* Repertoire: Open to mixed instruments, students must have the ability to learn mu- Tentative Class Schedule sic by ear. Pieces will be chosen at several tempos, so there should be something accessible to most playing levels during the 2 hour class. Repertoire classes will be tailored to our registered students interests and in friendly keys for the style of pipes the teacher is focusing on. Please sign up early!
Lessons: Teachers are asked to allow time to teach up to 4 half-hour private lessons during the weekend (schedule has long breaks to accommodate some of these). These will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis to students, who will pay their teacher directly ($30/half hour lesson) at the lesson.
Mini Classes: Students are invited to share their knowledge with others in a mini class setting. These have been in a variety of areas including repertoire, hand skills (things like reed making), and non music related topics… (history, culture, etc). It’s a great way to get to know other students.
Rental Instruments: For folks interested in trying a set of Scottish Smallpipes, several sets of Nate Banton’s pipes will be available during the festival for a rental fee of $40/ weekend. Call for more information and to secure a set.
Classes
Class 1 – Saturday 10-12 AM
- Uilleann Pipes Technique - Jerry
- Irish Style & Repertoire for Flute & Whistle - John
- Northumbrian Smallpipes - Dick
- Practical Music for Public Performance - EJ *
- Honk and Squeeze (bellows bagpipes for absolute beginners) - Bob
- Intro to Bodhran - Matt
Class 2 – Saturday 2-4 PM
- Irish Repertoire - Jerry *
- Flute Technique - John
- Northumbrian Smallpipes Repertoire for Ensemble - Dick *
This class features ensemble music written by Dick Hensold for NSP and other instruments, as well as his arrangements of several traditional tunes. Music provided for pipers as well as players of any other melody instruments in C or chord instruments. - Border Pipes - Bob
- Scottish Smallpipes - EJ
- Advanced Bodhran Technique - Matt
Class 3 – Sunday 10-12 AM
- Uilleann Pipes 1 - Jerry
- Flute Technique - John
- NSP Friendly Repertoire, traditional - Dick *
This repertoire class will feature contra dance tunes and selected Cape Breton fiddle tunes, all appropriate for Northumbrian smallpipes, with music provided for other instruments, such as flute, whistle, recorder, violin, and all chord instruments. - Border Pipes - EJ
- Easy Scottish Smallpipe Repertoire - Bob
- Scottish Snare Drumming - Matt
Class 4 – Sunday 2-4 PM
- Uilleann Pipes 2 - Jerry
- Northumbrian Smallpipes - Dick
- Breton and Galicean Repertoire - John *
- Scottish Smallpipes - Bob
- Border Pipes - EJ
Instrument Technique: Techniques, drills and exercises useful for all levels.
Style and Repertoire Classes: Work on ornamentation, style, phrasing, etc. that defines each style. Classes are geared more towards intermediate-advanced players.
Northumbrian smallpipes, Scottish Smallpipes and Border Pipes classes will mix levels in each class, but devote some time to issues at each level in each class.
Smallpipes classes are open to mouth-blown reel pipes if they have the correct bore and are tuned in A.
Less skilled players are welcome to listen in all classes to master what they can and record the rest for future work.
Upper Potomac Music Weekends