Dec
9
Fri
My friend, Bryan Jackson and I get together whenever possible to play through his wonderful arrangements of classical and folk music. I got to know Bryan through the Monkseaton Morris Men for whom he played fiddle and danced for many years. We will be providing music for the RNLI weekly coffee morning, in the form of carols arranged by Bryan for two fiddles. All proceeds will go to the RNLI – come along and get into the festive spirit!
Nov
18
Sat
Learn to play some wonderful Northumbrian tunes from a Master of the tradition. These two workshops celebrate the rich and glorious musical heritage of the North East of England. Saturday is for fiddle players only, Sunday is open to players of any instruments. Plus ‘An Evening with Stewart Hardy’ at the Swan Inn, Aston Munslow.
Saturday: “The Flesh and Bones of Fiddle Tunes”
Level : intermediate & advanced
Taking some great fiddle tunes as examples, Stewart will introduce you to the secrets of the distinctive Northumbrian fiddle style. Stewart is known for his attention to detail, covering bowing, ornaments and how to discover the rhythmic personality of each tune.
Sunday: “Make a Joyful Noise” – all instruments welcome
Expect a day of uplifting music, fun and a few challenges along the way. Stewart is an expert arranger of music for mixed instrument groups. Whether you play melody, chords or bass lines there will be a place for everyone in this day of ensemble playing.
‘An Evening with Stewart Hardy’ (Saturday)
The Swan Inn, Aston Munslow SY7 9ER
Short concert followed by a tunes session .
Workshop fees (including lunch& hot drinks):
EarlyBird: £53 per dayor £105 both days.
After May 1st: £58 per day or £110 for both days
Evening event: £10 including curry. Must be pre-booked, priority to course participants.
Overnight accommodation & campervan parking available – please ask for details.
How to book: e mail Kitty: folkfiddleteacher@gmail.co
Jul
22
Fri
July Workshops 2022
Play-along Session in Harmony for Mixed Instruments
This will be a Zoom call open to intermediate players (and above) of any instrument. Notation will be provided in advance for all the tunes, together with suggestions for basic chords and a harmony line, but feel free to join in by ear! You can play the tune along with Stewart, play an accompaniment with a bass line, chords or a harmony (your own or follow the suggestions) or enjoy playing the tune whilst Stewart plays a harmony. If you wish to join in on an instrument with a different range from the fiddle, or with specfic key requirements, please get in touch before booking.
Zoom Workshop
Friday 22nd July, 19:00 – 21:00
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
For more information, please visit the July Workshops 2022 information page.
If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended. A recording of the live call will be available for those who experience technical difficulties, or who find themselves unable to attend the live Zoom call.
Jul
23
Sat
July Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 1
Zoom Workshop
Saturday 23rd July: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Competent Beginner to Upper Intermediate level
Joy Together (S. Hardy)
– a lyrical triple time tune written for Stewart’s wife, Tine, which Frank McLaughlin and Stewart recorded on the CDs Root 2 and Compass.
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
For more information, please visit the July Workshops 2022 information page.
If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.
July Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2
Zoom Workshop
Saturday 23rd July: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level
Wedding Bells (S. Hardy)
– a reel written in 2001 in anticipation of the big day. This tune was recorded by Alistair Anderson and Northlands on their eponymous CD.
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
For more information, please visit the July Workshops 2022 information page.
If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.
Dec
2
Fri
NEFS Residential Weekend
Fri 2nd – Sun 4th December 2022
Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre
For full details, see the NEFS Residential Weekend web page on the NEFS website.
We will be holding our first in-person NEFS Residential Weekend at the beautiful Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre near Riding Mill on Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th December 2022.
This weekend will include our usual Saturday Workshop for the block, which will be on Saturday 3rd December 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. There will be three tune workshops and a session during the day, which will give us a chance to learn new tunes, work on the relevant techniques, and play some of our NEFS tunes together. Tea and coffee is provided, and there is the option to add lunch provided by the venue. Otherwise you are welcome to bring a packed lunch, or to drive down into Riding Mill for something to eat. The lunch break will be 1 hour long.
