March 17 Workshop: Celtic Ballads & Singing
I'm super excited to be offering a double workshop called "Celtic Ballads & Singing" next month at the Passim School of Music!
Celtic Ballads & Singing - March 17th, 2024
If you like a song with a juicy story and lots of room for melismatic ornamentation to show off your vocal flexibility and creativity, traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs are for you! Students are welcome to attend one or both parts of this two-part workshop.
Part I: Ornamentation and Style // 10:30am-12pm
In the first 90 minutes, we’ll review vocal basics and then take a look at unaccompanied Irish Sean-nós (old-style) singing and its influence on English-speaking singers in the Celtic music worlds. We’ll break down different ornaments, study their use by a variety of singers, and discuss how to incorporate them into our own arrangements.
Part II: Ballads and Love Songs // 1pm-2:30pm
In the last 90 minutes, we’ll focus on two song types most often sung solo: narrative ballads and love songs! We’ll sing through 3-5 songs representing different common tropes and modes, and then discuss song evolution by comparing those versions with others from different time periods and locations. At the end, we’ll discuss resources for further learning and research.
This workshop will be taught in two parts on the same day with an hour break in between. This ticket is for BOTH Part I & II, bundled together for a discount. All participants will get a coupon for 20% off of St. Patrick’s Day Brunch downstairs in the Club.
Ideas for a class like this have been bouncing around my head for years, so I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to put it all together in one big workshop where I get to show off the techniques and styles of some of my favorite singers and teach some of the songs I’m currently obsessed with! I want folks at any level to feel welcome to come, as we’ll do some warm-ups and go over vocal basics as needed. Sheet music will be provided but the focus will be on listening and learning by ear. No instruments necessary!
