Saturday Workshops
We break out into smaller groups by level for the Saturday morning workshops. Everybody will learn the same tune before the first break.
At the break, anyone who is uncomfortable at the original level they chose can speak to the instructor and work out another placement.
Playing by Ear: We mail all registrants a "listening" CD of the pieces we intend to teach at the Escape at least 2 weeks in advance. All you do is listen to it. Listen to it a lot. This is part of learning to play by ear.
Some of the subject topics might change slightly at the weekend, depending on the experience and playing levels of the participants. We keep the class sizes small. The goal is always the same—learn by doing.
Morning
Starting at 9am. Everybody learns the same piece in the first workshop, at different levels, depending on the group you're with.
Playing by Ear: You don't have to read music to play it. Music-dependent players can break free of the printed page. Ear training makes a well-rounded musician. Listen & learn! We'll make repetition, repetition, repetition fun, fun, fun.
Ornamentations: Ornamentations are the "icing on the cake" in your playing. We'll be teaching a few of the basics within the tunes we're learning. Lots of practice.
Building repertoire: Each level learns a different piece in the second workshop of the morning. Left hand accompaniment added to suit the playing level of your group. Lots of repetition.
Noon: Take a lunch break until 1:30pm. Walk the campus grounds or simply relax.
Afternoon
This year we are returning to our original format where most of the day is spent with your group. There will be one workshop option in the late afternoon for the intermediate and advanced levels. In order to maxmize retention, the beginner group will stay together all day and work on the basics of chords and left hand to the pieces they are learning.
Chord Basics & Inversions: The Beginner and Intermediate groups will cover this topic at the appropriate level of depth for the players in each class. We'll cover this topic and and show how to pick the right chord for accompaniment. There's more than one way to play a chord. Chords will add depth to your playing, and combined with a good accompaniment pattern, give the music color.
Building left-hand skill: Kathy will use the tunes from the Escape CD as practice for reinforcing left hand accompaniment skills: from chord knowledge to creating and playing interesting bass lines. Chord positions will be practiced. Damping technique taught and reinforced. How to easily add some syncopations off the beat to jazz it up a little. For the intermediate or advanced player.
Accompaniment Tricks: Billy will lead the intermediate & advanced players using the tunes from the Escape CD and show you how to develop ideas for accompanying these pieces when you're not playing the melody. Rhythm & chords and coordination--that's all it takes!
The O'Carolan Workshop: So popular last year, Gráinne will talk about and teach a tune by Irish harper/composer O'Carolan. He composed about 200 tunes, which one will Gráinne teach?
For the intermediate or advanced player.
Wind-down activities in the late afternoon:
Group Photo: we always do a group photo. Don your Harpers Escape t-shirt for this event!
Getting Started Playing Gigs: Thinking of starting to perform and play out in public? With over 30 years of experience herself, Kathy will help you sort through some performing basics as well as the business of music. This is the late afternoon discussion group--hang out and chat.
Practice Time: lots of people asked for a "practice" session, a time when they could review the day's material on their own. Two teachers will "roam" the halls providing assistance where needed. The rooms in the conference center will all be in the same wing close to our workshop rooms and they're quite roomy and spacious for doing practice privately. Or you can find a space in any of the lounges or other workshop rooms. Last thing in the afternoon before the dinner break.
Dinner: 6pm.
Evening
After-Dinner Concert: All the teachers will do short sets in an informal concert.
Leftovers: We wrap up by finishing off the day's loose ends. We play the whole evening "by ear." Whatever needs doing gets done.
Playing with Others:
Tune Session: There's no curfew. The hardy can stay up and play tunes to their heart's content. We'll call this a "slow" jam session. What are the dynamics of interacting with other musicians? Play if you know it. Watch. Listen. Learn.
Song swap & sing-along: You can play. You can sing. You can do both. Share songs with choruses everyone can join in. |
Workshops
