Workshop Program
Pre-Registration Form is now available at the bottom of this page! 
Almonte Celtfest 2010 Workshops - Saturday, July 10
Celtfest 2010, in association with the Ottawa Valley School of Traditional Music and Mississippi Mills Musicworks, is pleased to offer a variety of Celtic music and dance workshops again this year. A prerequisite for all workshops will be some fundamental working knowledge of your instrument such as basic notes, scales, and chord patterns.
Workshops are $15 per workshop, payable at check-in on Saturday (cash or cheque to Almonte Celtfest - sorry, no credit cards).
ALL registrations and payment will be at the Old Town Hall in Almonte. Please register (and pre-registrants check in) 30 minutes in advance as many of the workshops will be held in other locations and you’ll need a few minutes to get there.
Locations: OTH - Old Town Hall, CCO - Chamber of Commerce Office (under OTH), MMM - Mississippi Mills Musicworks, TBM - The Barley Mow upstairs, BBB - Baker Bob’s Bakery
(Locations are subject to change; you will be advised of any changes at registration)
A half-hour break is provided between workshops to allow participants to move between locations, grab a coffee or ice cream, or just enjoy some of the other Celtfest activities going on in town.
The Celtfest committee appreciates the support of all instructors for participating in our program and of the continuing support from Mississippi Mills Musicworks.
Fiddle
Beginner Fiddle: Irish (1:00 - 2:30 pm, OTH)
- Matt Pepin
Beginner Fiddle: Regional/Ottawa Valley (1:00 - 2:30 pm, OTH)
- to be announced
Beginner Fiddle: Cape Breton (1:00 - 2:30 pm, OTH)
- to be announced
Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle: Irish (3:00 - 4:30 pm, OTH)
- Matt Pepin
Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle: Regional/Ottawa Valley (3:00 - 4:30 pm, OTH)
- to be announced
Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle: Cape Breton (3:00 - 4:30 pm, OTH)
- to be announced
Guitar Accompaniment
Introduction to Tune Accompaniment for Guitar (1:00 - 2:30 pm, TBM)
- Paul Hawtin
Intermediate Guitar Accompaniment (3:00 - 4:30 pm, TBM)
- Paul Hawtin
Piano Accompaniment
Introduction to Celtic Piano Accompaniment (1:00 - 2:30 pm, MMM)
- Jim Hunter
Intermediate Celtic Piano Accompaniment (3:00 - 4:30 pm, MMM)
- Jim Hunter
Mandolin
Beginner Irish/Celtic Mandolin (1:00 - 2:30 pm, BBB)
- Bruce Barton
Bodhran
Bodhran for Beginners (3:00 - 4:30 pm, BBB)
- Shawna Lucey
Whistle & Flute
Beginner Whistle and Flute for Celtic Music (1:00 - 2:30 pm, CCO)
(Chuck Quick)
Intermediate Whistle and Irish Flute (3:00 - 4:30 pm, CCO)
(Chuck Quick)
Irish Harp
Introduction to the Irish/Celtic Harp (1:00 - 2:30 pm, OTH)
- Clare Dwyer
Dance
Step-Dance: Irish Sean Nos and Valley Styles (3:00 - 4:30 pm, OTH)
- Clare Dwyer
Workshop Course Descriptions
Fiddle
All fiddle courses are arranged through the Ottawa Valley School of Traditional Music (OVSTM). The Ottawa Valley School of Traditional Music was started in Almonte in 2009 by Matt Pepin to provide opportunities locally for learning the fiddle and passing on the legacy of the rich musical heritage of the Ottawa Valley.
The Beginner and Intermediate fiddle workshops in each style will run consecutively to allow attendees to participate in both if they choose and feel comfortable playing with others at the intermediate level, or simply listening in.
Irish fiddle will highlight the major styles used on traditional Irish fiddling, whereas Cape Breton will focus on the mainly Scottish styles and sets as they’re used in Cape Breton fiddling. Regional will emphasize the tradition of popular fiddling found in this region of Canada, notably the Ottawa Valley.
Beginner Fiddle: Irish (Matt Pepin)
Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle: Irish (Matt Pepin)
Beginner Fiddle: Regional/Ottawa Valley (TBA)
Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle: Regional/Ottawa Valley (TBA)
Beginner Fiddle: Cape Breton (TBA)
Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle: Cape Breton (TBA)
Guitar
Introduction to Tune Accompaniment for Guitar (Paul Hawtin) will focus on basic chords and steady right hand strumming for accompanying Celtic music. No experience is necessary although participants will get the most out of this workshop if they already know the chords in the keys of D and G.
Intermediate Guitar Accompaniment (Paul Hawtin) will emphasize various right hand rhythm techniques, and some tricks on how to think through a tune chordally. While DADGAD tuning will be mainly used for this workshop, players of other tunings such as standard and drop-D are also welcome. Participants will be expected to have knowledge of the basic chords for their chosen tuning and be able to change chords without interruption.
Piano
Beginner Celtic Keyboard Accompaniment (Jim Hunter) is designed for players with basic familiarity in reading music and forming 3-note chords, and will cover tips for playing by ear (when to change chords and where to go) as well as the traditional chording styles of jigs, reels, marches, and strathspeys. This workshop will use facilities and pianos generously provided by Mississippi Mills Musicworks.
Intermediate Celtic Keyboard Accompaniment (Jim Hunter) is designed for players having some familiarity with chording and will cover left-hand baselines, syncopation in Irish and Scottish music, walking chords, session playing, as well as supporting the solo fiddler. This workshop will use facilities and pianos generously provided by Mississippi Mills Musicworks.
Mandolin
Beginner Irish/Celtic Mandolin (Bruce Barton) is intended for beginning players with some basic knowledge of the instrument, but interested in developing their approach to traditional Irish and Celtic jigs and reels, as they’re played on the mandolin. The workshop will also introduce how styles used on the mandolin can be adapted to other instruments of the mandolin family and the tenor banjo.
Bodhran
Bodhran for Beginners (Shawna Lucey) will show participants the basic styles on these percussion instruments for different rhythms, how they fit into Celtic music as an accompaniment instrument, and how to use the tipper.
Whistle
Beginner Whistle and Flute for Celtic Music (Chuck Quick) will introduce finger positions, simple scales, and the basics of playing the tin whistle or “penny whistle” and, for those that have them, the wooden or Irish flute. The whistle is a good, inexpensive way into the fascinating world of Irish music, and can be a good starting place to become a music maker.
Intermediate Whistle and Irish Flute (Chuck Quick) will explore more advanced playing of jigs, reels, and other traditional Celtic styles as they’re played on the tin whistle and Irish flute.
Celtic Harp
Introduction to the Irish/Celtic Harp (Clare Dwyer) will introduce participants to the basic styles involved in playing the Irish/Celtic harp in different keys commonly associated with traditional music, both as a solo instrument and with a group. Participants will be expected to bring their own instrument.
Step-Dance
Step-Dance: Irish Sean Nos and Valley Styles (Clare Dwyer) will teach some basic reel steps with an emphasis on the original Irish sean nos and Ottawa valley styles. Time permitting, the workshop will also touch on steps used for jigs, clogs, slip jigs or waltz clogs. Some dance and tune experience would be helpful, and hard-soled, closed-toe shoes are definitely preferred.
Download the Workshop Schedule: celtfest-2010-workshop-schedule