Week 2 of a 5 week course. This week – Irish Style.
A Monday evening course from local folk fiddle duo Emma Sweeney and Thea Spiers.
The course is for folk fiddlers who want to learn a new style and for classical players who want to branch out and learn folk music in the aural tradition. It is for players with at least two years of playing/ learning experience who have reached an intermediate to advanced level of playing. (If you are not sure about this contact the Learning & Participation Dept HERE for some guidance).
Are you a folk fiddler wanting to branch out, learn a new style and some fresh tunes? Are you a classical violinist who feels that you are tied the ‘dots’ on a page with no freedom to express yourself in the way you want to? If so, this may be the course for you….
Emma Sweeney and Thea Spiers are an established teaching duo from two very different backgrounds (folk and classical) who want to bring the art of folk fiddling to a new bunch of players in a way that is accessible, supportive and fun. Both are top class performers playing nationally and internationally as solo artists and as band / orchestral musicians in a wide variety of genres and styles including traditional artists such as Mike McGoldrick, Cara Dillon, Kathryn Tickell, and the Unthanks.
In the five sessions the group will focus on one style and one or two tunes per session. The styles covered will be Irish and Scottish, plus Bluegrass music from America and, for the first time, Eastern European Klezmer (see dates below).
The sessions will emphasise learning tunes by ear with tips on how to develop aural learning skills. Other areas covered will include bowing, ornamentation (with a bit of improvisation – extemporisation) and stylistic tricks to get the authentic ‘feel’ for the music.
It is recommended that participants bring a recording device such as a phone or mp3 recorder to the lessons if they have one. In each lesson Emma and Thea will teach a tune by ear. The group may split into smaller groups to focus on finer details with opportunities for solo playing and accompaniment. In the final part of the session participants come back as one group and all play together.
Learning resources and further listening material will be available at each session.
Click here BotW Folk Fiddle for a Spotify playlist with background listening material.
Venue: Education Room 1 at Band on the Wall
Day: Monday
Times: 7.30-9.30pm
Dates: November 5th (Bluegrass), 12th (Irish), 19th (Irish), 26th (Klezmer) December 3rd (Scottish).
Cost: Full £75, Conc £65 (Full time student, OAP, unwaged), Per-session, £15
(Concession places are subject to production of proof of eligibility at first session. Per-session places are now available to buy on the website)