘The Incredible Router’.
An integrated approach
Much woodworking practice for decades has been based on copying tradition, even the dominant furniture styles today are ‘traditional’.
Right from his early training at the famous Shoreditch College Jeremy Broun designed schemes of work that were interesting for children to make in schools.
Encouraging beginners to think about how to make an item, how it can look, what joints to use, what finish to use is all encompassed in Jeremy's radical 'Design and Make in Wood' course which he started as an ‘Intensive Weekend Woodwork course’ in the mid 1980s and then deveveloped into a 36 hour 12 week evening class.
This integrated approach is a key feature of Jeremy Broun's Academy of Wood as it enables the student from first principles (as Elon Musk would say) to make decisions right from the start to solve aesthetic and technical problems.
The Academy of Wood teaches you how to think not what to think and the most satisfying woodworking is designing what you make.
Right from his early training at the famous Shoreditch College Jeremy Broun designed schemes of work that were interesting for children to make in schools.
Encouraging beginners to think about how to make an item, how it can look, what joints to use, what finish to use is all encompassed in Jeremy's radical 'Design and Make in Wood' course which he started as an ‘Intensive Weekend Woodwork course’ in the mid 1980s and then deveveloped into a 36 hour 12 week evening class.
This integrated approach is a key feature of Jeremy Broun's Academy of Wood as it enables the student from first principles (as Elon Musk would say) to make decisions right from the start to solve aesthetic and technical problems.
The Academy of Wood teaches you how to think not what to think and the most satisfying woodworking is designing what you make.
Online interaction
An important aspect of learning is sparking with other students. As the first course progresses there will be a facility for individual tutorials by way of a quota of email exchanges in the basic enrolment package. Video Zoom calls and a Whatsapp group will be considered as well as a dedicated Facebook page for interaction between students and with Jeremy Broun.
Watch this space for how this will work best.
Watch this space for how this will work best.
Mulimedia ebooks
A range of project based video integrated ebooks on PDF format.
Some of these ebooks are courses in themselves such as ‘Acoustic Guitar Easy Build’ which has illustrated step-by-step instructions plus over 50 detailed tutorial videos and 10 pages of printout plans, (online store price £135).
Some of these ebooks are courses in themselves such as ‘Acoustic Guitar Easy Build’ which has illustrated step-by-step instructions plus over 50 detailed tutorial videos and 10 pages of printout plans, (online store price £135).
Craft documentaries
The Furniture Today series of documentary videos is a unique historical archive of the designer maker revolution set against period and world furniture history.
This will be available as part of the Advanced Level package to be finalised and as an add-on at a 50% discount.
This will be available as part of the Advanced Level package to be finalised and as an add-on at a 50% discount.
Guest makers
Guest furniture makers such as Andrew Lawton who is one of the judges of The Alan Peters Furniture Award (organized by Jeremy Broun) will be invited to share expertise.
A combined lecture by Andrew Lawton and Jeremy Broun called 'Product or Service' will be of interest to furniture makers setting up business.
A combined lecture by Andrew Lawton and Jeremy Broun called 'Product or Service' will be of interest to furniture makers setting up business.
About tools
About wood
Unleash your creative potential
No better tool for exercising your imagination and completing virtually any woodworking task with speed and precision is the portable plunging router.
The router will trim edges and surfaces flat, add edge profiles, cut grooves and rebates, a multitude of joints. Jeremy Broun’s groundbreaking 1989 book is now available in Revised hardback edition and as a video integrated ebook.
Now at long last cordless routers are becoming the new standard with no cable to inhibit the tool.
The router will trim edges and surfaces flat, add edge profiles, cut grooves and rebates, a multitude of joints. Jeremy Broun’s groundbreaking 1989 book is now available in Revised hardback edition and as a video integrated ebook.
Now at long last cordless routers are becoming the new standard with no cable to inhibit the tool.
Simple projects
Access a growing library of simple useful projects that integrate design with making.
The projects range from Beginner to Advanced level and embody useful making skills whilst challenging the student to ‘customise’ the basic design concept.
‘Less is more’ and ‘Form follows function’ are old but time proven philosphies. Clever workmanship (overcrafting) for its own sake is avoided .
The projects range from Beginner to Advanced level and embody useful making skills whilst challenging the student to ‘customise’ the basic design concept.
‘Less is more’ and ‘Form follows function’ are old but time proven philosphies. Clever workmanship (overcrafting) for its own sake is avoided .
Setting up a workspace
So, you are a total beginner and want to know what space, tools and equipment you need to get started at woodworking?
Or you are looking to organize a professional workshop and kit it out with useful hand tools, power tools and machines.
Jeremy Broun was once nicknamed 'The Red Adair' of school woodworking as in every school he taught at he completely re-oganised the workshops together with creating space efficient storage areas for tools and timbers.
Or you are looking to organize a professional workshop and kit it out with useful hand tools, power tools and machines.
Jeremy Broun was once nicknamed 'The Red Adair' of school woodworking as in every school he taught at he completely re-oganised the workshops together with creating space efficient storage areas for tools and timbers.
