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Each year IrishFest Atlanta brings world class artists to perform and lead workshops for our community. Attendees must pre-register for workshops through our registration site.
| Track 1 | Track 2 | Track 3 | Track 4 |
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9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
John Maschinot Uillean Pipes |
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Tim Hogan The Friendly Bodhrán |
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Brian Conway Advanced Irish Fiddle |
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Mary Branick Ujda, TRCG Céilí Dancing |
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10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Erin Loughran Beginner/Intermediate Fiddle |
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Margie Mulvihill Beginner Whistle |
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Isaac Alderson The Irish Flute |
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11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Brendan Dolan Piano Accompaniment |
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Dan Gurney Irish Button Accordion |
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Mickey Coleman Irish Pub Songs & Ballads |
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Shannon Dunne Irish Set Dancing - Session 1 (Country sets and steps) |
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12:30 PM -2:00 PM
Kelly Stewart Irish Harp |
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Dylan Foley Irish Fiddle |
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2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Josh Dukes Irish Tune Accompaniment |
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Billy McComiskey Playing Tunes for Dancers |
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Joanie Madden Songs of the Irish Whistle |
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Shannon Dunne Irish Set Dancing - Session 2 |
FIDDLE
Erin Loughran
Intermediate Fiddle - 60 minutes
Students in this class will learn new tunes phrase by phrase incorporating Irish fiddle technique: bowing, ornamentation, tempo, rhythm and tone. Please bring a recording device and your fiddle. (Class size max - 20)
Dylan Foley
Irish Fiddle - 90 minutes
2014 All-Ireland senior fiddle champion Dylan Foley will offer a clinic on technique and repertoire. Students will learn a tune and go through bowing techniques as well as ornamentation i.e. rolls, cuts, double stops, and slides commonly found in the Sligo and Clare fiddling traditions. Please bring a recording device to accurately capture what is being taught. Dylan does not teach with written notation, but can provide it at the end of the class if needed. Bring your instrument and a recording device. (Class size max - 20)
Brian Conway
Advanced Irish Fiddle - 90 minutes
Premiere Sligo style fiddler Brian Conway will focus on the relationship between bowing, phrasing and ornamentation in traditional Irish fiddling, for competition or session players. Advanced level Irish fiddle players. This is NOT a beginner/intermediate level class. (Class size max - 15)
Tin Whistle, Uillean Pipes & Flute
Margie Mulvihill
Intermediate Tin Whistle - 60 minutes
Students in this class should have some experience playing traditional Irish music on the whistle. You will learn some new tunes with emphasis on ornamentation, rhythm and phrasing. Bring a D whistle and a recording device. (Class size max - 20)
Joanie Madden
Songs of the Irish Whistle - 90 minutes
Award-winning and world-renowned musician Joanie Madden will share a few great whistle tunes from her repertoire. Bring your whistle(s) and a recording device. Intermediate to advanced level Irish whistle players. This is NOT a beginner level class. (Class size max - 20)
Isaac Alderson
The Irish Flute - 90 minutes
From winning international competitions in his teens, to performing and teaching across the globe throughout his twenties and now thirties, Isaac Alderson has made traditional Irish music his life. He currently plays flute and uilleann pipes with The Yanks, who have achieved renown in the Irish music community across the US as well as in Ireland, and also plays with The Bronx Boys, Ensemble Galilei, and other groups. He has performed with the touring company of Riverdance, and played as a sub in the Broadway musicals The Last Ship, and Come From Away. In these classes he will impart some of the breadth of his knowledge and skill on the flute, covering fundamentals, technique, and repertoire. Bring your instrument and a recording device. http://isaacalderson.com (Class size max - 20)
John Maschinot
Uillean Pipe Demonstration - 60 minutes
John will lead an interactive discussion on the history of the Uillean pipes with demonstration. More information to follow.
