As part of your participation as an instructor at the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat, we ask you to do several “extracurricular” activities that will benefit any attending student, not just the students of your particular course. First, we give you the option of choosing between an Enrichment Class, a Workshop or an Informance. Additionally, we ask you to co-lead a session with a group of your fellow instructors for students. Here are descriptions of each activity:
Enrichment Class
This is a one-hour presentation given on topics that range from Irish music history to regional styles of Irish music, key figures in Irish music to exploring song traditions, and other topics that give our students some context for Irish music. For examples of these classes, go to Past Enrichment Classes.
Workshop
This is a one-hour presentation given on topics that are practical in nature such as music theory, methods for learning or performing music or dance, composing and/or arranging tunes or songs, vocal health, starting and managing a session, running sound or making a recording, and other hands-on tips to help our students be better at what they do musically. For examples, go to Past Workshops.
Informance
This is a one-hour performance/exposition of your musical journey — a time to talk about who influenced your playing, discuss your style of playing, demonstrate the intricacies of your instrument, share your favorite stories, tunes or songs, etc. You can present alone, or invite others to join. We can also provide a moderator who can ask you questions. The design of this activity is to enable other students beside your core class students to hear you discuss and perform Irish music in a more intimate setting.
Co-Lead a Session
This 90-minute session is held following an evening instructor concert. We will partner you with other instructors to lead a session among students. Simply, you and your group of instructors will play tunes together and the students will play along if they know the tunes. You will not be assigned on the same night that you are scheduled to perform during an instructor concert.
Audio Visual Support
We have a large variety of audio visual equipment and materials available for your course classes and any of the above extracurricular activities. In advance of the retreat, our AV Team will contact you to determine your needs for all of your activities. We have erase boards, projectors and screens, laptops, cameras, MP3 players, CD and cassette tape players, powered speakers, sound systems, hookups, converters, and possibly anything you’d need to communicate or present. We also have a copier available for your printing needs.
If you have a question about any of the extracurricular activities on specific AV concerns, please send an email to director@oflahertyretreat.org.