Free trad music classes in Kent

Subject: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Gavin A
Date: 07 May 11 - 07:23 AM

The next free Gun & Spitroast traditional music class is on Wednesday the 11th May.

We're continuing our mission of picking up tunes from different parts of the country, and on the 11th May we're looking again at tunes from East Anglia, an area where old fashioned music playing in pubs has lasted amazingly well - not just into the 20th century but even into the 21st.

The particular tunes we'll play are the East Anglian favourite (it's almost a National Anthem) Oh Joe, the Boat is Going Over, and Walter Bulwer's polkas Number 2 and Number 1, which always seem to be played in that order.

We'll play each one steadily and slowly, only moving on to the next one when it seems right to do so.

We meet at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden at 8pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month and all are welcome. If this email doesn't really apply to you, please don't throw it away - please pass it to someone who might find it useful!

Download a pdfs and abcs of the latest tunes at:

http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spit

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 May 11 - 03:35 AM

Just three tunes!
Now that really is slow and steady.
I go to a music workshop once a month where we are given music in advance (up to 7 sheets with 3 -5 tunes on each). Sometimes they are unfamiliar tunes and those of us less good at sight reading spend the month muttering to each other 'how are you getting on?' 'can you make head or tail of ..' etc.
Then it's the workshop, and despite the leaders saying 'take it slow' all the tunes go off like a rocket.
So we are sometimes left thinking 'Oh, that's how it goes, I'd like to learn that tune' but instead we have another bunch of sheets for next month.

I've learnt a lot from going there, but I think there's a lot to be said for Slow and Steady

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Gavin A
Date: 10 May 11 - 02:59 PM

Quite often we have only two - and if we need to take longer over them we will.

And we do start very slow.

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 11 May 11 - 04:17 AM

I would have come, but I'm in Axminster unfortunately!

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Gavin A
Date: 20 May 11 - 03:54 AM

The next Gun & Spitroast traditional music class is on Wednesday the 25th May.

This week we're planning to look at two tunes, both jigs, chosen by class members: A Hundred Pipers and Dribbles of Brandy.

We'll spend a couple of hours playing each one steadily and slowly, only moving on to the next one when it seems right to do so.

We meet at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden at 8pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The classes are free and all are welcome. If this email doesn't really apply to you, please don't throw it away - please pass it to someone who might find it useful!

Download pdfs and abcs of the latest tunes at:

http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Gavin A
Date: 24 May 11 - 06:51 AM

I just thought I should say that I've also started adding YouTube clips to the site for those who play by ear or want to follow my fingers...

Up to now they include Shave the Donkey, The South Wind, Dulcie Bell, Oh Joe, the Boat is Going Over, A Hundred Pipers and Dribbles of Brandy. There will be more...

http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spit

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: Mo the caller
Date: 25 May 11 - 06:59 AM

That is SO useful. Knowing how the tune goes before the workshop so that you can practise beforehand.

Mind you watching your fingers means nothing to anyone who plays a whsitle etc. :)

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin A
Date: 26 May 11 - 09:09 AM

I can't play everything I'm afraid, but I'm doing me best :-)

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin A
Date: 26 May 11 - 09:10 AM

Btw...

The next Gun & Spitroast traditional music class is on Wednesday the 8th June.

Usually we spend a couple of hours playing just two or three tunes steadily and slowly, only moving on to the next one when it seems right to do so - but this time we'll go through some of our best tunes from the 2010/11 season in preparation for an end-of-year session at the Gun & Spitroast on the 22nd June. Why not come along to either or both events, join in if you can and find out what we're up to?

We meet at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden at 8pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. The classes are free and all are welcome. If this email doesn't really apply to you, please don't throw it away - please pass it to someone who might find it useful!

Download pdfs, abcs and access YouTubes of the tunes we're working with at:

http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 16 Jun 11 - 06:43 PM

If you're within travelling distance please join us and some of our musical pals for a friendly end of term session at the Gun & Spitroast pub, Horsmonden, from 8pm.

Regular trad music classes recommence in September.

For information and the tunes the class have been playing recently, see http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 11 - 06:44 PM

Soz - I mean join us on the 22nd June!

Gav

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 03:49 AM

The regular free traditional music classes at the Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden start again on the 28th September (that's the fourth Wednesday in September!)

Please tell any friends and relations who might be interested in a sympathtic and friendly series of classes designed for folks who would like to get out and play more! Details at:
Frittenden Festival website.

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 07:43 PM

The dots for the 28th September class are now on the website at:
http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spit

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 06:20 PM

And now I've added YouTubes! See some of you at 8pm, I hope.

