Have you ever felt like you picked up the wrong instrument for the music you’ve fallen in love with? Brass and reed players on the folk circuit are few and far between and can feel a bit isolated – and so we’re delighted to offer a course specifically for you!
Each of the tutors are highly experienced, and specialise in a different area of the folk tradition: Jo Freya (Blowzabella, Narthen) – Central Europe and beyond; Tim Walker (Banter, Tickled Pink) – English music; Michel Duijves (Maalstroom, Mind the Midgie) – Celtic music. We’ll explore this music together, finding ways to better ‘fit the folk style’, how we play, decorations, repertoire, keys and transposition and anything else we can think of together.
The week will mostly be about playing music but we will also have sessions and discussions to help develop ourselves as players and this type of course and resources for the future.
Arrive Tue for lunch at 1pm; depart Fri after lunch.
Who’s it For?
For brass and reed players (we mean blown reeds – sax, clarinet etc, not squeezeboxes) who are curious about folk music, to those who are ‘out and proud’!
You’ll need a working knowledge of your instrument ie. to be able to play simple dance tunes up to speed. Both music readers and ear learners are welcome.
Tutors
Jo Freya (saxes) has been singing and playing traditional folk music since her childhood. As well as being a highly effective workshop leader and teacher in music, dance, voice and composition she is also a charismatic performer with many high profile folk artists including Narthan, Blowzabella and Coope, Simpson, Fraser, Freya, Boyes in their work with author Michael Morpurgo.
Tim Walker (trumpet and percussion) is one third of dance band Banter , the Liam Robinson Dance Band, Pigeon English, and Tickled Pink). With over 30 years of experience (he started playing cornet at the age of 8) Tim is a multi instrumentalist with experience in a range of different styles. He loves to bring his love of music and experience as a teacher into community settings.
Michel Duijves (Celtic Music) (Maalstroom, Mind the Midgie). Michel is first and foremost clarinettist and bass clarinettist and also plays the piano, tin whistle and saxophone. His bands play acoustic music inspired by the Irish, English and Dutch folk. The band members write the instrumental repertoire themselves, the songs are usually traditional. Michel’s band Mind Midgie , a quintet that plays Irish traditional folk, laced with pieces by ‘house composer’ Auke Hofstra.
