Irish Fiddle Lessons - Group Lessons

"Can I be the first to say that your classes are great!!. I started the fiddle from scratch 2 years ago and I have loved every minute of it. I like the fact that the group classes are so On/Offable i.e. you can learn at your own pace, without feeling that you've fallen behind. Most of all, the group session are a good laugh!"

John Beecroft - IT & Telecoms - aged 31

Group lessons are designed to enable players of similar ability to learn new tunes and play together with others in a relaxed, comfortable and friendly environment. Over the years the type and number of groups on offer has developed - starting with just one group eleven years ago - expanding to 4 evening classes, 3 daytime classes and a pub session!

I hope you will be able to find a group to suit you - all abilities, all ages and any melody instrument suitable for group playing.

banjos, whistles

fiddles

flutes, mandolins, harps and concertina

For the detailed timetable click here

Tuesday Evening Traditional Music Group

7.30pm - 9.30pm - weekly
no need to book - just turn up when you want to. This way you will be able to play when it suits you and you will often meet new people and a different mix of instruments when you do come along.
only £8 per person
the emphasis is on having fun
The following week's tune will be posted on this web site so you can listen to it before the class if you wish. It is in the format of a slow audio track and the manuscript. Tab for fiddle and mandolin and whistle fingering or abc is available on request. (Click "Tuesday Group Tunes" for examples)
Players will be encouraged to learn by ear but you are welcome to print off the manuscript and bring it along as a security blanket!
We usually spend the first half hour playing through the previous week's tune and then at 8.00pm start to learn the new tune - so if you are a bit late you don't miss too much! Having learned the tune, we have a break and then everyone has the chance to choose a tune for us all to play.
This way your repertoire is "magically" extended and practiced.
In the unlikely event of a class having to be cancelled, the web page "dates and times" will be altered and you will be sent an e mail.

"From my point of view I think the best thing about the fiddle groups, apart from learning a wealth of tunes, is the chance to play with other people, which is a skill in itself and which improves your playing as well as being fun. I also found the supportive and encouraging atmosphere very important as a complete beginner with no knowledge of Irish music.

And you can quote me on all that!"

Catherine - Librarian - aged 37

Wednesday Evening Music Club

no pre-booking required
only £8 per person
occasional music sessions in the family room at the Black Horse
tune arrangements to suit all abilities
6.30 - 7.00 - slow to suit absolute beginners - you could stay as long as you like after 7.00pm and join in more as you progress

7.00 - 9.00 - revising tunes we have learned already and learning a new tune, then playing tunes of your choice round the table for the last half hour

8.30 - 9.30 - playing tunes of your choice around the table - should be ideal for returning players - if you come earlier you will be able to learn some new tunes but the pace will be a slower than the Tuesday group.

Who would enjoy this group? This group is ideal for anyone who would like to start playing music or even just get an idea of rhythm and a bit of background into traditional music - also good for "returning after a long break players" (you may have played an instrument at school). You can even come along without an instrument and borrow a whistle or violin to see if you like it - if you feel you have never had the opportunity .......well here it is!!

"I remember being captivated by a performance of Irish fiddle music years ago but never imagined I would play. I particularly enjoy learning the fiddle tunes in a group. Playing them with other people is great fun and even as a beginner the pace is exhilarating at times!"

Lindsay - Botanist - aged 46

If you want to learn an instrument other than the fiddle/violin, whistle or English concertina, it would be advisable to have a lesson with someone who can show you how to use a plectrum or get a note out of a flute, for example, - but after that you have sufficient knowledge to come join in! When the demand is there, other experienced musicians are invited to help with various instruments.

What sort of tunes will we be learning to play? - we will be focussing on tunes that are played for barn dances and ceilidhs and some traditional song melodies. Music in the format of a slow recording, manuscript and any other format that may be requested will be posted on this web site so you can keep up with the tunes even if you are unable to attend every week. We will be working towards playing some of the tunes at It's Your Ceilidh in March 2010. (Click here for photos of the 2009 event)

The group session is lubricated by a nice cuppa to start with and has a very happy atmosphere. 'Bum notes' are referred to as 'improvisation' or 'harmonising'!"

Bob Bailey - Music Shop Proprietor - aged fairly mature (in years)

Black Horse Sessions -

As part of the Music Club, we occasionally meet at the Black Horse and play tunes in the family room. All pupils and players from other groups are also invited to the session where you will be able to play the tunes you are learning at the Music Club and hear other tunes that are being learned in other groups. This session is £5 per person.

Young Person's Music Club -

This group is for young people aged up to 15 who come for individual lessons for fiddle or who can work on the tunes independently (via this website) and then come to the group once a month to play together.

We will be learning the tunes for It's Your Ceilidh 2010 and looking at simple accompaniments for those who are not able to keep with up playing the whole tune. We also play rounds and try out simple improvisation and harmony playing. It is all designed to be fun - we are not doing any exams in this group - it is for the joy of playing music.

Attending this group could benefit young people who are learning classical music but who would like to develop their aural skills.

Booking is required for this group and the fee (see fees) is divided by the number of participants.

I learned to read music before I came to Jill's but I could never play by ear - I always had to look at the music - but now I can just listen to a tune and play it. I'm really glad I started these lessons because now I get to do all of the fun things like playing at It's Your Ceilidh.

Redd (Age 12)

Sam (Aged 9)

I like Monday fiddle group because we play nice tunes. Jill makes learning them fun. I enjoy playing with other children.

Fiddle and Lunch Group - Monday mornings monthly - 11.00am - 1.00pm

An ideal way to start the week! Learn a variety of tunes/song melodies, and having worked up an appetite, it's across the road to the Black Horse for lunch . Please book in advance for this group as the fee (see fees) is dependant upon the number of players and can determine the duration of the class.

Hibernia Centre - Saturday mornings fortnightly

There are further group lessons available on Saturday mornings at the Hibernia Centre

"I'm an occasional student at Hibernia group fiddle lessons and in a way that's what I like about it, the fact that I can drop in on a Saturday morning when I'm passing by and enjoy a few hours of music making without being tied in to a particular teacher or a course for weeks and weeks and without booking ahead. There'll always be a new tune or two to show for it, a range of abilities or technical issues to choose from and knowledgeable people to answer queries."

Shirley - IT Technical Author - aged over 50