Academy Classes
The Dublin Irish Festival Academy presents an opportunity to study with some of the best Irish musicians and experts of Irish culture, arts and dance. These classes are designed to provide students an up-close and personal learning experience that will enhance their understanding of Irish music and culture. Students will have an opportunity to learn to dance a traditional Irish set dance, improve fiddling skills or study Irish language.
The Dublin Irish Festival Academy will take place on Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30. All classes are held in the Dublin Community Recreation Center and are open to students age 12 and older. A variety of classes will be held at the beginner, intermediate, intermediate/advance and advanced levels.
Register Over the Phone.
1. Call 614-410-4500
Register Online.
1. Call 614-410-4550 to be entered into the Online System. ( If you have registered for a class at the DCRC in the past you can skip this step.)
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Intermediate |
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Dublin Irish Festival Academy 2009:
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Age Limit- 12 and older for all classes
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All classes are held Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Dublin Community Recreation Center.
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Beginning and intermediate classes are $50 and intermediate/advanced and advanced classes are $75
Beginner
Beginning Bodhran
Have you ever wondered how to play the bodhran? Michael Vignoles from Galway, Ireland teaches this traditional heartbeat of all Irish music.Michael is also known internationally as an instrument maker. For more than 20 years, he has made bodhrans and uilleann pipes from his Galway City shop. Bodhrans will be provided for this class.
Instructor: Michael Vignoles
Class fee $50
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum – 16
Beginning Whistle
Brian McCoy of The Kells band will help you learn your first tune or teach you the techniques of the masters on the whistle which can also be applied to the simple system and modern classical flutes. The tin whistle or pennywhistle is a simple, inexpensive wind instrument used widely in Irish traditional music.
Instructor: Brian McCoy
Class fee $50
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum – 16
Intermediate
Fiddle
Deborah Colon’s skill and emotional depth have earned her national recognition in Irish and Scottish circles for her fiddling and blistering reels, playful jigs and heartbreaking airs. Her tremendous energy and presence in the music keep her in demand as a performer, studio musician and teacher.
Instructor: Deborah Colon
Class fee $50
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum – 16
Country Set/Ceili Dance
This class focuses on both the basics and finer points of country set dances, introduces some newly revived or created dances and gives you a chance to further develop your steps. This interactive class gets you up and moving and is suitable for singles, couples or groups. Students should wear comfortable thin leather soled shoes and loose light clothing. Jim Keenan, native of County Armagh, Ireland, teaches country set dancing in both the United States and Europe. Through his research and teaching he has helped revive traditional sets as well and has been commissioned to design original choreography.
Instructor: Jim Keenan
Class fee $50
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum – 16
Irish Language
Irish, one of the Gaelic languages, is experiencing a renaissance both in the United States and in Ireland. This is your chance to learn some of the basics including complex pronunciation and traditional sayings. Raghn Crow is the founding president of the Gaelic League of Central Ohio and is well-known in the United States and Ireland as an author and teacher of the Irish language. Although Raghn calls Irish “an ancient language in a modern time,” he insists that once students know the “code,” they can apply those rules to the language and progress quickly in their proficiency.
Instructor: Raghn Crow
Class fee $50
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum – 16
Sean Nos Singing
“Sean Nos” is unaccompanied singing in the Irish traditional style. Literally meaning “the old way,” it is highly ornamented, technically difficult and historically sung in the Irish language. This class will cover several songs and will include style, ornamentation and interpretation. Since her work with Arcady in the 1990s, Niamh Parsons has gone on to record seven solo albums and is recognized as one of the best singers to come out of Ireland.
Instructor: Niamh Parsons
Class fee $75
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum –16
Advanced
Irish Flute
This class is for whistle and flute players who already know their way around the instrument, and want to learn more repertoire, traditional ornamentation, articulation and style. Grey Larsen is well-known as one of the world's foremost players and exponents of the Irish flute. To many musicians and music lovers his recordings are classics.
Instructor: Grey Larsen
Class fee $75
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum –16
Fiddle
Chris Bain’s intermediate and advanced classes are for competent players interested in deepening their understanding of Irish fiddle including unique personal and regional styles that have influenced Chris’ own playing. Students will learn a few new tunes in the process. Please bring a recording device.
Instructor: Chris Bain
Class fee $75
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum –16
Accompanying Irish Music
(Standard tuned Guitar, DADGAD tuned Guitar; Bouzouki, Cittern, Octave Mandolin)
Hone your techniques for backing up traditional Irish dance music and songs with this informative and hands on workshop. This workshop will cover the fundamentals of good accompaniment that apply to guitar (in standard or alternate tuning) and all the various mandolin family instruments common in the Irish tradition (bouzouki, cittern, octave mandolin, etc.). Students will learn strumming techniques for various dance tune types and a few tricks of the trade. Suitable for newcomers to Irish backing as well as those who already have some experience and are looking to expand their palette.
Instructor: Brian Miller
Class fee $75
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum –16
Bodhran
This class is an inclusive and demystifying approach to playing the bodhran. The course aims to provide a detailed look at the bodhran and its use in all styles of music. Topics covered will include advanced technique, sound, how to accompany different types of tunes, working with other musicians, improvisation, practice routines and how to approach the instrument from the standpoint of accompanying traditional dance tunes. Emphasis will be on tone, technique and etiquette. Students will strive to “play the tune” rather than just “playing along.”
Instructor:Jackie Moran
Class fee $75
Class minimum – 7
Class maximum –16
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