Gerry O’Connor hails from Dundalk, in County Louth and is the product of four generations of fiddle players. His past recordings have focused strongly on local music and his work as a soloist and as a band member of Lá Lugh and Skylark is well known across the world. Over the past two decades he has recorded and performed with all the leading performers of the Irish music world including members of the Chieftains, Boys of the Lough, Planxty, De Dannan and Bothy Band. His solo album Journeyman has been hailed as one of the significant albums of Irish fiddle music. Gerry is also a violin-maker, music teacher and music producer.
FIDDLE WORKSHOP with GERRY O’CONNOR www.gerryoconnor.net
- Some Typical Bowing Patterns in Irish Music specific to the playing of Dance music.
- This class is offered to students of an intermediate level of fiddle playing.
- Some experience in learning by ear would be an advantage; a positive approach to attempting to learn by watching and listening is essential
The bowing and articulation of bow patterns in the playing of jigs and other familiar dance rhythms introduced in the early part of the class will provide the basis for a systematic approach to a generic playing of Irish fiddle music suitable for this level of experience.This will enable the student to identify some repetitive patterns of bowing which, although non specific, will aid the student in understanding the non- random activity of fiddle bow activity in Irish fiddle playing.
Audio and selective video recording is encouraged. The notation of the workshop tunes with some typical bowing motifs indicated will be forwarded by email after the class.
The focus in this class will be not just to learn more tunes but to improve the ability to play and enjoy the experience of playing the fiddle. A class of 10 -12 would be considered appropriate.