Folk Fiddle: Short Course Autumn 2012 November 5, 2012

A new 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.

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.

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.

Official Website: http://crd.fm/1hp