Song, Dance and Accordion
Mary Branick Ujda
Céilí Dancing * - 2 hours
Dancers of all ages will quickly gain a working knowledge of the basic céilí dance steps as we learn some of the fun progressive dances from the Irish social dance tradition. All experience levels are welcome, dance partner NOT required! Bring comfortable, slip soled shoes. (No taps or hard Irish dance shoes, please.) And new to IrishFest this year will be an afternoon ceili on Saturday to show off your dance skills if you choose!
Shannon Dunne
Irish Set Dancing - Session 1* (Country sets and steps) - 2 hours
“Sets” are danced by eight people in a formation similar to that of American square dancing. Each dance may consist of a few figures with a short pause between each. Students will learn or review the valuable foundations for Irish social dancing, specifically Irish sets: how to find the groove of the dance, participate in the figure, and punctuate that groove with moments of battering, using their feet as percussion instruments. Bring comfortable, slip soled shoes. (No taps or hard Irish dance shoes, please.) Class size max - 24 dancers)
Shannon Dunne
Irish Set Dancing - Session 2* - 90 minutes
Dancers from the first session are encouraged to sign up for session 2, as well as dancers who are interested in taking just the afternoon session. Different sets will be taught in each workshop. (No taps or hard Irish dance shoes, please.) Class size max - 24 dancers)
*Dance class students are encouraged to sign up for the Saturday afternoon Céilí with the fabulous Pride of Moyvane Céilí Band from New York!
Mickey Coleman
Irish Pub Songs and Ballads - 60 minutes
Mickey is a renowned singer/songwriter from Co. Tyrone, Ireland. In this class he will be teaching some of the best ballads enjoyed in Ireland for generations. And if you’re lucky, maybe Mickey will teach one of his own compositions! Bring a recording device.Billy McComiskey
Playing Tunes for Dancers - 90 minutes
Learn to play dance tunes from All-Ireland champion accordion player http://irishecho.com/2011/12/mccomiskey-is-trad-artist-of-2011/, Billy McComiskey. Topics to include smart tune set selection, effective key changes, proper dance tempos and the three more T’s (tops, tails and transitions). Open to all instruments., dancers welcome. Bring your instrument and a recording device. (Class size max - 20 players and dancers)
Dan Gurney
Irish Button Accordion - 90 minutes
This workshop will cover the Irish button accordion, focusing on the B/C system but with C#/D players also welcome. We will learn a tune together, with additional tunes for you to record, and will go over the different kinds of ornaments including rolls, cuts, and triplets. We will also cover how to use the bass on the left hand, and the best fingering techniques for getting around the keyboard. Please bring a phone or recorder as we will be learning by ear. (Class size max - 20)
Piano, Guitar, Harp and Percussion
Brendan Dolan
Piano Accompaniment - 90 minutes
Explore the rhythms and styles of Irish music accompaniment on the piano keyboard with this remarkable musician and educator. Bring your keyboard and an extension cord. A recording device is recommended. Intermediate to advanced keyboard players. This is NOT a beginner level class. (Class size max - 20)
Kelly Stewart
Beginning - Intermediate Harp- 90 minutes
Irish tunes and ornamentation for the harp. Beginning students will learn an Irish tune (or two!) along with basic accompaniment and ornamentation. More advanced students will have the opportunity to work on arranging, phrasing, and fancy fingerings.
Tim Hogan
The Friendly Bodhrán - 60 minutes
Survey course of Irish music and dance rhythms played on the bodhrán (Irish frame drum). Session etiquette for percussionists and instrument care will also be outlined. Class includes an overview of the principal dance tune forms such as jigs and reels, hornpipes, slip jigs and slides. This class is for all levels. No instrument yet, or did you forget yours? Tim has a few bodhráns to borrow or purchase, email him at timhogan999@gmail.com. Bring your bodhrán and a recording device. (Class size max - 20 players)
Josh Dukes
Irish Tune Accompaniment: Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, et al. - 90 minutes
This workshop will cover the approaches to tradition Irish music accompaniment. Focus will be placed on rhythm, chord selection, phrasing, and right and left-hand techniques. An emphasis will be placed on learning when and when not to play certain chords as well as deciphering keys and different tune types. Please bring a recording device (Class size max - 20)