Celtic Ukulele Online Workshops

Winter 2022

Eric West will be offering online (Zoom) workshops in playing Celtic music on the ukulele.. This 8-week series, starting Sunday, February 6, 2022, will offer a range of some of tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Newfoundland. Besides songs such as Danny Boy, Pat Murphy’s Meadow, Loch Lomond and Red is the Rose, you’ll learn some famous Irish harp tunes such Fanny Power and Planxty Irwin as well as fiddle tunes such as Morrison’s Jig and The Butterfly. You’ll play both the melodies and accompaniments to all the tunes. Most of the pieces will be arranged as duets so you can play them with other musicians – either using chords or with countermelodies.

The classes will be divided into two groups:  

(a) Beginner/Intermediate Ukulele will include songs played mostly in the first position (using the first 4 frets of the ukulele) as well as basic scales, strums and arpeggios. The accompaniments will use standard versions of the chords for the most part.  Note: this class is not for absolute beginners –  participants should already be able play common ukulele chords and pick some simple melodies. 

(b) Intermediate/Advanced Ukulele will involve more complex pieces, some of which will utilize the higher positions. We’ll cover scales and modes as well as slurs, strums, arpeggios, ornamentation and fingerpicking patterns. Most of the tunes will be arranged in two different keys or levels of difficulty so participants can choose which version best suits their technical level.

Date/Time:

  • Group (a): 11:00AM-12:00PM NT; Group (b): 1:00-2:00PM NT

  • Sundays February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, (NO CLASS March 20), 27 and April 3 (may be slight changes)

Materials: PDFs of the sheet music and tab for each piece will posted on the class webpage along with videos or audio recordings of the tunes. All classes will be recorded and made available for viewing after the sessions, so if you miss one you can always view it later.

Cost: $100 (8 hour-long sessions). Reduced rates are available for low-income/underemployed participants; please inquire.

QUESTIONS?

For more information about the Celtic Ukulele workshops, contact Eric West at 709-670-3377, or email info@soundbone.ca .