Nov
1
Fri
JSArts Fiddle Technique
1st – 3rd November 2024
Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX
3.00 pm start and finish time.
£398 fully inclusive (except bar drinks)
Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in the Lake District for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. The workshop will take a maxiumum of around 14 participants and will run from 4 pm on Friday until 4 pm on Sunday afternoon.This course can accommodate a broad range of experience and ability, ranging from competent beginner to upper intermediate, but is not suitable for absolute or early beginners. All tuition, resources, accommodation, food and daytime refreshments are included. Accommodation is in single occupancy rooms, almost all of which is en suite. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, detailed worksheets are provided, and recordings of exercises from the course are sent on to you afterwards.
These courses are centred around the technical issues that come with playing fiddle music, with as much emphasis on the how, as there is on the what. Focusing on left-hand and bowing technique, with stylistic interpretation of the music a key feature, these workshops delve deep into the tunes, extracting exercises to improve technique and allow its application to a wider repertoire. Tunes are carefully selected for their technical or stylistic content whilst also baring in mind practical considerations such as their usefulness in folk music sessions or as dance repertoire. The tunes are taught ‘as if by ear’, meaning they are taught phrase by phrase at a tempo and with sufficient repetition to enable learning without recourse to reading notation, but with notation available at any point should that be desired or necessary. This encourages the development of aural pattern recognition and general musicality, enhancing musicianship and the enjoyment of playing music in social settings.
For information this or future courses, please email Ali (music@stewarthardy.co.uk)
**Covid-19 Update
This course will be run in accordance to our Covid-secure Music Workshop Guidelines, and is subject to any restrictions applicable at the time, and any coronavirus protocols from the venue. Please do not travel to the venue if you feel unwell or have cold-like symptoms.
~ ~ ~
Standard Level courses are aimed at fiddle players with a broad range of experience and ability, from competent beginner to upper intermediate, but please note they are not suitable for absolute or early beginners. We would expect players to have most of the following skills:
- – playing simple dance tunes at steady to mid tempo (e.g. reels and jigs at 50-80 beats per minute)
- – able to clap in time to a tune
- – have basic control of the bow on the string
- – able to slur notes together
- – comfortable in the keys of G,D and A major and familiar with their note names
- – familiarity with C major
- – able to play basic scales without notation
- – able to play at least 2 tunes without notation
In addition fiddlers who attend these courses often have some of the following experience:
- – attend other fiddle workshops
- – play with a community folk music group
- – join in folk music sessions
- – receive tuition on the fiddle/violin
Nov
10
Sun
Nov 10 @ 7:30 pm
George and I will be heading to South Shields Folk Club for another relaxed Sunday evening on 10th November. Join us for some more of George’s moving songs and hilarious stories and, as always, I’ll be doing my best to keep up!
Doors 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start.
Once you have heard George perform his songs, accompanied by his guitar playing with Stewart’s fiddle, there is no doubt that the success of this highly entertaining duo is built on solid musical foundations
Nov
23
Sat
Tyneside Fiddle Alliance and Phoenix Chamber Folk Ensemble present Music in our Roots
A celebration of new and old folk melodies from the North East and beyond, by two of the region’s leading community folk ensembles.
Saturday 23rd November 2024, 7.00 pm (doors 6.30 pm)
St George’s Church, St George’s Close, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2TF.
Tickets are £7 each (all seats)
https://phoenixfolk.co.uk/events/musicinourroots/
Refreshments available
Dec
6
Fri
December Workshops 2024
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 if you play a transposing instrument, please get in touch before booking.
Zoom Workshop
Friday 6th December, 19:00 – 21:00
£20
December Workshops 2024: £20 each.
Buy any two for £35 or all three for £50. The discount will be applied in your basket – visit the Shop.
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.
Dec
7
Sat
December Workshops 2024
Fiddle Workshop 1
Zoom Workshop
The Shepherd and Shepherdess
A joyful and very popular English Country Dance tune.
Learn a tune steadily, taught phrase by phrase with detailed instruction for any useful techniques that can be taken away for use in all your fiddle playing.
Saturday 7th December: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Aimed at Competent Beginner to Upper Intermediate level
£20
December Workshops 2024: £20 each.
Buy any two for £35 or all three for £50. The discount will be applied in your basket – visit the Shop.
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.
