Details

Details on the 2022 Northeast Tionól

Registration for the tionól entitles you to all classes, workshops, lectures, and concerts. The schedule allows you to take two classes and one workshop over the course of the weekend. There are two concerts featuring instructors: one on Friday night and one on Saturday night. The Piper’s Chair concert on Sunday night is for attendees; there will be a sign-up sheet available on Sunday for those who want to perform.

Classes (Saturday morning and afternoon)

Classes, which take place on Saturday, are group lessons; generally the instructor teaches everyone a tune (along with ornamentation and techniques in the context of the tune) and answers questions from students. You’ll need to choose your skill level when you register; here’s a rough guide:

• Beginner: Either no prior experience or some experience with the basics of the instrument and able to play a few tunes at a slow pace with little or no ornamentation.
• Intermediate: Should be able to play a variety of tunes (jigs, reels, hornpipes), have a reasonable repertory of tunes and be able to play at a reasonable dance tempo.
• Advanced: Proficient on the instrument, interested in expanding technique, studying nuances of style and ornamentation.

For pipes, there are typically several levels of “intermediate,” because most of our attendees fall into that category. If you feel you’re at the low end of intermediate (e.g., playing a few years but have a limited repertoire and skill), choose “lower intermediate.” If you’ve been playing a while but don’t yet consider yourself advanced, choose “upper intermediate.”

Pipes

Two classes: one on Saturday morning and one on Saturday afternoon. You’ll have one instructor in the morning and a different instructor in the afternoon.

• Basic/beginner: Traditional class; usually not more than 8 people.
• Intermediate: Traditional class, up to 10 students.
• Advanced: Traditional class, up to 10 students

Fiddle

Fiddle classes are taught at intermediate and advanced levels and are not appropriate for beginners. Each group of fiddle students will have a turn with each of the instructors.

Workshops

Subject-based workshops allow students to focus on the things they want to work on most. All the workshops will take place on Sunday afternoon. While some workshops may be most useful to upper intermediate or advanced students, all students are welcome to attend.

With some exceptions, workshops will be capped at 10 participants to ensure more one-on-one interaction and a higher-quality experience for everyone.

Pipes

Joey Abarta: The Practice of Practice

Tips and tricks to improve your practice sessions and everything in between. This is a hand-on workshop for pipes.

• Unlimited attendees

Colm Broderick: The Music of Liam O’Flynn

In this workshop Colm will have a look at the life of Liam O’Flynn, his beginnings, musical influences, his musical endeavours and his repertoire. He will share recordings, photos and videos of Liam and teach some tunes from his repertoire.The workshop is not limited by instrument.

• Unlimited attendees

Nicolas Brown: Hop Jigs: what are they, where’d they come from, and how do I play them?

In this workshop Nicolas will give some background on this elusive tune type. He will discuss the history and origins, including speculation on the relationship to other tune rhythms and genres of traditional music. Most importantly, he will describe how to differentiate them from slip jigs and other tune types, play some recorded examples, and teach one or two uncommon hop jigs. Open to anyone who can play melody.

• Unlimited attendees

Eamonn Dillon: Variations and Ornamentations

In this hands-on workshop, we will begin with a basic tune or two and explore different options for adding ornamentation (rolls, staccato triplets, popping, etc.), and variations on the melody. If time allows, students may suggest tunes for review and share ideas. Open to all melody instruments.

• Limited to 10 attendees 

Seán Gavin: Huffin’ and Puffin’

This flute workshop is open to all instruments, all levels. Seán will focus mainly on phrasing, articulation and rhythm. He will help students with the placement of breaths, accents, and ornamentation using familiar tunes as a vehicle to enhance musicality. Students can also expect discussions about variation, regional styles, and the music of great players from the past and present.

• Limited to 10 attendees

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL! Preston Howard Wilde: A Personal Approach to Regulator Playing

Preston will demonstrate and discuss his approach to using the regulators as a melodic aid to the chanter. He will also explore different approaches, when to employ them, and using restraint in both playing the regulators and adjusting them. If time allows, maintenance and tuning may also be examined. This workshop will be primarily instructor demonstration with student Q&A.

