ZoukFest 2009 Irish Traditional Music Weekend

Schedule of Classes

Click on class to jump to description or just scroll down!

1. Irish Fiddle I Randal Bays Sat. 10:00 a.m.
2. Irish Fiddle II Randal Bays Sat. 1:30 p.m.
3. Irish Guitar (DADGAD) Randal Bays Sat. 4:00 p.m.
4. Irish Fiddle III Randal Bays Sun. 10:00 a.m.
5. Irish Mandolin & Tenor Banjo I Roger Landes Sat. 10:00 a.m.
6. Irish Bouzouki I Roger Landes Sat. 1:30 p.m.
7. Irish Mandolin & Tenor Banjo II Roger Landes Sat. 4:00 p.m.
8. Irish Bouzouki II Roger Landes Sun. 10:00 a.m.
9. Irish Flute/Whistle I Elliot Grasso Sat. 10:00 a.m.
10. Irish Flute/Whistle II Elliot Grasso Sat. 1:30 p.m.
11. Irish Flute/Whistle III Elliot Grasso Sat. 4:00 p.m.
12. Variation in Irish Traditional Music Elliot Grasso Sun. 10:00 a.m.
13. Irish & Scottish Traditional Song Moira Smiley Sat. 10:00 a.m.
14. Anglo-Celtic Song Moira Smiley Sat. 1:30 p.m.
15. Voice Seminar Moira Smiley Sat. 4:00 p.m.
16. Bodhran I Dain Forsythe Sat. 10:00 a.m.
17. Bodhran II Dain Forsythe Sun. 10:00 a.m.

Class Descriptions (NOTE: all classes run from Saturday, June 13 through Sunday morning, June 14!)

1. Irish Fiddle I: Introduction – Saturday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m.
Randal Bays
This Class is intended for players with experience on the instrument but not much experience in Irish traditional music. The focus is on bowing, rhythm and ornamentation, but also covers more general subjects like repertoire building, how to take part in a session, etc. Tunes will be taught by ear and music will be handed out for reference. Feel free to email Randal with any questions about the classes: randalbays@whidbey.com. [return to list]

2. Irish Fiddle II: Intermediate – Saturday, June 13th, 1:30 p.m.
Randal Bays
For players who’ve been playing Irish fiddle for a while and who want to take their music to a higher level of expression and musicality. It’s a “nuts and bolts” workshop, dealing with the mechanics of bowing, ornamentation, left-hand technique, and especially rhythm. I’ll teach one or two tunes by ear and then use those as vehicles for demonstration. The main thrust of the workshop is learning to control the bow and use it to create the sounds that you want your listeners to hear. I’ll hand out music to the tunes learned in class, and also specific exercises and ideas for further exploration. Feel free to email Randal with any questions about the classes: randalbays@whidbey.com. [return to list]

3. Irish Guitar Accompaniment: DADGAD – Saturday, June 13th, 4:00 p.m.
Randal Bays
As the title states, this class will be limited to the accompaniment of Irish dance tunes in DADGAD tuning, using a flat pick. Participants should be familiar with at least the basic chords in DADGAD, and be comfortable using a flat pick. The main focus will be on understanding the rhythmic and harmonic nuances of Irish music and examining ways to provide support for the melody. There will be some handouts with chord charts for individual exploration and a brief overview of basic music theory and chord relationships. [return to list]

4. Irish Fiddle III: Advanced – Sunday, June 14th, 10:00 a.m.
Randal Bays
A continuation of Irish Fiddle II above. [return to list]

5. Irish Mandolin & Tenor Banjo I – Saturday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m.
7. Irish Mandolin & Tenor Banjo II – Saturday, June 13th, 4:00 p.m.
Roger Landes
Since many of the techniques for the mandolin and tenor banjo are similar we’ll cover both of these instruments. Feel free to bring either a Mandolin or a Tenor Banjo or both. Tenor guitars and Octave Mandolins in GDAE tuning are also welcome. These two workshops will be based on technique and rhythm. Learn how to make your playing sound more “Irish”; to play relaxed; how to play triplets, etc. And we’ll learn some tunes, too. Bring an audio (but not video) recorder. [return to list]

6. Irish Bouzouki I: Back-up – Saturday, June 13th, 1:30 p.m.
8. Irish Bouzouki II: Advanced Back-up – Sunday, June 14th, 10:00 a.m.
Roger Landes
The first of these two workshops will focus on the fundamentals of accompanying Irish tunes on the bouzouki tuned GDAD, giving an introduction to playing chordal and counterpoint styles. Bring an audio (but not video) recorder. Handouts will be provided.

