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Fine Tuning Your Session Engine | Irish Flute | Tin Whistle
Traditional Songs for American Singers | Music Theory | Guitar | Bouzouki | Bodhran
Learning by Ear | "Oil for the Chain"
Fine-tuning Your Session Engine
with
Shannon Heaton: a style, etiquette, and rhythm check in for all
traditional-style instruments
This
workshop is for players both new to traditional music and for
more seasoned players and teachers who wish to develop stronger
Irish session skills. Flutes, fiddles, whistles, banjos, pipes,
accordions all welcome; harps, guitars, keyboards welcome, though
we will work strictly on melodic playing.
By
singing and playing instruments, we will work on
1. how to hold your own by yourself and with a group (hearing
yourself and hearing others)
2. how to prepare a few sets of tunes that you can really start
in a session
3. how to contribute musically and socially to a session
4. avoiding common psychological pitfalls of playing in public
settings.
Irish Flute Workshop
This
workshop is for flute players with wood or metal flutes who are
interested in playing Irish music. Those less experienced with
Irish music are welcome, but emphasis will be on traditional style
and learning by ear. All participants should be able to play D
and G Major scales with a steady tone.
Emphasis
will be on cultivating a strong, rhythmic approach to the Irish
flute. We will work to develop stronger ear skills (with emphasis
on singing as a way of expanding ear and repertoire) and will
exploring common psychological pitfalls of learning and playing
in public sessions.
Tin Whistle Workshop
Like
flute workshop, music will be taught by ear. We will cover rhythm,
ornamentation, and social aspects of participating in sessions.
Traditional Songs for American singers
This
workshop will explore the exciting world of possibilities for
American singers who want to sing traditional songs in an “Irish
style”, while still approaching the music with American
diction.
Topics
will include a survey of song sources; techniques for adapting
Irish, Scottish, and English vocabulary; and accessing emotional
connections inherent in traditional songs. Participants will leave
with techniques to aid in accessing traditional music deeply and
honestly, from within authentic personal and cultural experiences.
Be ready to sing in your own voice!
Music Theory for Irish Backers
This
workshop will explore music theory as it applies to backing Irish
traditional music. We'll cover building chords, choosing chords
and bass lines in a given tun. We will also touch on the elusive
topic of modal theory. Open to all chordal instruments (guitar,
bouzouki, harp, etc) in all tunings.
Guitar Accompaniment Workshop
This
workshop focuses on backing Irish traditional tunes, with special
emphasis on learning to tap into the rhythm of a tune (instead
of using a "default" rhythm from another type of music).
We will work on when to change chords and how to do it pleasingly.
And we will explore resonant chord voicings, focusing on the desired
sound from the guitar regardless of tuning (DADGAD, standard,
and dropped D). Participants should already be able play with
a steady rhythm, and change chords without interruption
Bouzouki Accompaniment
Like
the guitar workshop, emphasis will be on backing Irish tunes in
a traditional style. We will survey accompaniment approaches and
discuss the brief history of the bouzouki in Irish music. The
class will be taught in GDAD.
Bodhran Workshop
We
will discuss how to approach the instrument from the standpoint
of accompanying traditional dance tunes. Emphasis will be on tone,
technique and etiquette. We will strive to “play the tune”
rather than just “playing along.”
How to Learn by Ear
This
workshop is for players both new to traditional music and for
more seasoned players and teachers who wish to develop stronger
ear skills.
For
musicians of all levels who wish to work on playing Irish music
by ear (without using sheet music). By singing and playing instruments,
we will work on learning tunes aurally, with special emphasis
on Irish traditional music. Flutes, fiddles, whistles, banjos,
pipes, accordions all welcome; harps, guitars, keyboards welcome,
though we will work strictly on melodic playing. We will approach
efficient ways to learn tunes at home with recordings and to learn
tunes in session. Additionally, we will explore a few of the common
psychological pitfalls of learning in public settings.
Oil for
the Chain buy
Just
as bicycle chains need oil to function, Irish musicians need tunes
to play. Oil for the Chain is Shannon’s collection of common
Irish tunes to get you geared up for session playing and newly-composed
tunes to inspire off-road recreation.
The
guiding philosophy behind this book is simple:
It
doesn’t matter what tunes you play, it’s how you play
them.
With
this in mind, Oil for the Chain features tunes, and ideas for
how to play them well. It’s a book to help people become
stronger players—part tunebook, part all-around-music-development-book.
It’s for anyone who wants to play well. Though Shannon is
a flute player (and offers a few flute tips), it is not a flute
book.
No
matter what the tunes are, from the standard reel “Maid
Behind the Bar” to the brand new jig “Feast for a
King,” all tunes are most satisfying when played with care,
style, and integrity. Shannon put together Oil for the Chain to
provide fodder and encouragement to become increasingly comfortable
and confident in both group and solo music ventures.
Excerpt, pg. 6
Excerpt, pg. 24 |