*Cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic* Celtic Music Intensive (Hendersonville)

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Music Academy of Western North Carolina, 1411 Asheville Highway, Suite B, Hendersonville, NC

A day-long workshop in Scottish and Irish music with master fiddler Jamie Laval.

10:00 – 12:00 Technique Building Through Celtic Tunes For fiddlers and other melody players (whistle, cello, mandolin). All abilities welcome (a modicum of basic skills is suggested). Jamie will start by teaching two or th¬¬¬ree Irish and Scottish tunes with tips on how to learn new tunes quickly and how to increase tempo and fluency. Then, using these tunes as a platform, Jamie will go on to explore bowing patterns that produce a compelling Celtic groove, how to develop good intonation (pitch) and beautiful tone, and analyze the mechanics of pain-free, ergonomic positions. Class will be taught by ear, with sheet music given out after class. Recording devices welcome.

12:00 – 12:45 Lunch (bring your own brown bag)

1:00 – 3:00 Celtic Tunes and Style For fiddlers and other melody players (i.e.: whistle, cello, mandolin). All abilities welcome (modicum of basic skills is suggested). Several Scottish and Irish tunes (jig, hornpipe, reel, strathspey) will be taught by ear. Rather than aiming for exact, note-for-note perfection (which can be practiced at home), the emphasis will instead be placed on understanding the proper, authentic Celtic style. This includes rhythmic emphasis, Scottish and Irish ornamentation, phrasing, and choosing the appropriate tempo. Other considerations such as the construction of imaginative tune sets, improvising an accompaniment, and how to convey the emotional character of a melody will be discussed. Class will be taught by ear, with sheet music given out after class. Recording devices welcome.

3:00 – 3:30 Jam Session – Everyone Welcome

3:45 – 5:45 Celtic Backup For Guitar and Cello (mandolin, bouzouki, harp, and piano also welcome) Celtic tunes can thrive or die by what the backup player is doing. Authentic Celtic backup players are rare in the southeast and are in constant demand. This class will unlock the mystique behind the strum patterns, rhythmic emphasis, and choosing appropriate chords (which are very different than in other forms of roots music). Jamie will demonstrate each idea on guitar, then switch to fiddle to play the tunes multiple times through as students practice backing him up. The preferred guitar tuning for Scottish and Irish music is DADGAD. Jamie invites all guitarists to give DADGAD a try and will teach a few universal chord shapes that are easy to learn and sound beautiful. Please bring a .6 mm (flexible) pick and a capo. Chord charts will be handed out at the end of class. Recording devices welcome.

$40 one class, $70 two classes, $95 all three classes