“Irish Bouzouki II” will continue from where “Irish Bouzouki I” leaves off, covering more advanced rhythmic techniques and harmonic concepts. Students should expect to be happily challenged whatever their level of playing. Bring an audio (but not video) recorder. Handouts will be provided. [return to list]

9. Irish Flute/Whistle I – Saturday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m.
10. Irish Flute/Whistle II – Saturday, June 13th, 1:30 p.m.
11. Irish Flute/Whistle III – Saturday, June 13th, 4:00 p.m.
Elliot Grasso
This course will offer ornamentation and repertoire generally associated with Irish traditional flute and whistle. Repertoire will be used as a point of departure to introduce new techniques and improve upon such that are already familiar. Other points of focus will include breathing and tone production in an effort to explore the sound-producing potential of your specific instrument. To get the most from this course, please bring a recording device, blank music manuscript paper, and a pencil. [return to list]

12. Variation in Irish Traditional Music – Sunday, June 14th, 10:00 a.m.
Elliot Grasso
In its most advanced form Irish Traditional music manifests slight alterations to a basic and understood foundational tune in order to enhance the performing and listening experience for both the musician and the audience. For many masters of Irish style, these types of variations are natural and assimilated to the level of speech, however there are varying types and degrees of potential variation in a given tune that often go unexplained or unnoticed. This course will deconstruct and explain in simple terms the process for practical application of assorted types of variations in Irish Traditional music. The ability to read music and knowledge of basic musical theory is not required to appreciate the complete offering presented in this course, but any prior knowledge will expedite the process. To get the most from this course, please bring a recording device, blank music manuscript paper, and a pencil. [return to list]

13. Irish & Scottish Traditional Song – Saturday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m.
Moira Smiley
Irish Sean Nós; Scottish and English Child Ballads and Airs; Appalachian songs. We’ll learn some of each and really dig into the differences in timbre and performance style. We’ll focus on both solo and harmony singing (include Shape-Note Hymns). We’ll go deep into what it takes to deliver an unaccompanied song, a song in a less familiar language to you, a song with extended ornaments and range. Through coaching, Moira will work on the clarity and emotive power of your ornaments, your breath and your diction (vowels, consonants, rhythm). Also discussed will be the specific styles of the different periods and geographic and social origins of each song we do. [return to list]

14. Anglo-Celtic Song: Solo & Harmony Singing – Saturday, June 13th, 1:30 p.m.
Moira Smiley
Moira will bring a variety of songs that relate to the Irish/Scots tradition and its evolution and diaspora. Through gentle and knowledgeable coaching, Moira will teach the elements of communicating through traditional songs. We’ll discuss style, history, language alongside helpful singing techniques and ideas for creating performance contexts that suit you and the songs. Be prepared to learn some new songs (or parts of them), and bring a song to work on. [return to list]

15. Voice Seminar – Saturday, June 13th, 4:00 p.m.
Moira Smiley
With vocal techniques to warm and expand you as a soloist and a collaborative singer, the Voice Seminar will give you a Toolkit to Make Your Singing Extraordinary. Gentle and challenging exercises to widen vocal timbre (color) palette, understanding of breath, vowels, diction, whole body training towards your best singing. Group exercises, physical play, improvisation and harmony singing will be our primary mediums, but be prepared to bring your vocal questions, puzzles and songs of your own. [return to list]

16. Bodhran I – Saturday, June 13th, 10:00 a.m.
Dain Forsythe
Basic, intermediate, and advanced techniques for the Irish frame drum; accompanying reels, jigs, polkas, hornpipes, slides and slip jigs. We will address all skill levels. (Apple Mountain Music will provide a limited number of drums for those without, but one can get pretty darn far with just a pizza box!) [return to list]

17. Bodhran II – Sunday, June 14th, 10:00 a.m.
Dain Forsythe
Triplets, syncopation, and playing in the traditional Irish session – cultural context and “close listening” skills. [return to list]