• Limited to 10 attendees

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL! Cillian Vallely: Slow Air Technique

This hands-on workshop will explore the techniques used in the playing of traditional slow airs, focusing on chanter tone, ornamentation, and use of harmonic accompaniment via the regulators.

• Limited to 10 attendees

Fiddle

Eimear Arkins: Fiddle Tunes from County Clare

County Clare is renowned for many things, not least of which is its many fiddle playing composers. In this workshop, we will take a look at some of the stylistic features of these composers, past and present, and discuss what makes their tunes unique, catchy and in some cases, a little bit quirky! Some of the tunes might be familiar to participants already but there are sure to be some gems along the way. Notation for each of the tunes discussed will be provided to participants and if time allows, at least one tune will be taught/played together.

• Unlimited attendees; all instruments welcome
  

Alison Perkins: Na Mná: Historical Women Musicians

In this workshop, attendees will learn about a few incredible women musicians, including concertina player Ella Mae O’Dwyer, fiddler Julia Clifford, and more. Alison will give a bit of background and history on each player. She will also share some recordings, so that attendees can hear how the musicians played, and participate in a group discussion about their styles and technique. Alison will also teach some tunes from their repertoire. This workshop is not limited by instrument.

• Unlimited attendees; all instruments welcome
  

Reedmaking

Reed Clinic: 10-12 AM Saturday. All are welcome to drop by to have minor reeds/pipes problems addressed.

Reedmaking Workshop. Saturday and Sunday afternoon beginner and advanced reedmaking workshops; these are participatory and open to all.

Lecture by David Quinn (Sunday morning)

The Taylor Brothers and their Imitators: an American tradition of pipemaking

The Taylor Brothers were the country’s leading pipemakers, and were active in NYC and Philadelphia from about 1870 to 1890. They developed a completely new style of keywork, as well as what may have been the first attempts at what was to become the modern concert-pitch D chanter. Their instruments are treasured today, and have been the inspiration for generations of imitators over the last 130 years. The presentation will look at a number of authentic Taylor sets (and the people who played them) as well as a slew of lesser imitations.

Schedule

Friday  

3:30 pm: Check-in/Registration begins in Pub

6:00-7:00 pm: Supper

7:30-8:00 pm: Orientation Meeting in Pub

8:00-9:00 pm: Friday night concert

9:00-10:30 pm: Slow Session in Tea Room

9:00 pm-??? Sessions, visiting, etc.

Saturday

8:00-9:30 am: Breakfast

9:00-10:00 am: Registration in Dining Room

10:00 am-12:00 pm: Piping/Fiddling CLASSES

10:00 am-12:00 pm: Drop-in Reed Clinic. All are welcome to drop by to have minor reeds/pipes problems addressed.

12:15 pm: Group Photo outside Dining Room!

12:30-1:30 pm: Lunch

2:30-4:30 pm: Piping/Fiddling CLASSES

2:30-4:30 pm: Beginner and advanced reedmaking workshop; participatory and open to all.

4:30-6:00 pm: Free time

6:00-7:00 pm: Supper

7:30-10:00 pm: Saturday night concert

10:00 pm-??? Sessions, etc…

Sunday  

8:00-9:30 am: Breakfast

9:30-11:00 am Pack up and check-out for those leaving Sunday (by 11 am)

10:00-11:30 am: Lecture on the Taylor Brothers and their Imitators, by David Quinn

12:30-1:30 pm: Lunch

1:00-1:30 pm: Tionól Organizational Meeting in the Tea Room

3:00-4:30 pm: Piping/Fiddling WORKSHOPS

3:00-4:30 pm: Beginner and advanced reedmaking workshop; participatory and open to all.

4:30-6:00 pm: Free time

6:00-7:00 pm: Supper

7:30-9:30 pm: Piper’s Chair

9:30 pm -??? Sessions, etc.

Monday

8:00-9:30 am: Farewell Breakfast

10:00-11:00 am: Check-out by 11 am