May
1
Fri
Cancelled: Advanced Fiddle Technique @ Parcevall Hall
May 1 @ 3:00 pm – May 3 @ 3:00 pm
Cancelled: Advanced Fiddle Technique @ Parcevall Hall | Grantham | United Kingdom

Advanced Fiddle Technique

1st – 3rd May 2020
Parcevall Hall, Appletreewick, Skipton, N. Yorks BD23 6DG
3.00 pm start and finish time.

Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Parcevall Hall in North Yorkshire, for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. The workshop will typically take between 8 and 12 people from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. The residential weekend fee of £335 covers all food, tuition, daytime refreshments and two nights single occupancy accommodation, some of which is en suite (for medical reasons, then first come first served). The non-residential rate is £250 and includes everything except bed & breakfast. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, and recordings of arrangements created during 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.

This Advanced Fiddle Technique course is aimed at proficient players with good to high technical competence, who are comfortable with their instruments and their repertoire and who may have some of the following experience and skills:

  • – Playing folk tunes at dance tempo
  • – Comfortable in key signatures of up to 3 sharps and 1 flat
  • – Familiarity with key signatures of up to 4 sharps and 3 flats
  • – Attending folk music sessions and joining in with the tunes
  • – Leading sets of tunes in sessions
  • – Playing in ceilidh and/or concert bands
  • – Teaching violin and/or fiddle

Places on Advanced Fiddle Technique courses are available on application. For further information or to express your interest in this course, please email Ali (jsarts@stewarthardy.co.uk)

Jun
12
Fri
Cancelled: Repertoire & Music Skills (Mixed Instruments) @ Parcevall Hall
Jun 12 @ 5:00 pm – Jun 14 @ 5:00 pm
Cancelled: Repertoire & Music Skills (Mixed Instruments) @ Parcevall Hall | Grantham | United Kingdom

Repertoire & Music Skills (Mixed Instruments)

12th – 14th June 2020
Parcevall Hall, Appletreewick, Skipton, N. Yorks BD23 6DG
5.00 pm start and finish time.

Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Parcevall Hall in North Yorkshire for a weekend workshop learning new repertoire and improving music skills. Courses are open to players of any instrument (including transposing instruments) and are aimed at a broad range of abilities from intermediate to advanced. This workshop will focus on “How to Learn by Ear” with tips and techniques for improving this invaluable music skill – whether for use in future workshops, learning tunes from recordings or for picking up tunes more easily in your local sessions. Repertoire will be carefully chosen to facilitate the teaching of this skill, whilst adding interesting and exciting tunes to your repertoire.

The workshop will typically take between 8 and 12 people from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. The residential weekend fee of £335 covers all food, tuition, daytime refreshments and two nights single occupancy accommodation, some of which is en suite (for medical reasons, then first come first served). The non-residential rate is £250 and includes everything except bed & breakfast. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, and recordings of arrangements created during the course are sent on to you afterwards.

For further information or to book your place on this course, please email Ali (jsarts@stewarthardy.co.uk)

Jul
10
Fri
Cancelled: Fiddle Foundation Technique @ Parcevall Hall
Jul 10 @ 3:00 pm – Jul 12 @ 3:00 pm
Cancelled: Fiddle Foundation Technique @ Parcevall Hall | Grantham | United Kingdom

Fiddle Foundation Technique

10th – 12th July 2020
Parcevall Hall, Appletreewick, Skipton, N. Yorks BD23 6DG
3.00 pm start and finish time.

Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Parcevall Hall near Skipton, for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. The workshop will typically take between 10 and 15 people from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. The residential weekend fee of £335 covers all food, tuition, daytime refreshments and two nights single occupancy accommodation, some of which is en suite (for medical reasons, then first come first served). The non-residential rate is £250 and includes everything except bed & breakfast. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, and recordings of arrangements created during the course are sent on to you afterwards.

The Fiddle Foundation Technique workshop is a Standard Level course and is being run as an opportunity for musicians unfamiliar with Stewart’s teaching methods to look at, in some detail, the fundamental building blocks that he uses to create stylistic interpretations. He will be teaching some of the basic bowing patterns that help to bring out the distinctive flavour of the most common tune forms. For the left hand, he’ll be concentrating on hand frames and melodic motifs (those note patterns that occur again and again in folk tunes), as well as an approach to ornamentation which is designed to help players access ornaments in a way that is both natural for them and appropriate for the tunes.

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. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, and recordings of exercises from the course are sent on to you afterwards.

For further information or to express your interest in this course, please email Ali (jsarts@stewarthardy.co.uk)

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
Jul
25
Sat
July Fiddle Workshops – Lower Intermediate @ Online - on Zoom
Jul 25 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
July Fiddle Workshops - Lower Intermediate @ Online - on Zoom | Grantham | United Kingdom

July Fiddle Workshops
Lower Intermediate

Learn a tune and all the fiddle techniques behind it to get the style and groove of the music into your playing. This live workshop will be delivered on Zoom, with notation and audio files provided in advance.

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 25th July: 10:00 – 12:00
Lower Intermediates: Little Fishie (from the Northumbrian Minstrelsy)

Little Fishie (Lower Intermediate): a beautiful and lyrical triple hornpipe from one of the great nineteenth century collections of Northumbrian songs and tunes, Northumbrian Minstrelsy. This is an ideal vehicle for exploring triple time grooves – the notes don’t zip by and a dance tempo is achievable for players who struggle with jigs and reels. It is in the key of G major but includes C sharps and F naturals to challenge our fingering technique. The melody points fiddlers towards mastering the technique of ‘broken thirds’ and we will also look at some basic ornamentation.

