Come and learn the satisfying and engaging skills of playing for dancing!
An ensemble class, open to all instruments, we focus on emphasis, speed and atmosphere, learning how to keep a steady speed, how to keep a light sound with plenty of groove, essential for dance music, and how to craft and shape the tunes and arrangements to make exciting music for both listeners and dancers.
The class is open to all instruments and we are most often using fiddle and melodeon friendly keys like D and G major or E minor. If you play an instrument which has restrictions in range or keys, such as tin whistle or harmonica, please be aware that you may need to bring an additional instrument, for example whistles in both D and C.
Pre-entry level requirements
The Ceilidh Band Workshop caters for mixed instruments of level 3 or 4 standard (improvers/intermediate).
Improvers will need to know the chords D, G, A, E, F, C, Am, Em, Bm, Dm, Gm and be confident in their ability to create strumming patterns.
Intermediate instrumentalists will have an opportunity to play the melody.
Who leads the course?
Ross Grant
Ross is a well- respected performer, composer and teacher. The last few years have seen him touring with Will Pound’s Through the Seasons, folk award nominee Georgia Lewis and contemporary folk ensemble Inlay, as well as a number of other recording credits. He has taught fiddle for over ten years, working on the highly acclaimed Sistema program, which aims to transform the lives of young people through music across the world. In addition, he also runs his own successful English Fiddle Weekend for adult learners, which sees its fourth year in 2022.
How can I take part?
2022-23 Dates
Autumn Term 2022: 10, 17 Sept | 1, 15, 22 Oct | 5, 19, 26 Nov | 3 Dec (9 sessions)
Spring Term 2023: 7, 21, 28 Jan | 4, 18, 25 Feb | 18, 25 March | 1 April (9 sessions)
Saturday Folk Music Workshops do not run during the Summer Term.
Timetable
Mixed Instruments (Ceilidh Band): 15:30–17:00
Fees
Termly fees: £125 | £100 concessions
Advance booking required
Concessions are available to people who are in full-time education; in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance; in receipt of Income-Based Benefit (such as Income Support, Housing or Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit). For concessionary rates please call the box office on 020 7485 2206. The box office is open between 9.30 and 17.00 Monday to Friday. Evidence of concession will need to be provided before the start of term by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with a copy of your supporting documentation.
Instrument hire
We have a limited number of banjos and melodeons available to hire for a small termly fee plus a returnable deposit (subject to availability).
Hired instruments will be ready for collection on Saturday 10th September, the first session of term.
Hire fee: £30 per term
A £100 deposit for banjos or £150 deposit for melodeons is also required. This is refundable upon the return of the instrument at the end of the hire period, minus any cost involved in restoring the instrument to the original condition (due to damage incurred by the student, excluding reasonable wear and tear).
The hirer will accept liability for the care of the instrument throughout the time they are out of storage and will be expected to have suitable insurance arrangements in place. The hirer is expected to keep the instrument in good condition.
If you hire an instrument for the Autumn term only, you will need to return it on the last class of term. If you would like to keep the instrument over the holidays you will need to re-enrol for the Spring term, ensuring you pay the next term’s hire fee at the same time.
Options for booking and paying for instrument hire are offered as add-ons once you have selected the workshop(s) you would like to book onto. Alternatively, to reserve one of our instruments click here, or you can book via the Box Office in person or by telephone on 020 7485 2206.
Terms and Conditions
We cannot give you a refund for any missed classes, including absence due to self-isolation.
Refunds are given only if your course is cancelled or closed early.
If you enrol on a Saturday Folk Music Workshops course but decide after the first session but before the second class that it is not right for you, you can either:
- transfer your booking to another instrument. This depends on availability; if the course of your choice is full then we can reserve a place for you on the following term.
- or have the course fees refunded to you minus an administration charge of £15 (as long as you contact us before the second class of term).
If for public health reasons we are unable to run classes in person, we intend to move sessions online using the Zoom-based model which we have been refining since the start of the pandemic.
Read more about Terms and Conditions and our Covid Secure webpage.
We run Saturday Folk Music Workshops in Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, Melodeon Song and Ceilidh Band. Why not do several on the same day?