In addition, we will begin the weekend on Friday evening with dinner and an informal session, and there will be an option to book Bed & Breakfast, so you can stay over, ready for the workshop on Saturday.
After the workshop on Saturday, they is the option to stay for dinner, and to join us for the evening. We are planning a short informal concert to inspire and entertain you, and this will be followed by a session. The bar will be open to purchase drinks and there is again an option of bed and breakfast, so you can relax and enjoy the evening.
On Sunday morning, some short 1-1 sessions with Stewart will be available for those who are interested, and we will recap Saturday’s tunes, or learn a new one, depending on what people would like to do. We will finish the weekend with lunch provided by Shepherds Dene before we head home.
We have come up with some packages to allow you to book the events you wish to attend. These include the following options:
- Saturday Workshop (tea & coffee included, bring a packed lunch, or…)
- add Lunch provided by the venue during the Saturday workshop
- Evening meal and a session (Friday evening, and/or Saturday evening including the concert)
- Bed & Breakfast on Friday and/or Saturday night
- Sunday workshop and lunch
Some or all of these options can be booked as packages, with residential and non-residential options available. For full details, see the NEFS Residential Weekend web page.
Block 6 Online Option is also available to book separately.
Please email or use the contact form for with any queries. To book your place, please place your order in the NEFS Shop.
Dec
1
Fri
NEFS Winter Residential Weekend
Full details from the NEFS website:
http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/classes/nefs-winter-res-2023/
- Saturday 2nd December: Block 6 Saturday workshop, in-person with tuition from Melissa and Stewart
- Extend your visit with Friday evening dinner and a session, dinner on Saturday followed by an informal concert and session, and a workshop with Stewart to finish with coffee on Sunday morning.
- Day guest and residential packages available
Saturday workshop is £50 including lunch and all refreshments, and the full weekend residential (2 nights B&B and all meals & refreshments except bar drinks) is £295.
*Just a couple of places left
Recordings
Facebook Feed
🎶 The Tune VaultWe are coming to the end of another cracking Block of workshops with North East Fiddle School. Many thanks to Grace Smith Music, Chris Meredith and Kevin Lees - Music for their fantastic tuition. Here’s one of the tunes I taught in a video tutorial series, heading for The Tune Vault - a favourite English jig, Flaxley Green Dance.
Flaxley Green Dance
A fabulous English jig - one of two sent by Robert J. Buckley to Cecil Sharp in the summer of 1911. Mr Buckley had collected tunes from a wheelwright in Abbots Bromley, William (or Henry!) Robinson, in the middle of the nineteenth century, including the celebrated Horn Dance.
Flaxley Green Dance | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
Flaxley Green Dance- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyA fabulous English jig - one of two sent by Robert J. Buckley to Cecil Sharp in the summer of 1911. Mr B...
Less than a month to go to our Arrangement Techniques course for mixed instruments, which will be my 100th residential JSArts course!* 🥳There is just one place left if you would like to join us. Get in touch quickly, so we can book you in with the venue - the beautiful Shepherds Dene near Riding Mill in Northumberland.
We will be learning a lovely selection of tunes, and choosing which to work on - exploring options for introductions & endings, varying instrumentation, creating harmony lines and different ways of accompanying the tune to produce alternate soundscapes and narratives. With a limited number of participants, there will be plenty of time to explore ideas from everyone. All instruments are welcome, and if you require notation in different keys or clefs, that can be provided. Dots and audio files are provided in advance, and any recordings from the weekend are sent on afterwards.
*There will be cake! 🎂😊
This content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
Finally, a new tune for The Tune Vault, and to pick up where we left off, here’s another sparkling tune by Tyneside fiddle supremo, James Hill in the key of "F for vescence" 🤣Tykeside (James Hill) | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
Tykeside (James Hill)- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyThis enigmatically titled reel in F major is another gem by Tyneside fiddling legend James Hill. No tr...