December Workshops 2024
Fiddle Workshop 2
Zoom Workshop
The Prussian Dance
A belting jig, with a version that Stewart has from his pal and colleague, Sophy Ball.
Learn a tune steadily, taught phrase by phrase with detailed instruction for any useful techniques that can be taken away for use in all your fiddle playing.
Saturday 7th December: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Aimed at Intermediate to Advanced players
£20
December Workshops 2024: £20 each.
Buy any two for £35 or all three for £50. The discount will be applied in your basket – visit the Shop.
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.
Feb
9
Sun
It was lovely to be asked again by Maurice and Marina of Phoenix Folk to join them for one of their “An Evening With…” sessions. Once again, I’ll be playing a short solo set and then the three of us will play a selection from the extensive Phoenix Online Session tunebook together for viewers to either join in with, or sit back and enjoy. Pay as you feel using the Phoenix Folk tip jar.
An Evening With… Stewart Hardy – Sun 9th Feb, 7.00 – 8.30 pm on Zoom.
Mar
21
Fri
JSArts Fiddle Technique
21st – 23rd March 2025
Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX
3.00 pm start and finish time.
£402 fully inclusive (except bar drinks)
Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in the Lake District for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. The workshop will take a maxiumum of around 14 participants and will run from 3 pm on Friday until 3 pm on Sunday afternoon.This course can accommodate a broad range of experience and ability, ranging from competent beginner to upper intermediate, but is not suitable for absolute or early beginners. All tuition, resources, accommodation, food and daytime refreshments are included. Accommodation is in single occupancy rooms, almost all of which are en suite. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, detailed worksheets are provided, and recordings of exercises from the course are sent on to you afterwards.
These courses are centred around the technical issues that come with playing fiddle music, with as much emphasis on the how, as there is on the what. Focusing on left-hand and bowing technique, with stylistic interpretation of the music a key feature, these workshops delve deep into the tunes, extracting exercises to improve technique and allow its application to a wider repertoire. Tunes are carefully selected for their technical or stylistic content whilst also baring in mind practical considerations such as their usefulness in folk music sessions or as dance repertoire. The tunes are taught ‘as if by ear’, meaning they are taught phrase by phrase at a tempo and with sufficient repetition to enable learning without recourse to reading notation, but with notation available at any point should that be desired or necessary. This encourages the development of aural pattern recognition and general musicality, enhancing musicianship and the enjoyment of playing music in social settings.
For information and a booking form for this course, please email Ali (music@stewarthardy.co.uk)
**Covid-19 Update
This course will be run in accordance to our Covid-secure Music Workshop Guidelines, and is subject to any restrictions applicable at the time, and any coronavirus protocols from the venue. Please do not travel to the venue if you feel unwell or have cold-like symptoms.
~ ~ ~
Standard Level courses are aimed at fiddle players with a broad range of experience and ability, from competent beginner to upper intermediate, but please note they are not suitable for absolute or early beginners. We would expect players to have most of the following skills:
- – playing simple dance tunes at steady to mid tempo (e.g. reels and jigs at 50-80 beats per minute)
- – able to clap in time to a tune
- – have basic control of the bow on the string
- – able to slur notes together
- – comfortable in the keys of G,D and A major and familiar with their note names
- – familiarity with C major
- – able to play basic scales without notation
- – able to play at least 2 tunes without notation
In addition fiddlers who attend these courses often have some of the following experience:
- – attend other fiddle workshops
- – play with a community folk music group
- – join in folk music sessions
- – receive tuition on the fiddle/violin
Recordings
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We start back on Zoom this evening for Block 1 of 2025 at North East Fiddle School. It's not too late to join us! Head to the NEFS website shop to purchase your place, or send a message for more information!🎻
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🎧 The Tune VaultHaving recently deposited The Locomotive into The Tune Vault, it seems only logical to follow it with the cheerful and driving reel that Frank McLaughlin and I invariably play after it in our live set - James Hill’s 'James Brown' (available on my website as a free resource to download, including audio files and a worksheet with suggestions for bowing and ornamentation).
🎼 James Brown (James Hill)
James Brown (James Hill) | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
James Brown (James Hill)- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyA fabulously cheerful and driving reel by James Hill, possibly named for the same Tyneside publican...
🎶 Tonight!It's not to late to sign up on the website. Links to notation and the Zoom call will be sent by email, so you can join us online this evening. Lots of fabulous tunes, with harmony and chord suggestions if you want to try them! 😊
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.