Join us again this month for more enjoyable and educational workshops! There will be a Friday evening play-along session with loads of harmonies provided on Fri 29th January, and two fiddle workshops on Sat 30th Jan. On Saturday morning (10 am) the tune taught will be “Linda MacFarlane” a wonderful march by Robin Brock, played in sessions and for dances on both sides of the border. In the afternoon at 2pm, we will explore the fabulous tune, “Köhler’s Hornpipe” – it’s from Köhler’s Violin Repository and is in C major. Sometimes known by the name “Pachelbel’s Frolics” the B part to this tune reflects the familiar chord sequence from “Pachelbel’s Canon in D major” and is great fun to play.
Live workshops on Zoom with notation and/or audio files provided.
All workshops are £20, attend any two for £35, or all three for £50.
You can book your place by purchasing the workshops from the Shop and the discount will be applied in your basket. If you have any questions, or are unsure as to which workshops are suitable for you, please get in touch using the Contact Form.
Friday 29th January, 7.00 – 9.00 pm
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.
Saturday 30th January, 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Fiddle Workshop 1
Competent Beginners to Upper Intermediates
Linda MacFarlane (Robin Brock) – a wonderful march, which is a great tune for sessions and ceilidhs alike, and is popular on both sides of the border.
This workshop will provide a warm-up, technical session and will teach the tune by ear, phrase by phrase. Full worksheets will be provided, with the tune, bowing and ornamentation, along with audio files of the tune, in advance. 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.
Saturday 30th January, 2.00 – 4.00 pm
Fiddle Workshop 2
Intermediate to Advanced Players
Köhler’s Hornpipe – a joyous tune in C major found in 18th and 19th century fiddle collections and publications on both sides of the border. Sometimes known by the name Pachelbel’s Frolics, the B part to this tune reflects the familiar chord sequence from Pachelbel’s Canon in D major and is great fun to play.
The workshop will run as above, except aimed at intermediate to advanced players. The techniques and the tune taught will be slightly more challenging giving you further ways to develop your playing.
Notation is provided for both Fiddle Workshops but the tunes will be taught ‘as if by ear’, making sure there is enough break down and repetition of phrases to build the tune up confidently.
The workshops will include regular short breaks to stretch the legs, and rest the ears and eyes. Months of running workshops on Zoom has provided us with the insight required to create a good and enjoyable online learning experience during lockdown.
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 reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are strongly recommended.
Ability Level Guide:
Competent Beginners
You will be familiar with the basics of the instrument – how to hold the violin and the bow. You will have some rudimentary reading and/or aural skills, be familiar with open strings and the basic finger positions to produce a one octave scale of G, D and A major as well as a two octave scale of G major. You may not have an in depth knowledge of fiddle music, but will aspire to acquire the core beginner folk repertoire.
Lower Intermediates
You will be familiar with basic tune forms (waltzes, jigs, hornpipes, polkas and reels) and will already be able to play simple tunes at a steady tempo in these different styles. Tunes will generally be in keys with signatures of no flats/sharps, 1 sharp or 2 sharps. You might be developing an interest in bowing styles and interpretation of the repertoire.
Upper Intermediates
These workshops are aimed at proficient fiddle players who are comfortable with playing tunes in the common dance forms. You will be aware of ornamentation and bowing patterns and aspire to incorporate them more fully into your playing. Repertoire will include tunes in keys with signatures between one flat and 3 sharps.
Advanced Players
These workshops are aimed at those who are familiar with tunes from a wide range of dance forms, including some from outside of the British Isles, and who are able to play them at dance tempo. You will be comfortable in keys of 2 flats to 3 sharps, and familiar with 3 flats and 4 sharps. You will be aware of bowing patterns appropriate to different grooves and able to work comfortably either from notation or by ear, and be able to manage in the other medium.
Recordings
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Upcoming Events
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4 days ago
🎶 The Tune Vault - Köhler's HornpipeA happy and joyous hornpipe to celebrate the return of Spring, St Patrick’s Day (have a good one on Sunday!) and the slight feelings of optimism that come at this time of year.youtu.be/jiC3S5p0E64Köhler's Hornpipe (Pachelbel's Frolics; The Savage Hornpipe)This joyful version of a very popular hornpipe comes from the 19th century Scottish publication, Köhler’s Violin Repository, edited by Walter Laybourn and which is also a great source for tunes by Tyneside fiddling legend, James Hill. The tune appears as an untitled hornpipe, as it so often does when it surfaces in English fiddle manuscripts, not infrequently in the key of B-flat!Köhler's Hornpipe (Pachelbel's Frolics) | The Tune Vault
Köhler's Hornpipe (Pachelbel's Frolics; The Savage Hornpipe) - The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyThis joyful version of a very popular hornpipe comes from the ...6 days ago
It gets a double thumbs up!!! ... See MoreSee Less2 weeks ago
Block 1 at North East Fiddle School was a sheer delight for me with some great teaching from our friends, Grace Smith and Kevin Lees. My own offering for the video tuition was Frankie Gavin’s wonderful 3-part jig and here it is for The Tune Vault. Block 2 is shaping up really nicely with video tuition from Grace as well as more tuition on Zoom, and a debut appearance for NEFS from the wonderful American fiddler and long-time resident of the North East, Niles Krieger, at our Saturday workshop in Wylam.Places are still available at our NEFS fiddle workshop day on Saturday 16th March, so do get in touch if you would like to come along! ... See MoreSee LessThe Wren's Nest (Frankie Gavin) | The Tune Vault
The Wren's Nest (Frankie Gavin)- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyAn absolute stormer of a jig by the great Irish fiddler, Frankie Gavin, in a favourite fiddl...Tags
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