Classes & Workshops
The heart of the Acadia Trad Festival is world-class instruction students receive from our Faculty. Whether you are registered for the full week, a single day, or you just wish to drop in for an afternoon workshop, we have over 200 educational opportunities that will appeal to almost everyone.
Morning classes focus on student’s chosen major, and are open to registered students only. Classes are progressive throughout the week. All instrument majors (except for Beginner Fiddle) are intended for students at the Intermediate, Advanced or Master level.
In addition to major classes, afternoon workshops are offered for all levels (including beginner) in all instruments listed below, plus bodhran, tenor banjo, song, concertina, and many other instruments, dance, and instrument crafts.
Download a PDF of the draft Workshop Schedule (as of 5/22/16 – subject to change)
Download a PDF of the draft Workshop Descriptions (as of 5/22/16 - subject to change)
Major courses of study will include:
Fiddle
Intermediate, Advanced, and Master fiddle students will rotate through all fiddle faculty during the week except Julia; Julia will be teaching only beginner fiddle (see below). Students may opt to focus on one fiddle instructor, but everyone is encouraged to rotate to get the full experience and stay with their playing level group. You may attend classes levels higher than your own, but please don’t slow down the class. Master level classes are for master level students only.
IRISH FIDDLE (Liz Carroll): In this Irish Fiddle intensive, Liz will teach the Liz Carroll approach to Irish fiddle. She will introduce jigs, reels, and other tune styles common in Irish music. The week will focus on approach to tunes, bowing techniques, and things to consider when writing your own fiddle tunes. Students will be taught to learn by ear, however, music will be provided after the class is complete so students will be able later master what they learn during the week.
CAJUN FIDDLE (David Greely): David Greely will be teaching Cajun repertoire for intermediate and advanced students. He will draw from dance hall standards in his style, as learned from Dewey Balfa, and his in-depth study of lesser known masters like Varise Conner and Dennis McGee. As you learn the tunes, he will point out the distinct elements of Cajun ornamentation that are the secret to playing with a convincing Cajun sound. David will also lead in the direction of the true mark of a Cajun fiddle master, self-expression in preserving a melody in creative variations.
CAPE BRETON FIDDLE (Kimberley Fraser): We’ll look at what makes Cape Breton music different from other music. We’ll talk a lot about bowing and how this gives the fiddle style its ‘accent,’ as well as common fingered embellishments that you’ll hear in the style. Listening to recordings will also be a part of the class. We’ll use this as part of our ear training to identify common stylistic features and apply them in our own music. The class will be taught mostly by ear and we’ll talk about ways to improve your ear training. Sheet music will be provided as reference. We’ll learn jigs and reels and march, strathspey and reel sets, as the class desires.
ACADIAN FIDDLE (Pascal Miousse): The fiddle is the most played instrument in Acadian traditional music. In this class, students will learn the style and techniques from the Magdelen Island’s Acadian fiddle style. With very distinct and unique bowing technique and an east coast french swing, Pascal will teach step by step how to play the high energy music that makes people want to dance. A repertoire of Acadian tunes from the islands and the maritimes will be taught.
OLD TIME FIDDLE (Pete Sutherland): This class is a look at a variety of Southern fiddle styles from the The Virginias through the Deep South as well as Midwestern fiddle. Tunes of many moods in many keys and in all their stylistic glory from exemplary players will be enjoyed by all! A selection of bow licks will be a particular focus. And yes, get ready to retune… and to sing!
BEGINNER FIDDLE (Julia Plumb): Description coming soon!
Fiddle Making
Fiddle Making (Jonathan Cooper): Jonathan Cooper is one of the recognized master luthiers of our century. At his shop in Portland Maine, Jon has made over 400 instruments in the last 40 years. His fiddles are played by many of the world’s best performers in trad music. In this one week workshop intensive, students will work together on a fiddle that will be completed in the white - no varnish - and be played on the final evening. The workshop is appropriate for intermediate and advanced makers but can be a good beginning foundation as well for those interested. Students are welcome to bring an instrument they are working on and get guidance from Jon in working on their own instrument.
Guitar
IRISH STYLE GUITAR (John Doyle): John Doyle is one of the masters of the Irish Guitar. He performs solo and with some of the best musicians of our time. In this class John will teach alternate tunings, approach to backing up fiddlers, and how to pick a tune. Students will learn rhythms for reels, jigs, slip jigs, and more. Chord theory will be introduced as it pertains to providing the backdrop to the melody.
Banjo
CLAWHAMMER BANJO (Riley Baugus): Students, we’ll be learning Southern Appalachian clawhammer banjo tunes and techniques, mainly in the “Round Peak” style, from NC, made popular by such great players as, Tommy Jarrell, Fred Cockerham, and Kyle Creed, but, we’ll will also learn tunes and techniques from other parts of Southern mountains as well, such as, some examples of the playing of Matokie Slaughter, from Pulaski, VA, and tunes from Dock Boggs, of Norton, VA. This is your class and requests to learn specific tunes and playing styles will be openly considered if possible. Our main focus will be on learning the tools that allows you to play the instrument freely, not just the tunes in your repertoire.
Mandolin
INTERMEDIATE MANDOLIN (Baron Collins-Hill): Baron is one of Maine’s leading mandolin teachers. He performs regularly and has recorded two albums with Velocipede. In this class we will focus on learning a variety of tunes (Irish, Quebecois, American, Scandinavian) and learn how to accompany those styles of music. Other topics will include proper technique, ornamentation, variation, and chord theory.
Bouzouki
BOUZOUKI (Eamon O’Leary): In this class the focus will be on playing bouzouki for Irish music. Eamon will cover techniques of both melody and accompaniment, focusing on right and left hand positions, posture, picking and strumming patterns, tone production, tunings, chords, capos, choosing an instrument, etc.
