Workshops

Every member of the band offers instrumental workshops: Paddy on button accordion; Patrick on fiddle; and Pat on guitar. Paddy also offers a workshop he calls Reaching for the Draíocht: Exploring Irish Traditional Music, which presents his own unique historical perspective on the essence of Irish music.

Paddy O’Brien: Reaching for the Draíocht: Exploring Irish Traditional Music

Draíocht is a Gaelic word meaning ’spiritual power’ or ’soul.’ This class will give valuable insight into the essence of Irish music. Students will learn to develop listening skills, and recognize melodic structures within stylistic interpretations and embellishments. They will learn to recognize regional styles such as those of West Clare, East Galway, Kerry, and Donegal. Paddy will discuss how different methods of transmission, and even the instruments they are played on, influence the character of a tune. Students will be encouraged to recognize their own unique styles and preferences, and to choose repertoire that suits them.

An older generation of musicians, including piper Willie Clancy, accordionist Joe Cooley, whistle player Micho Russell, and fiddlers Michael Coleman and John Doherty had a profound influence on the character of Irish traditional music. Paddy will talk about the legacy of these legendary musicians, some of whom he learned from firsthand. He will discuss some brilliant individualists, such as fiddlers Tommy Potts, Paddy Canny, and Paddy Fahy. Increasing commercial influences in Irish music have tended to emphasize speed and technical ability at the expense of expressive feeling, phrasing, and melodic creativity. Paddy will suggest some alternative sources to commercial recordings for learning tunes.

Paddy O’Brien: Button Accordion Workshops

Available for beginning, intermediate, and advanced players of B/C, C#/D, and D/D# button accordion.

One-session workshops are generally one hour for 1-2 students; two hours for 3 or more students. Multi-session workshops available for weekend or week-long festival settings. Ideal enrollment would be 3-6 students; maximum enrollment 10-12; individual lessons also available. Paddy’s button accordion workshop offers students both encouragement and concrete tools for improving their understanding and interpretation of Irish traditional music. Technical instruction focuses knowledge of keyboard, bellows control, fingering, ornamentation, phrasing, dynamics. The workshop also includes a strong emphasis on listening, interpretation, and feeling, the thing called ‘blas’ in Irish, which means ‘taste’ or ‘flavor.’ Students will also receive information and advice on good non-commercial recorded sources for learning tunes. Music will be learned by ear, so students are encouraged to bring tape recorders and notebooks. All students receive individual attention.

Paddy’s statement: “A workshop should have an informal environment, an emphasis on trust and encouragement. I like my students to come away with the realization that they can enjoy the process of learning; and with the right tools, they can learn a lot by working on their own. I don’t teach flashy new compositions that show off a player’s technical ability; I like to focus on the older traditional tunes, particularly the old West Clare fiddle and concertina music that’s got real feeling and lift for dancing. I always place a clear emphasis on melody rather than speed, and talk a lot about the appreciation of melody and the importance of individual interpretation in Irish music.”

Sample one-session accordion workshop:

• Students each play so Paddy can assess their skill levels.
• Paddy selects 4-5 new tunes (jigs, reels, and hornpipes, etc.) appropriate to students’ abilities. Tunes should help increase students’ repertoire and knowledge of traditional music while providing a basic grounding in good playing habits and solid technique.Paddy records tunes on tape twice: once at regular tempo and once at a slower ‘learning’ tempo. Students spend some time familiarizing themselves with the new tunes.
• Paddy plays tunes through with students individually, working on technique, fingering, ornamentation, keyboard/finger positions, dynamics, and phrasing.
• Paddy talks about the importance of careful listening, interpretation in Irish music, how to select keys that best reflect the shape and feeling of a tune. Paddy will also recommend good non-commercial sources for learning tunes. Students have the opportunity to request particular tunes, ask questions, and gain individual advice.
• Students are asked to bring their instruments and a recording device.

Patrick Ourceau: Fiddle Workshops

Fiddle workshops are for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. Patrick is also available for private lessons.

Over the years, Patrick has developed a style and repertoire very much associated with the music of east Clare and east Galway. His greatest influences come from musicians he had the fortune to learn from firsthand, such as the legendary fiddler Paddy Canny and flute players Jack Coen and Peadar O’Loughlin. Other important influences come from the great fiddlers Paddy Fahey and Bobby Casey.

At each workshop one or more tunes will be taught. Patrick only teaches by ear and strongly recommends students bring along some type of recording device (with the exception of video cameras, which require prior authorization). The tunes taught are often chosen after having assessed the level and need of the students. Whenever possible, written music will be handed out at the end of the workshop.

In a typical session, Patrick will show students various bow patterns, as well as left hand and bow hand ornamentation for each tune. Other technical aspects will be covered during workshops, based on levels and needs of students. They include basic finger placements on the fingerboard, constructive suggestions on holding the instrument, as well as tips on developing or improving tone and on how to practice more efficiently.

The emphasis of the workshops will be on listening, and Patrick will discuss the importance of simplicity in interpretation of the music. He will place a greater importance on expression and keeping the melodic integrity of the tunes rather than on technical display and speed.

The various tools acquired during the workshop will give students the ability to better differentiate various styles of playing and the confidence and skills to learn music more easily on their own. Patrick will also discuss and stress the importance of finding and learning good settings of tunes in developing repertoire. To that end, a list of recommended essential recordings will be handed out at the workshop.

If you don’t play your fiddle for a day, you hear the difference;
If you don’t play it for two days, everybody else hears the difference…
-Dougie MacDonald, composer and master fiddler from Inverness, Cape Breton Island

Pat Egan: Guitar Workshops

Pat Egan’s guitar style is unique in a couple of key respects. One of the few guitarists in Irish music that adhere to standard tuning as opposed to the ubiquitous DADGAD, his approach will be of particular use to the overwhelming body of uninitiated guitarists, as well as those familiar with alternate tunings. His exciting rhythmic drive on the right hand, coupled with his compelling lyrical moves on the left hand, will open doors for guitarists of any level of experience.

Sample one-session guitar workshop:

• Chord shapes in the keys of G major, D major, D mixalydian, A major, A minor, A mixalydian, E minor, B minor. Using these shapes in various positions up the neck.
• Rhythmic patterns for jigs and reels, and the importance of keeping good time (not to be confused with having a good time, which is also important!)
• Accompaniment to slow airs.
• The importance of listening and developing the ear.

Pat will have a CD with tunes in the above keys. Handouts will also be available. Students are asked to bring a guitar in standard tuning, a capo, a recording device.