Traditional Music for Piano Accordion
David Oliver
Northumbrian Gems
Ranting and Reeling
Sam Pirt
The Forro Party
The Scandinavian Musical Adventure
Dave Townsend
How's It Work?
Morris, Clogs and Swords
Karen Tweed
Introducing Tango
The Music of Astor Piazolla
Ability Levels Terms & Conditions Booking Form
DAVID OLIVER One of Northumberland’s most active ceilidh band accordionists and the guiding hand behind many a great session, David is a highly experienced, lively and effective workshop leader. He was Folkworks Education Director 1993-2007, and lectures on folk music education at the Universities of Durham and Newcastle. A recent participant commented: ‘David is always brilliant. I wish every session musician and ceilidh band musician of my acquaintance could be forced, through some kind of Folk National Service, to go to a weekend of his classes.’
SAM PIRT plays the piano accordion, comes from Goole in Yorkshire, and smiles a lot. Sam’s early bands included Soup Dragon and The Barleycorn Band, followed by 422 (which won the 1999 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and released three albums) and the duo AAAAG. Sam was a member of the first English group to go to the Ethno Folk Camp in 1996, where he developed a huge interest in music from all around the world. He was subsequently Artistic Leader at Ethno for three years, and in 2004 Sam founded his own version of Ethno in England, which now runs in Yorkshire every July.
DAVE TOWNSEND is a full-time musician and singer, playing concertina, fiddle and accordion as a soloist and with various groups including The Mellstock Band. His driving accordion playing has fuelled many bands, including the legendary folk-rock outfit Jumpleads. His formidable technique and unique style on English Concertina are only one part of a wide range of activities, including music for television, film and theatre, as well as recording, composition and research. He is the director of Hands On Music Weekends.
KAREN TWEED is known for being mercurial, bonkers and elegant in accordion terms; eccentric, fast talking and impatient in social terms - and fairly unclassifiable in musical terms. Her past, present and future collaborations include The Poozies, SWAP, Ian Carr, Chris Wood, Andy Cutting, Kathryn Tickell, Timo Alakotila, Clive Gregson and Sarah Allen, with a string of acclaimed recordings. She contiues to develop her skills as a composer, teaches privately, runs workshops and is a regular tutor at Limerick University, Newcastle University and the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki.
Ability Levels Terms & Conditions Booking Form
SATURDAY COURSE UNITS:
A1 - David Oliver - Northumbrian Gems
Some slightly less familiar, slightly more challenging tunes from the Northumbrian repertoire, including tunes with harmony parts and exciting variations.
(Level - I/H)
A2 - Sam Pirt - The Forro Party
I am going to look at Forro music from North Eastern Brazil and Colombia - music which involves cool bass lines, syncopations and fun. This is dance music that makes you DANCE!!
(Level - I/H)
A3 - Dave Townsend - How’s It Work?
Those chords on the bass end: Are you flummoxed if the music hasn’t got chords marked in? Do you just go for the one in the middle, guess and hope? Dave presents the copmplete How and Why of harmony for folk accordionists, from the simple three-chord trick to minors, substitutions, sevenths, and bass runs. You’ll need at least a 48-bass instrument to make sense of this course.
(Level - strictly B/I)
*A4 - Karen Tweed - Introducing Tango
'Try out your Tangos' - an easy start to passionate playing.....we'll be looking at tangos from around the world - USA, Argentina and Finland primarily. Please bring manuscript paper, plain paper and a recording device.
(Level - B/I) *see note below
* In order to avoid a “log jam” on the units by this popular tutor, so that we can make sure more people get the opportunity to take part in her classes, course members will not be allowed to register for BOTH A4 and B4.
Ability Levels Terms & Conditions Booking Form
B1 - David Oliver - Ranting and Reeling: Great Dance Tunes from Northumberland
Learn to play reels, jigs, hornpipes and rants in true Northumbrian style – and especially how to distinguish a rant from a reel!
(Level - B/I/H)
B2 - Sam Pirt - The Scandinavian Musical Adventure
An introduction to the instrumental tradition of Scandinavia. These tunes are melodically interesting yet full of emotion that echo the lakes and trees and idyllic landscape of the far north of Europe.
(Level - B/I)
B3 - Dave Townsend - Morris, Clogs and Swords:
Playing for Display Dances
Accordionists often find themselves called upon to play for clog, step-dance, morris, sword and other traditional display dances. Dave presents a collection of tips, techniques, knowledge and some really good tunes, all gathered from more than thirty years of playing accordion for teams and dancers of all kinds.
(Level - I/H)
*B4 - Karen Tweed - The Music of Astor Piazolla
A peek into the Bandoneon master's portfolio.... not for the faint-hearted.....from Libertango to Piazolla's orchestral masterpieces - both solo arrangements and Karen’s multi-accordion arrangements. Please bring manuscript paper, plain paper and a recording device.
(Level - I/H) *see note below
* In order to avoid a “log jam” on the units by this popular tutor, so that we can make sure more people get the opportunity to take part in her classes, course members will not be allowed to register for BOTH A4 and B4.