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2027 Workshops

More class ANNOUNCEMENTS will be coming soon!

This year, the Gulf Coast Cruinniú is offering ? workshops, ? instrumental plus Song.  Each workshop will consist of 9 progressive class periods with one instructor, 3 each day. Please note that you may select only one workshop when you sign up.

The instructors for these workshops are well-versed as traditional Irish arts performers and instructors.  Students must provide their own instruments. Many students also bring a recording device to document the lessons. Learn more about the workshops and instructors below.

Intermediate/advanced classes are taught at level 3 & 4. The fundamentals classes are targeted to levels 1 and 2. Harp and song are all levels.

  • 1 – Beginner – know basics of instrument (how to make a sound and where the notes are), can play a tune, may only have been playing for short time. Exception – bodhran or whistle (previous knowledge of another wind instrument is helpful) can be total beginner.
  • 2 – Early Intermediate – playing for a while, still working on basic/early techniques and increasing repertoire, or new to Irish music. May not yet be totally comfortable playing at session speed.
  • 3- Late Intermediate – familiar and comfortable with basic techniques, starting to apply more advanced techniques, can play a number of tunes at session speed.
  • 4 – Advanced – Playing for some time, has a good repertoire. Ready to explore the advanced nuances of the instrument and Irish music

Fiddle (Int/Adv)

Through the learning of a couple of tunes, Liz will address a number of ways of looking at playing, practicing and enjoying Irish music on the fiddle. These will include ways to explore and expand your tone as well as an exposure and/or understanding of the tone of some well-known (or maybe not well-known!) players, practice methods for increasing speed, an overall sense of pulse and rhythm, style and developing your own voice in the tunes while staying ‘close to the well’ of the tradition, deeper aspects of style like gesture, flow, musicality, as well as looking at various approaches to developing and enjoying improvisation. Please bring a recorder and your questions!
Read about our fiddle instructor: 

Flute (Int/Adv)

This intermediate/advanced class will cover more complex skills in flute playing including advice on rhythm, use of the breath, and ornamentation. The instructor will answer questions about the finer points of Irish flute playing and teach tunes from the repertoire of Irish traditional music. Students are expected to know the fundamentals of playing the flute, including posture, hand position, breathing techniques, and basic ornamentation, and should be able to play (at least) a few tunes. Participants should bring an Irish-style (wooden) flute, though advanced silver flute players can also benefit from this class.
Read about our flute instructor:  

Guitar / accompaniment (Int/Adv)

In this class for intermediate to advanced students, players will work on different strumming techniques to a variety of types of tunes (reels, jigs, slip jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slides), add dynamics to their playing through syncopation and emphasis, confident chord substitutions, fingerpicking techniques, tips and tricks for playing in sessions, and how to work out the right chords for tunes. Students should be familiar and comfortable with strumming, have a good working knowledge of Irish music and of music theory.
Read about our guitar instructor:

Harp

This class is for harpers who are comfortable playing at a reasonable tempo and play with correct basic technique. This class will explore how to play Irish tunes. It will look at the phrasing and techniques that make a tune sound Irish. Pieces will be chosen from a selection of Irish traditional dance tunes, airs and harpers’ tunes from the 17th and 18th centuries, tailored to suit intermediate to advanced players.  Elements of Irish style and ideas for accompanying other instruments will also be discussed. We will use listening as a way to get a feel for the Irish sound.  Written music will be provided.
Read about our song instructor: Eileen Gannon

Song

Ballads, patriotic songs, rebel songs, humours songs, songs as Gaelige! There are many different types of Irish folk songs and in this class we will touch on a variety of them. We will also explore some breathing and vocal techniques and ways to give songs that authentic Irish sound!
Read about our song instructor: Eimear Arkins