English Folk Dance and Song Society

We are working towards holding ‘in person’ class learning at Cecil Sharp House from Autumn 2021, if possible and safe to do so.

The online Ceilidh Band workshops will make the most of the online format and focus on arrangements and making recordings of our work. You will learn new tunes as well as harmonies, chords and basslines. Working in small groups, led and supported by Laurel, you will have the opportunity to explore different methods of arranging a tune. Over the term you will create several recordings of your arrangements with each participant recording their individual part/s (using their mobile phones) with support from the tutor. The parts will then be mixed so that you can listen to what has been created and share these tracks with the other Saturday Folk Music Workshops at the end of term. It will be a fun way of learning how to make a great tune arrangement and also get to hear how it sounds with other musicians, even when it is not currently possible to meet up and play together in person!

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?

Laurel Swift and Dave Delarre

Laurel Swift is a fiddle player, a dancer and an inspiring instigator of creative new projects and performances rooted in the folk arts. She plays fiddle and viola in dynamic fiddle-singing duo with Ben Moss, double bass with Gadarene, a high-energy band blending obscure 18th-century manuscript tunes with modern beats, and fiddle with irresistible ceilidh-dance groovers, The Gloworms. Laurel has choreographed and devised national touring dance productions for Morris Offspring, co-created and performed Under Her Skin ;with Debs Newbold, advised theatre & film companies on using folk music and dance material. She is in demand to perform and teach at festivals in the UK and America, founded Shooting Roots, which develops youth folk arts projects, and teaches and contributes to education projects in London and nationally.

David Delarre is a musician, composer and teacher. Through his work with 3 times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees Mawkin, David has toured the UK and Europe, performed for BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 and also recorded a live session for Jools Holland for BBC 2. His work as an arts practitioner has led him to teach Folk Roots Enrichment at Hills Road College, Cambridge and as part of the Shooting Roots programme of workshops at folk festivals across the country. David regularly leads workshops and courses for the EFDSS' youth and adult learning programmes including Get Your Folk On! holiday courses and London Youth Folk Ensemble. He also teaches guitar, mandolin and banjo and plays for Eliza Carthy.

How can I take part?

2021-22 Dates

Autumn term: 11, 18 September | 2, 16, 23 October | 6, 20, 27 November | 4 December (9 sessions)

Spring term: 8, 22, 29 January | 12, 19 February | 5, 12, 26 March | 2 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: £118 | £95 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.

Due to Covid-19 related restrictions, if all or part of this course is not able to take place at Cecil Sharp House, it will take place online instead.

For any queries, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | 020 7241 8953

Terms and Conditions

We cannot give you a refund for any missed classes.

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).