Ability Levels Terms & Conditions Booking Form
CLAUDINE ARCAND is one of Québec’s leading fiddle players. Her unique and dynamic style is matched with her enthusiasm and passion for traditional Québécoise music. She is much in demand at workshops and festivals in Canada and North America. Claudine has represented Québec with various bands and ensembles, touring Europe, as well as North and South America. She is a member La Côte Sud and plays with the superb contra-dance band Tidal Wave.
MAIRI CAMPBELL was born in Edinburgh and after studying at the Guildhall School of Music in London her interest in Celtic music brought her back to Scotland. She and Dave Francis are The Cast, performing her own songs and traditional material. Both are members of Bella McNabb’s Dance Band. She has played viola with the innovative Kreisler String Orchestra in London and has spent time in Cape Breton studying the music and dance of the island.
PETE COOPER Born in the Midlands, long resident in London, Pete plays, teaches, composes, records and writes about fiddle music. He is best known for his tutorial book/CD The Complete Irish Fiddle Player (1995), published by Mel Bay, and his recent collections for Schott: Irish Fiddle Solos (2004), English Fiddle Tunes (2006), Eastern European Fiddle Tunes (2007) and American Old Time Fiddle Tunes (2009). Performing with Rattle on the Stovepipe, Cooper & Bolton, and solo, Pete brings a relaxed, good-humoured approach to his workshops and concerts alike.
JOHN DIPPER is a respected and established performer, teacher and composer. His unique playing style and his traditionally-spirited compositions convey a deep understanding and passion for the indigenous culture of England. With his musical knowledge and approach, John is able to offer a unique insight into the world of music. A founder member of the English Acoustic Collective with Chris Wood and Robert Harbron, John also performs with Methera Quartet and La Côte Sud.
DAVE FRANCIS learned his music playing for dancing in the village halls of North East Scotland. After performing widely in the USA, he relocated to Edinburgh. In 1996 he became Director of the Edinburgh Folk Festival and in 1997 was appointed by the Scottish Arts Council as Traditional Music Coordinator. As well as performing, he co-ordinates various projects including Distil, an initiative to encourage creative work and new composition in the field of traditional music.
CHRIS HAIGH is an experienced and highly versatile player who has worked with artists as diverse as Alison Moyet, All about Eve, Riverdance and Zumzeaux. He has played on over 70 albums and leads his own bands Tziganarama and The Kremlinaires. He has made a life’s work of studying and learning fiddle styles from all round the world. The results can be seen on his website fiddlingaround.co.uk and in his most recent publication The Fiddle Handbook.
GILL REDMOND’s roots are in classical music, and since music college she has developed her individual style of playing cello for traditional music, with an amazing versatility and inventiveness. She has performed with classical ensembles, dance bands and theatre, given workshops for Folk South West, Folkworks, and at numerous festivals, and guested on albums with The Mellstock Band and other artists. She currently plays with Dave Townsend, Sarah Matthews, Swedish band Orust, and The Mantovani Orchestra!
Ability Levels Terms & Conditions Booking Form
SATURDAY COURSE UNITS:
A1 - Claudine Arcand & John Dipper - Simple Tunes - Great Music!
Ensemble playing and communication within a group are essential for beautiful music to be made. This workshop will focus on how to work within an ensemble and how to communicate effectively, developing arrangements and harmonies, creating a multi-layered, textured and beautiful sound. For violin, viola, cello and double bass.
[Level - B/I/H]
A2 - Mairi Campbell - Introduction to Scots Fiddle
Introducing the style and repertoire of Scottish dance music.
[Level - B/I]
A3 - Pete Cooper - Irish Tradition: the Fireside Fiddle Music of Lucy Farr
Pete teaches a mighty selection of jigs, polkas, hornpipes and reels, particularly those associated with Co. Galway fiddler Lucy Farr (1912-2002). Lucy modestly described herself as a ‘fireside fiddler’, but her down-home music has influenced such great present-day performers as Nollaig Casey and Martin Hayes.
[Level - I/H]
A4 - Dave Francis - Guitar for Accompaniment and Tunes
Beyond the session thrash! How to support a tune for as many times as it needs to be played, varying the accompaniment all the way. We’ll also learn to play some tunes as well.
[Level - B/I/H]
A5 - Chris Haigh - East European Band
A whirlwind tour round eastern Europe looking at the exotic scales, bewildering rhythms and fascinating melodies of the former Eastern Bloc. Suitable for violin, viola, cello and double bass.
[Level - I/H]
A6 - Gill Redmond - Cellos Pointing South
A cello workshop inspired by music mostly from the South of England, featuring Dorset and Hampshire tunes. Come and learn tunes (some by ear) and discover how to make up bass lines and play in harmony, with some energetic rhythms thrown in.
[Level - B/I/H]
Ability Levels Terms & Conditions Booking Form
SUNDAY COURSE UNITS:
B1 - Claudine Arcand - Québécoise Fiddle - Great Grooves and Magical Music!
Taking inspiration from the wonderful and varied tradition of Québécoise dance music, this workshop will focus on bow technique, ornamentation and putting drive, groove and passion into your playing.
[Level - I/H]
B2 - Mairi Campbell & Dave Francis - Scottish Dance Band
How to create the unique sound of a contemporary Scottish dance band. This is the Sunday Band and is suitable for fiddles, guitars and other instruments.
[Level - B/I/H]
B3 - Pete Cooper - American Old Time Fiddle Music: Better than it Sounds
The fiddle music of the Appalachian Mountains is as far removed from classical violin playing as it’s possible to get without falling off the edge of the known universe. Pete introduces some superb (and easy) tunes, exploring characteristic bow-licks, open-string drones and other aspects of style.
[Level - B/I]
B4 - John Dipper - English Fiddle - Rough Diamonds and How to Polish Them!
John will take several gems from the English Tradition as well as some newly composed melodies and will look at how to develop these tunes, so you can work your own magic on them, and tell your story with the music. This workshop will also focus on technique, ornamentation and tone production.
[Level - B/I]
B5 - Chris Haigh - Gypsy Jazz
The fiddle style of Stephane Grappelli and today’s gypsy jazz fiddlers. How to make a tune swing, work your way through a chord sequence, and how to construct a simple solo.
[Level - I/H]
B6 - Gill Redmond & Dave Townsend - Village Pub to West Gallery
The varied repertoire of English west gallery bands that played for dances, carols, village feasts and pub sing-songs - encompassing dance tunes, marches, carols, songs and instrumental pieces, all in part-settings, so bring along fiddles, violas, cellos, basses, and anything else you can play!
[Level - B/I]