Flute
IRISH FLUTE (Nuala Kennedy): Nuala grew up playing traditional Irish music in Dundalk, Co. Louth and has spent many years living and playing music in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is also strongly influenced by the music of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. In this class, she will explore some of the repertoire from these three places, looking at a variety of tune types including marches and strathspeys. We will also play in a range of keys. This class is for students who are skilled enough to play tunes in a variety of rhythms, and is suitable for those who wish to learn by ear. Music notation can also be provided afterwards for students who would like it.
Whistle
IRISH FLUTE & WHISTLE (Nicole Rabata): Nicole spent several years in Ennis, County Clare honing her technique on Irish flute and whistle. In this class, we will cover the basics of breathing, hand position, ornamentation and articulation. We will discuss various regional styles of playing, and an emphasis will be placed on listening and imitation. A variety of simple tunes will be taught by ear, and bringing a recording device with you is strongly recommended. This class is open to all levels.
Dance
DANCE THE TUNE (Nic Gareiss): Utilizing improvisation, organic movement, and drawing from a myriad of percussive dance styles including Irish step dance, Appalachian flat-footing, and Quebecois gigue, this class explores the sheer musical potential of your feet. Using imitation, idiomatic ornaments as well as alternate shoe-sounds and textures, we will learn to construct lines of rhythm imitating melody as well as create rhythmic counterpoint by setting up shoe-grooves employing contemporary musical sensibility. Dance the Tune students may wear shoes with a smooth leather sole and a low heel, tap shoes and Irish step dance shoes are suitable.
SEAN-NÓS IRISH DANCE (Kieran Jordan): Sean-nós (“old style”) Irish dance is a joyful expression of movement and sound. Considered to be one of the earliest forms of Irish dance, sean-nós is an improvised solo style, with footwork danced close-to-the-floor, a relaxed upper body, and a playful dialogue between the dance and music. In this class, students will enjoy listening and responding to traditional Irish music while gaining confidence as percussive dancers. Beginner dancers will focus on timing, technique, and building a body of basic steps. Experienced dancers will learn more detailed “battering” rhythms, while creating longer step sequences, practicing smooth transitions, and developing a personal solo style. Please wear comfortable shoes with a smooth hard sole (leather or hard rubber soles are preferred). Dancers are encouraged to bring water, a notebook, and a recording device.
Harp
CELTIC HARP (Maeve Gilchrist): During this week, Maeve will work with the students to strengthen their rhythmic core, increase hand independence and learn some of the fundamentals of ‘Celtic’ harp playing including the triplet, sliding thumbs and a variety of tunes. Using ‘ostinato’ exercises, the student will be guided through a variety of of rhythmic exercises designed to strengthen finger technique, rhythm and diversify the use of both hands. After this form of warm up Maeve will teach a variety of Scottish and Irish tunes and use them as vehicles to focus in on some of the fundamental techniques of ‘Celtic’ harping such as triplets and various forms of ornamentation. Though these classes will be taught by ear - their will be some sheet music available to take away at the end of class. This class is geared towards the lower intermediate to advanced player. Basic technique and knowledge of harp is essential for actively participating in the class but anyone is welcome to sit in and listen when the pace starts to pick up. It would be helpful for the student to have some basic knowledge of theory and key and time signatures for this class.
Piano
PIANO FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC (Emmanuelle LeBlanc): Piano Students in this class will learn techniques used in accompanying fiddlers in traditional Celtic music. Discussion and demonstration of how piano and step dance rhythms are interlinked. Chording approaches, bass lines and syncopated rhythms for jigs and reels will be explored.
Piano Accordion
PIANO ACCORDION (Pastelle LeBlanc): In this class, students will learn how to play the melodic right hand on the accordion and will learn a variety of Acadian tunes. Reels, jigs and waltzes from the Acadian repertoire will be taught as well as some base lines to accompany the right hand. Discussion and demonstration of how to use the accordion as a rythmic and accompaniement instrument, how to chord to tunes.
Button Accordion
IRISH BUTTON ACCORDION (Christian “Junior” Stevens): Junior Stevens will be teaching Button Accordion for intermediate and advanced players, focusing on the Irish style of playing the instrument. Over the course of the week, Junior will teach several tunes from the repertoire, focusing on good fundamentals of the style: rhythm, ornamentation, musicality and creative expression. An instrument in B/C or C#/D is preferred, but he can accommodate instruments in all 1 or 2 row diatonic systems.
Scottish Small Pipes
SCOTTISH SMALL PIPES (Christopher Gray): Develop your technique and repertoire on the Scottish Smallpipes, the softer and more versatile Scottish bagpipe. An excellent indoor alternative or companion to the Great Highland Bagpipes, the Smallpipes are perfect for pub sessions, cèilidhs, house parties, and as a practice instrument for Highland pipers. Students will learn about the parts of this unique Scottish bagpipe, how to properly hold and sound them, how to play scales and tunes, and how to play in sessions and cèilidhs. We will explore general Scottish Bagpiping tunes and technique, including the Great Highland Bagpipe system of ornamentation, as well as the technique and repertoire specific to the Smallpipes, including melodic variation and Scottish Border tunes.
Open to All Majors: Stretching for Musicians
Each morning before class, Nancy Neff will lead an optional workshop on stretching before you play. Just as tuning your instrument is essential to making beautiful music, keeping your body in good physical condition will help you play your best and aid in preventing common injuries such as tendonitis and muscle strains. Join Nancy Neff, PT, DPT, Cert MDT, for a 20 minute warm up to improve your upper body flexibility and posture to start your day of making music. These exercises will be specifically geared to address the physical requirements of musicians. This session will be offered daily.