What will it cost?
Fees structuring and content are still being calculated.
Once the courses are established it is likely the basic annual fee will be £49 and £99.
For the startup period it is probable a dozen or so free places will be offered in return for helping fine tune the course and give valuable feedback.
Please fill in the feedback form today and message if you would like to be considered for a free inital place.
Once the courses are established it is likely the basic annual fee will be £49 and £99.
For the startup period it is probable a dozen or so free places will be offered in return for helping fine tune the course and give valuable feedback.
Please fill in the feedback form today and message if you would like to be considered for a free inital place.
Unique learning experience
Designing what you make, making what you design.
Starting from first principles of how tools interact with wood, Jeremy Broun teaches you how to make decisions about what wood, what tools, what technique to use beyond the default approach of simply copying tradition .
This is an enabling adaptive approach and is based on his study of an American educator in the last century: John Dewey. He believed that the skill intelligently used is the skill intelligently acquired. An example is the instruction of loading a rifle in the military. If a soldier lost his rifle behind enemy lines and found an enemy rifle, he would not quickly understand how to use it.
Language is key to this first principles approach, so instead of initially copying traditional ‘joints’ Jeremy uses the term ‘connections’ and encourages students to explore the strength characteristics of wood in different basic configurations and using hand tools first to fully understand the nature of wood.
Starting from first principles of how tools interact with wood, Jeremy Broun teaches you how to make decisions about what wood, what tools, what technique to use beyond the default approach of simply copying tradition .
This is an enabling adaptive approach and is based on his study of an American educator in the last century: John Dewey. He believed that the skill intelligently used is the skill intelligently acquired. An example is the instruction of loading a rifle in the military. If a soldier lost his rifle behind enemy lines and found an enemy rifle, he would not quickly understand how to use it.
Language is key to this first principles approach, so instead of initially copying traditional ‘joints’ Jeremy uses the term ‘connections’ and encourages students to explore the strength characteristics of wood in different basic configurations and using hand tools first to fully understand the nature of wood.
Inspiring books
There is no other book that showcases some of the best designs in wood from the UK as the award-winning Encyclopedia of Woodworking Techniques (updated in 2018). An A-Z of techniques with a ‘Themes’gallery section. Signed copies available to students. A lasting reference book.
What they say
'Jeremy Broun has the ability to communicate passion and new thinking when injecting his own "take" on a principle or technique. This enriches the whole experience and sets him apart from 'ordinary' woodwork teachers’.
Jenny Carruthers (student)
'Jeremy is a terrific teacher from what I've seen of his You Tube videos. I'm looking forward to this (Compact Toolbox) ebook'. Walt Wilkin (USA)
'I spent an afternoon with Jeremy in his workshop in a 1-1 session which was a birthday gift from my girlfriend. I found Jeremy to be extremely knowledgable and helpful and has given me the confidence to progress to a not-so-amateur with the router. I would thoroughly recommend him to anyone looking to improve their router knowledge and skills'. Richard, Cheltenham.
Thank you for the work you put into your projects as it is quite refreshing to see old school ethics meet new school innovation'. K Pilkington
Want to reach the top?
The Academy caters for all levels starting with complete beginners, but make no mistake (you’ll make plenty as part of the course!) that anybody who has ambitions to be amongst the best is in the right place to learn the skills for what it takes to get to the top!
Jeremy Broun was considered one of the top dozen or so British furniture designer makers by the crafts media and galleries for over three decades. He exhibited alongside John Makepeace, Alan Peters and Fred Baier at major group shows over this period. He has also taught some of the most talented students in the British Isles and in Finland.
It half surprised him when teaching complete beginners on his highly structured intensive design and make course just how quickly some of his students acquired exhibition standard skills, from scratch in just 36 hours!!! That of course includes a grasp of how to design. All this at a fraction of the cost of current face-to-face private courses.
Unlike those YouTube clickbait claims - ‘You can make perfect dovetails first time’ Jeremy is not claiming that every student will become a top maker but he is saying that the Academy is the right environment for the few who have that potential. The key is inspiration that builds skill and confidence quickly.
Jeremy Broun was considered one of the top dozen or so British furniture designer makers by the crafts media and galleries for over three decades. He exhibited alongside John Makepeace, Alan Peters and Fred Baier at major group shows over this period. He has also taught some of the most talented students in the British Isles and in Finland.
It half surprised him when teaching complete beginners on his highly structured intensive design and make course just how quickly some of his students acquired exhibition standard skills, from scratch in just 36 hours!!! That of course includes a grasp of how to design. All this at a fraction of the cost of current face-to-face private courses.
Unlike those YouTube clickbait claims - ‘You can make perfect dovetails first time’ Jeremy is not claiming that every student will become a top maker but he is saying that the Academy is the right environment for the few who have that potential. The key is inspiration that builds skill and confidence quickly.
The first course is a unique integrated intensive course for beginners and refresher for old hands.
Based on over half a century of innovative teaching and on a book that was almost published by Mitchell Beasley but too ahead of its time for the USA market in 2005.
Each topic has a video tutorial:
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