For full details, please see the July Fiddle Workshops 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 Fiddle Workshops – Upper Intermediate @ Online - on Zoom
Jul 25 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
July Fiddle Workshops - Upper Intermediate @ Online - on Zoom | Grantham | United Kingdom

July Fiddle Workshops
Upper Intermediate

Learn a tune and all the fiddle techniques behind it to get the style and groove of the music into your playing. This live workshop will be delivered on Zoom, with notation and audio files provided in advance.

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 25th July: 14:00 – 16:00
Upper Intermediates: Neil Taylor’s Jig (a superb Northumbrian jig by Willie Taylor)

Neil Taylor’s Jig (Upper Intermediate): a wonderful bouncy jig from one of Northumberland’s most celebrated fiddlers, Willie Taylor. This is a great tune for looking at the bouncy, spiky, dotted jig groove preferred by many Northumbrian musicians and exemplified in the playing of Willy Taylor and his colleague Will Atkinson. It requires some discipline with the bow and the workshop will look into the mechanics of the technique and the benefits that it gives. The tune is in G major with a clear structure. Participants should be comfortable with playing jigs at dance tempo. Ornamentation will include rolls, mordents and slides.

For full details, please see the July Fiddle Workshops 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.

Jul
26
Sun
July Fiddle Workshops – Advanced @ Online - on Zoom
Jul 26 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
July Fiddle Workshops - Advanced @ Online - on Zoom | Grantham | United Kingdom

July Fiddle Workshops
Advanced

Learn a tune and all the fiddle techniques behind it to get the style and groove of the music into your playing. This live workshop will be delivered on Zoom, with notation and audio files provided in advance.

Zoom Workshop
Sunday 26th July: 14:00 – 16:00
Advanced: Blaydon Flats (a North East reel by A. Mackintosh associated with the fiddling tradition of James Hill)

Blaydon Flats (Advanced): a classic D major reel, long associated with one of Tynesides most famous fiddlers, James Hill. The tune spans all four strings and an ability to play at speed across this range is needed to get the the full effect this fiddling masterpiece. We will look at various bowing patterns which both enhance the groove of the tune as well as helping to facilitate its speed. In addition we will look at ricochet bowing and the folk fiddler’s version of ‘double stops’ – ringing strings and lazy bows.

For full details, please see the July Fiddle Workshops 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.

Aug
22
Sat
NEFS Virtual Summer School @ Online
Aug 22 – Aug 23 all-day
NEFS Virtual Summer School @ Online

Two days of live fiddle workshops, exclusive video tutorials, sessions, concerts and guided fiddle practice. Events will be aimed at all abilities of fiddle player from competent beginner through to advanced, led by guest tutors Kevin Lees, Sophy Ball, Grace Smith and Jim Boyle, alongside our regular tutors Melissa Whitehead and Stewart Hardy.

The weekend will be a mix of Live events on Zoom and exclusive Video Tutorials recorded for the Summer School, and each tutor will share their expertise with different ability levels. There will be suggested times over the weekend for several video tutorials, but you will have access to those purchased for 6 months with all supporting materials available to download.

There will be four ability levels (Competent Beginner, Lower Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced) with one live workshop and one video tutorial dedicated to each level, plus a wider selection of video tutorials focusing on Style led by each tutor. There will be time during the weekend to attend the events dedicated to your level and to one other, so you can try the workshops and videos for the next closest level as well. For example if you are a Lower Intermediate player, you could, in addition, challenge yourself to the Upper Intermediate tunes, or consolidate what you know by joining the Competent Beginners.

Sep
11
Fri
Cancelled: Fiddle Technique @ Rydal Hall
Sep 11 – Sep 13 all-day
Cancelled: Fiddle Technique @ Rydal Hall | Grantham | United Kingdom

Fiddle Technique

11th – 13th September 2020
Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX

Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in the Lake District, for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. The workshop will typically take between 10 and 15 people from Friday evening until 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. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, 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 further information or to express your interest in this course, please email Ali (jsarts@stewarthardy.co.uk)

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
Sep
18
Fri
Cancelled: Advanced Fiddle Technique @ Rydal Hall
Sep 18 – Sep 20 all-day
Cancelled: Advanced Fiddle Technique @ Rydal Hall | Grantham | United Kingdom

Advanced Fiddle Technique

18th – 20th September 2020
Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX

Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in the Lake District, for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. This course is aimed at proficient players with good to high technical competence, who are comfortable with their instruments and their repertoire and who may have some of the following experience and skills:

  • – Playing folk tunes at dance tempo
  • – Comfortable in key signatures of up to 3 sharps and 1 flat
  • – Familiarity with key signatures of up to 4 sharps and 3 flats
  • – Attending folk music sessions and joining in with the tunes
  • – Leading sets of tunes in sessions
  • – Playing in ceilidh and/or concert bands
  • – Teaching violin and/or fiddle

The workshop will typically take between 8 and 12 people from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. All tuition, resources, accommodation, food and daytime refreshments are included. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, 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.

Places on Advanced Fiddle Techniques courses are available on application. For further information or to express your interest in this course, please email Ali (jsarts@stewarthardy.co.uk)

Oct
2
Fri
October Workshops: Play-along Session @ Online - on Zoom
Oct 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
October Workshops: Play-along Session @ Online - on Zoom | Grantham | United Kingdom

October Workshops
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. Spoiler alert – Stewart is a fiddle player! The harmonies may extend beyond the range of your instrument so if you have specific requirements, please get in touch.

Zoom Workshop
Friday 2nd October: 19:00 – 21:00

For full details, please see the October Workshops page.
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Email Ali to book your place.

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.

For full details, please see the October Workshops page.