Instrumentalists aged 10 to 18 are welcome to join in. Involvement is FREE of charge, but places must be booked. Players of any orchestral or folk instrument are welcome, although lack of space makes it difficult to incorporate full drum kits. Please call the telephone number with any questions.

The workshop leaders have many years experience of playing for Folk and Ceilidh dances. Several members of the Bursledon Village Band are also full time music teachers in Hampshire. The band has been playing for over thirty years and is regularly booked at major festivals throughout the UK.

Tunes will be chosen that can be quickly learned by young instrumentalists. Participants will be introduced to the basic rhythms normally found within folk and ceilidh dancing: polkas, jigs, reels, hornpipes, rants and waltzes.

Printed music is available, with parts arranged for various instruments. We anticipate that most participants will initially learn tunes from the printed music. You will also be encouraged to play some or all of the tunes from memory whenever possible and, if confident, to try some improvisation and decoration. Students who play by ear are very welcome since the aural tradition is the main source of music for many folk musicians.

In addition to playing music we will explore how specific musical rhythms fit particular dances, some challenges of playing as a band, working with callers, and maybe even a little about stage presence and amplification.

By the end of the project, participants will have a good starting repertoire and working knowledge of playing for ceilidh dancing. It will provide an insight into the workings of a gigging band and we’re sure will be great fun.

To book please send an email to ycp@winmayfest.co.uk giving your name, age and instrument. We will send you a copy of the music as a PDF file. If you need a hard copy of the music please give us your postal address. Alternatively you can telephone Dave Ingledew on 023 8045 7964.