Gavin

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 10:12 AM

English traditional music classes - Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, Kent

The next class is on the evening of Wednesday 9th October; the plan once again is to practise an established list of tunes ahead of playing for a barn dance at Horsmonden Village Hall on Friday the 25th November.

Please pass this message on to anyone who might like to know about these events - it's quite ok for anyone who would like to be involved to join us now or at any time, including during the run up to the dance. At the barn dance itself, there will be no obligation to play every tune.

Here's the (slightly amended) list of tunes:

The Hundred Pipers (march)
Cock of the North (jig)
Soldier's Joy/Little Brown Jug (48-bar march suitable for some versions of the Virginia Reel)
Strike the Bell (32-bar step hop)
Off to California (32-bar step hop)
Haste to the Wedding (jig)
Rig a Jig Jig (jig, natch)
Albert Farmer's (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing)
The Sloe (polka)
The Heel and Toe Polka (polka, natch)
Oh Joe the Boat is Going Over (polka)
Rosalie the Prarie Flower (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing)
The Gypsy Waltz (waltz)
The South Wind (waltz)
Astley's Ride (polka)
Donkey Riding (polka)
Speed the Plough (polka/march kind of thing, though it's technically a hornpipe...)
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (waltz)
Shave the Donkey

All these tunes can be found on the class website at http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/

Here's the usual blurb about these classes:

Learn to play traditional tunes for music sessions and dancing in the company of other beginners. Play slowly and practice whatever's causing difficulty for you. Join fiddler, concertina, melodeon and guitar player Gavin Atkin at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden, Kent (TN12 8HT) on the SECOND and FOURTH Wednesdays of each month at 8pm until the summer.

Please feel free to join us at any point through the year - we do play our tunes very slowly to begin with, and play only a two or three over and over again on any given evening!

Admission is free. Typical instruments might be melodeon, fiddle, concertina, mandolin, harmonica, whistle or banjo, but we'll be just as happy if you pitch up with percussion (say, a triangle, tambourine, cajon, or snare and hi-hat) or a saxophone or electronic piano. Reading music isn't necessary, though it definitely helps!

Contact Gavin at [e-mail] or 07985 522734

Subject: RE: Free trad music classes in Kent
From: GUEST,Gavin Atkin
Date: 21 Nov 11 - 04:06 PM

English traditional music classes - Gun & Spitroast, Horsmonden, Kent

The next class is on the evening of Wednesday 23rd November, starting at 8pm. We'll be practising a list of tunes ahead of playing for a barn dance at Horsmonden Village Hall on Friday the 25th November - that's this Friday at 8pm, so don't forget folks!

Please pass this message on to anyone who might like to spend an evening dancing and playing a few party games.

If they'd like to play that's ok too - anyone who would like to be involved can join in with any tune they wish, and there's no obligation to play every tune.

Here's the list of tunes:

The Hundred Pipers (march)
Cock of the North (jig)
Soldier's Joy/Little Brown Jug (48-bar march suitable for some versions of the Virginia Reel)
Strike the Bell (32-bar step hop)
Off to California (32-bar step hop)
Haste to the Wedding (jig)
Rig a Jig Jig (jig, natch)
Albert Farmer's (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing)
The Sloe (polka)
The Heel and Toe Polka (polka, natch)
Oh Joe the Boat is Going Over (polka)
Rosalie the Prarie Flower (fast hopstep, barndance kind of thing)
The Gypsy Waltz (waltz)
The South Wind (waltz)
Astley's Ride (polka)
Donkey Riding (polka)
Speed the Plough (polka/march kind of thing, though it's technically a hornpipe...)
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (waltz)
Shave the Donkey
All these tunes can be found on the class website at http://frittendenfestival.com/free-traditional-music-classes-at-the-gun-and-spitroast-horsmonden/

Here's the usual blurb about these classes:

Learn to play traditional tunes for music sessions and dancing in the company of other beginners. Play slowly and practice whatever's causing difficulty for you. Join fiddler, concertina, melodeon and guitar player Gavin Atkin at the Gun & Spitroast pub at Horsmonden, Kent (TN12 8HT) on the SECOND and FOURTH Wednesdays of each month at 8pm until the summer.

Please feel free to join us at any point through the year - we do play our tunes very slowly to begin with, and play only a two or three over and over again on any given evening!

Admission is free. Typical instruments might be melodeon, fiddle, concertina, mandolin, harmonica, whistle or banjo, but we'll be just as happy if you pitch up with percussion (say, a triangle, tambourine, cajon, or snare and hi-hat) or a saxophone or electronic piano. Reading music isn't necessary, though it definitely helps!

Contact Gavin at [e-mail] or 07985 522734