(Sunday May 19th 1PM - 3PM) Session Etiquette & Drum Tuning/Tipper Selection: In this new workshop series we will take an in-depth look into all aspects of session playing from the very basics to the advances stages accompaniment. Kicking things off with the very important (and often misunderstood) session etiquette for bodhrán players. Have you ever wondered if it's okay to join in, where to sit, when to play, how loud to play, etc? There are often so many questions in ones head when it comes to session playing and the goal of this workshop is to answer as many questions as possible to make your session experience the least bit stressful and most importantly, fun! We will also discuss the importance of tuning your drum head as well as tipper selection which can both play a very essential role in your session accompaniment.
(Sunday June 2nd 1PM - 3PM) Tune Recognition/Musical Analysis: Next up we will be learning about two very important skills that are vital to your ability to comfortably play in a session. Tune recognition is the simple, yet crucial ability of recognizing the type of tunes/sets that are being played in a timely manner so you can join in on the tune with absolute confidence. Musical Analysis is the important skill of being able to identify and execute grooves that fit with the tune and complement the melody. As tunes go by quickly, this is a skill that involved a well-trained ear to pick up on the subtleties that can really make or break a tune's accompaniment. Just as our ears need to be trained, we will also learn how to apply this method and utilize various grooves, fills and ornamentation to fit with the tune.
