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Exploring Traditional Music
Our workshops are held in Dursley Town Hall, Dursley, Gloucestershire
Day workshops usually run from 10:00 to 16:00 with an hour break for lunch
(subject to change so please check the events page to be sure)
Bring your own lunch
Tea, coffee and water will be
available during the breaks.
Tickets: £34, £30 concessions, £25 under 18s
To reserve a place contact Anne on 01453 519243
or email traditionalmusic@btinternet.com
Previous workshops
October 2011 - Rob Harbron
Playing the Whole Tune
Whether you play by ear or from the music, there's more to playing well than just getting the notes in the right order. Rob's workshop will explore some of the different elements involved in playing a tune well - rhythm, phrasing, ornamentation, variation and harmony - with the aim of helping instrumentalists develop their own individual style of playing. for instrumentalists who can play at least a few tunes, or those who know hundreds, but not for absolute beginners.
April 2011 - Dave Townsend
Village Band Music
Playing harmony parts to dance tunes and marches used to be common in English rural tradition, with musicians on strings, winds and squeezeboxes adapting and creating their own arrangements. As well as their own inspiration, they drew upon their experience playing for church services and in military bands. Some got written down in manuscript books which have survived, and we will be playing these and other arrangements in the same style.
February 2011 - Kevin Dempsey
Ins and outs around a melody
November 2010 - John Kirkpatrick
Early tunes from 16th – 18th Century
Enjoy a day playing wonderful tunes from this period and learning some of the history behind the music.
March 2010 - Johnny Coppin
Workshop for Singers, Songwriters and Musicians
How to approach song writing, learn how to write tunes for songs, arrange songs, accompany songs. By working with your own songs and ideas, the aim is to build confidence and generate new enthusiasm for your music making. Whatever your level of experience, Johnny will explain and illustrate many of the techniques.
February 2010 – Kevin Dempsey
Ins and outs around a melody
How to find your space within a tune and to feel that you are adding to the overall effect. We will be looking at different ways of enhancing a basic tune, including how to start and end a tune, chord progressions, bass lines and rhythmic accompaniment.
November 2009 – John Kirkpatrick
Music for the mid-winter
A look at the traditional dance music, song and folklore of an English Midwinter - Wassail songs, tunes for Sword dancing and Morris dancing, and perhaps a Christmas carol or two sneaked in as well.
October 2009 – Laurel Swift
A fun day of playing music with other people, learning new tunes and exploring a variety of skills, such as how play rhythmically, how to make the tunes 'dance'; how to approach spontaneous variations and harmony, and much more besides! We'll focus on the rich and varied repertoire of English dance music and session tunes.
June 2009 - Rod Stradling
Come along and improve your existing skills in making music with other people and have fun learning about English dance music and session tunes
©Traditional Music Making 2009