Oct
23
Sun
Oct 23 @ 7:30 pm
George and I will be heading to South Shields Folk Club for a relaxed Sunday evening on 23rd October. 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!
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
Oct
26
Wed
Frank McLaughlin and I have really been enjoying getting back into rehearsals recently. We are delighted to have been invited to play at the Edinburgh Folk Club during half term on Wednesday October 26th. If you are anywhere near, do come along or if you know someone in the Edinburgh area, please encourage them to step through the door.
8.00 pm start, doors/bar open from 7.30 pm
Nov
2
Wed
North East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person which this block will form part of our first NEFS Residential Weekend.
Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed indefinitely after that so you can work at your own pace.
This block we are delighted to present a special video tutorial by NEFS friend and guest tutor, Grace Smith.
For those who enjoy the live engagement, there are weekly Fiddle Practice sessions and tunes taught live on Zoom each Wednesday evening for the five weeks of the block. These are great fun, and a good way to keep up with playing your fiddle regularly, whilst improving your technique and learning some core repertoire tunes. We will then hold a Zoom play-through of our new video tutorial and live tunes on Weds 7th December.
There is a full day’s workshop on Saturday 3rd December which this block will be in person at Shepherds Dene and can be booked separately as part of the NEFS Residential Weekend.
Check out the NEFS website for full details, see which tunes are being taught this block by myself and Melissa Whitehead, and you can book online through the website: http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/
Nov
4
Fri
JSArts Fiddle Technique
4th – 6th November 2022
Rydal Hall, Rydal, Ambleside LA22 9LX
Join Stewart for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition at this beautiful location in the Lake District. The workshop will typically take a maxiumum of 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. 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 request a booking form, please email Ali (jsarts@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
9
Wed
North East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person which this block will form part of our first NEFS Residential Weekend.
Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed indefinitely after that so you can work at your own pace.
This block we are delighted to present a special video tutorial by NEFS friend and guest tutor, Grace Smith.
For those who enjoy the live engagement, there are weekly Fiddle Practice sessions and tunes taught live on Zoom each Wednesday evening for the five weeks of the block. These are great fun, and a good way to keep up with playing your fiddle regularly, whilst improving your technique and learning some core repertoire tunes. We will then hold a Zoom play-through of our new video tutorial and live tunes on Weds 7th December.
There is a full day’s workshop on Saturday 3rd December which this block will be in person at Shepherds Dene and can be booked separately as part of the NEFS Residential Weekend.
Check out the NEFS website for full details, see which tunes are being taught this block by myself and Melissa Whitehead, and you can book online through the website: http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/
Nov
16
Wed
North East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person which this block will form part of our first NEFS Residential Weekend.
Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed indefinitely after that so you can work at your own pace.
This block we are delighted to present a special video tutorial by NEFS friend and guest tutor, Grace Smith.
For those who enjoy the live engagement, there are weekly Fiddle Practice sessions and tunes taught live on Zoom each Wednesday evening for the five weeks of the block. These are great fun, and a good way to keep up with playing your fiddle regularly, whilst improving your technique and learning some core repertoire tunes. We will then hold a Zoom play-through of our new video tutorial and live tunes on Weds 7th December.
There is a full day’s workshop on Saturday 3rd December which this block will be in person at Shepherds Dene and can be booked separately as part of the NEFS Residential Weekend.
Check out the NEFS website for full details, see which tunes are being taught this block by myself and Melissa Whitehead, and you can book online through the website: http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/
Nov
18
Fri
November 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 18th November, 19:00 – 21:00
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings opening soon
For more information, please visit the November 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.
Nov
19
Sat
November Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 1
Zoom Workshop
Saturday 19th November: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Competent Beginner to Upper Intermediate level
Twiglet (also known as Thème Vannetais)
– a fantastic tune well known in English sessions, but which is originally a Breton An Dro
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings opening soon
For more information, please visit the November 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.
November Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2
Zoom Workshop
Saturday 19th November: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level
Trip to Pakistan (Niall Kenn)
– a fabulous tune which Niall tells me he wrote as an An Dro but which is often played as a slow reel.
A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings opening soon.
For more information, please visit the November 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.
Nov
23
Wed
North East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person which this block will form part of our first NEFS Residential Weekend.
Technique and tunes are taught through Video Tutorials which are added to weekly and can be accessed indefinitely after that so you can work at your own pace.
This block we are delighted to present a special video tutorial by NEFS friend and guest tutor, Grace Smith.
For those who enjoy the live engagement, there are weekly Fiddle Practice sessions and tunes taught live on Zoom each Wednesday evening for the five weeks of the block. These are great fun, and a good way to keep up with playing your fiddle regularly, whilst improving your technique and learning some core repertoire tunes. We will then hold a Zoom play-through of our new video tutorial and live tunes on Weds 7th December.
There is a full day’s workshop on Saturday 3rd December which this block will be in person at Shepherds Dene and can be booked separately as part of the NEFS Residential Weekend.
Check out the NEFS website for full details, see which tunes are being taught this block by myself and Melissa Whitehead, and you can book online through the website: http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/
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NEFS Block 3 starts this week!Sign up now 🎻We have a new block starting on Zoom this week!
Join us for our five weekly Wednesday evening Zoom sessions starting on 24th April with video tutorials on demand, and/or our in-person workshop in Wylam on Saturday 11th May. Bookings now open!
www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/shop/
More details are available on the Classes page of the NEFS website. Get in touch with Ali if you have any questions 😊
🎶 This block we have two more fabulous video tutorials, both English jigs collected in the middle of the nineteenth century from “Wheelwright Robinson” of Abbots Bromley, Flaxley Green Dance from Stewart Hardy Music and, of course, The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, this one from Kevin Lees - Music. Grace Smith Music will be teaching alongside Stewart on our Zoom calls, and will be introducing a lovely Shetland jig as our new live tune.
We are also delighted to announce that Chris Meredith will be teaching with Stewart on our Saturday Workshop in Wylam on 11th May. Chris is a wonderful player and teacher, and was the force behind FiddleTutor.com with some wonderful online tutorials.
📣 Sign up now!
🎧🎻🎹 Our next set of Zoom workshops is this weekend, on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th April. Each workshop can be booked individually, and all will be available on-demand after the weekend. Book now on the website!There will be lots of favourite tunes with harmonies and chords provided for the Friday evening play-along session. All instruments are welcome, and alternate clefs or keys for transposing instruments can be provided on request. Then on Saturday in the fiddle workshops, we'll be looking at a fabulous north east tune by Geroge Mitchell of the Cheviot Ranters, call Geordie's Rant, in the morning. In the afternoon, it will be the turn of Shrewsbury Lasses, one of the classic country dance tunes of the English repertoire. Full resources including audio files and a worksheet are provided.
Visit the website for more info and bookings 😃
There will be lots of fascinating facts and insights into the life and times of William Shield, presented by Dr Amélie Addison on Saturday afternoon, illustrated with a few fiddle tunes! We'll be at the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum at 4pm.Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering
(Disclaimer: more recent photos are available!)