Below are some guidelines for determining the class levels for which participants would be best suited.
Placement Guidelines for Anglo Concertina Course
Please note that we have an Anglo Concertina Fundamentals Course designed for students who do not meet the following requirements.
General:
- Have you been playing traditional Irish music on the Anglo concertina regularly (at least four hours per week) for at least two years?
- Have you been playing the concertina for at least three years?
- Are you comfortable performing up to speed an Irish tune by yourself?
- Are you capable of learning traditional Irish concertina tunes by ear?
Repertoire:
- Can you play from memory at least twenty traditional Irish tunes?
Technique:
- Can you execute some of the basic forms of Irish concertina ornamentation in your playing ( i.e. grace notes, rolls, triplets or crans)?
- Can you play the scales of D, G, A in eighth notes with coordination between the fingering and the bellows without difficulty?
- Are you comfortable playing on all three rows of the concertina?
- Are you comfortable using the air button to maintain proper air flow?
Placement Guidelines for Bodhrán Course
Please note that we have a Bodhrán Fundamentals Course designed for students who do not meet the following requirements.
General:
- Have you been playing traditional Irish music on bodhrán regularly (at least four hours per week) for at least two years?
- Have you been playing the bodhrán for at least three years?
- Are you comfortable performing jigs and reels at an appropriate dance tempo?
- Do you regularly play the bodhrán at local sessions or with your own band?
Technique:
- Can you manipulate the skin to produce open tones of various pitches, muted tones, slurs, and “pops” when performing on the bodhrán?
- Do you have a good understanding and/or use of double-ended and/or single-ended ornamentation?
Placement Guidelines for Fiddle Course
Please note that we have an Fiddle Fundamentals Course designed for students who do not meet the following requirements.
General:
- Have you been playing traditional Irish fiddle music regularly (at least four hours per week) for at least two years?
- Have you been playing the fiddle for at least three years?
- Are you comfortable performing up to speed an Irish tune by yourself?
- Are you capable of learning traditional Irish fiddle tunes by ear?
Repertoire:
- Can you play from memory at least twenty traditional Irish tunes?
Technique:
- Can you execute some of the basic forms of Irish fiddle ornamentation in your playing ( i.e. grace notes, rolls, bowed “triplets” or “trebles”)?
- Can you play a scale of eighth notes using single bows without problems with coordination between the bow and the left hand?
- Are you comfortable playing on different strings without changing bow direction (i.e., slurring across strings)?
- Are you comfortable using the fourth finger on the left hand?
Placement Guidelines for Flute or Whistle Courses
Please note that we have a Flute & Whistle Fundamentals Course designed for students who do not meet the following requirements.
General:
- Have you been playing traditional Irish music on flute or whistle regularly (at least four hours per week) for at least two years?
- Have you been playing the flute or whistle for at least three years?
- Are you comfortable performing up to speed an Irish reel by yourself?
- Are you capable of learning traditional Irish tunes by ear from a recording?
Repertoire:
- Can you play from memory at least twenty traditional Irish tunes?
Technique:
- Can you execute all of the basic forms of Irish flute or whistle ornamentation in your playing, i.e. grace notes, rolls ( long and short), triplets, crans and trills?
- Are you comfortable articulating notes without tonguing?
- Are you comfortable playing in the primary octaves with smooth control of air flow?
Placement Guidelines for Guitar Course
Please note that we have a Guitar Fundamentals Course designed for students who do not meet the following requirements.
General:
- Have you been playing traditional Irish music on guitar regularly (at least four hours per week) for at least two years?
- Have you been playing the guitar for at least three years?
- Are you comfortable accompanying Irish tunes up to speed?
- Are you capable of finding by ear the keys in which Irish tunes are played?
- Will you be comfortable playing in Dropped-D tuning?
Repertoire:
- Can you accompany from memory at least twenty traditional Irish tunes?
Technique:
- Can you execute some of the basic strums required in accompanying Irish music ( i.e., reels, hornpipes, jigs?
- Can you play basic chords in the keys of D, G, A, Am, Bm, Dm, and Em?
- Are you playing jigs using the picking method of down,up,down,down,up,down? If not, are you playing down, up, down, up, down, up with emphasis on the first and fourth strokes?
Placement Guidelines for Mandolin or Tenor Banjo Courses
Please note that we have a Mandolin & Tenor Banjo Fundamentals Course designed for students who do not meet the following requirements.
General:
- Have you been playing traditional Irish music on mandolin or tenor banjo regularly (at least four hours per week) for at least two years?
- Have you been playing the mandolin or tenor banjo for at least three years?
- Are you comfortable performing up to speed an Irish tune solo?
- Are you capable of learning traditional Irish tunes by ear?
Repertoire:
- Can you play from memory at least twenty traditional Irish tunes?
Technique:
- Can you execute some of the basic forms of Irish ornamentation in your playing ( i.e. grace notes, rolls, picked “triplets” or “trebles”)?
- Can you play a scale of eighth notes using single up and down strokes without problems with coordination between the left hand and right hands?
- Are you comfortable playing between different strings?
- Are you comfortable using the fourth finger on the left hand?
- Are you playing jigs using the picking method of down,up,down,down,up,down? If not, are you playing down, up, down, up, down, up with emphasis on the first and fourth strokes?