Workshops

Workshops:

Here is a list of workshops that we run – anytime, anyplace – but usually at festivals. Now altered for Zoom!
Choose from workshops below or suggest your own!

Zoom Workshops
Vicki and Jonny have worked tirelessly online since March 2020 and have a fully rigged LiveStream Lounge and are experienced workshop leaders. Zoom workshops work by having the audience muted and playing along with the workshop leader. But because there is two way communication the audience can ask questions and Vicki & Jonny constantly are watching to make sure everyone is keeping up and adjusting the workshop for the participants.

From full workshop weekends, to individual lessons there is a workshop for you!

Sessions
We also do online sessions! If you’d like to have a session with us right now, we have some in YouTube. We also will do this live into Zoom. Click Here for our Virtual Online Session.

Playford
Learn some tunes from Playford’s Dancing Master of 1651-1728, played in a danceable way. Any (mostly) chromatic instrument welcome.

Playing for Dance
A workshop about the wonderful art of playing for dance.  The art of the groove and accompaniment, how to play with bounce and getting the feet moving. Vicki & Jonny have released two danceable albums, a contra dance album and a Playford album of danceable / listenable music. Learn their vibrant approach of playing for dance. Dance styles chosen from Playford, Ceilidh and Contra. Any (mostly) chromatic instrument welcome.

Developing chords for guitarists
Looking at alternative chords and key: (beginner – intermediate)
Taking a tune, explore how some chords fit better than others and how to make your own chords up to fit. Using a background of Jazz playing to explore alternative fingers for the same chord – and alternative chords for the same tune.

Learn Swedish Tunes
Augment your repertoire with some Swedish folk tunes, Vicki on nyckelharpa and Jonny on accordion. A good place to start are the Scandinavian Tune books, authored by Vicki & Jonny for Schott Music Publishing. Any (mostly) chromatic instrument welcome.

Swedish Säckpipa Tunes
The Swedish Säckpipa has its own repertoire, sound and feel.  This workshop teaches these tunes. Although led on säckpipa (E/A chanter), any instrument is welcome as long as it can play these notes: E F# G# A B C D E (useful notes are Fnat and C#)


Latest Added Face-to-Face Workshops:

Playing for Dance*
A workshop about the wonderful art of playing for dance.  The art of the groove and accompaniment, how to play with bounce and getting the feet moving. Vicki & Jonny have just released an album of danceable / listenable music with Purcell’s Polyphonic Party. Learn their vibrant approach of playing for dance. Dance styles chosen from Playford, Ceilidh and Contra.

Swedish Säckpipa Tunes 
The Swedish Säckpipa has its own repertoire, sound and feel.  This workshop teaches these tunes. Although led on säckpipa (E/A chanter), any instrument is welcome as long as it can play these notes: E F# G# A B C D E (useful notes are Fnat and C#)

Folk Ensemble
Suitable for any instrument, learn some tunes and work them up into a full band/ensemble/orchestra. Readers and non-readers just as welcome.


Most Popular Workshops:

Tune writing in a traditional style
Looking at techniques for creating original tunes:
(requires basic ability to read and write music)
Paper and pencils are provided, but participants are requested to bring instruments (any). By the end of the workshop each person should have created their own “festival tune”.

Nyckelharpa Workshops
Come and have a go on the wonderful Swedish nyckelharpa. Find out a little more about how they work, about their history and then have a go on one. In this taster workshop eight instruments are provided and everyone who comes along will learn a simple tune.  For more details visit Vicki’s nyckelharpa website.

Developing chords for guitarists
Looking at alternative chords and key: (beginner – intermediate)
Taking a tune, explore how some chords fit better than others and how to make your own chords up to fit. Using a background of Jazz playing to explore alternative fingers for the same chord – and alternative chords for the same tune.

Learn Swedish Tunes
Augment your repertoire with some Swedish folk tunes, Vicki on nyckelharpa and Jonny on accordion. A good place to start are the Scandinavian Tune books, authored by Vicki & Jonny for Schott Music Publishing.

Guitar accompaniment for tunes
Looking at developing accompaniment skills: (intermediate – advanced)
Looking at the relationship between the guitar and the tune; this workshops looks at ways to put emphasis on some parts of the tune, to compliment and reflect others. Aimed primarily at guitarists, the principles can be applied to any accompanying instrument.


Other Workshops

Swedish Tunes for English Border Pipes in G
The English Border pipes have had a real surgence in popularity and they are perfect for playing Swedish Bagpipe tunes. Workshop led by Vicki on Swayne pipes in G. (any instrument with the notes G A B Bb C D Eb E F F# G can attend this workshop)

Border Pipes
New tunes and technique for the English Border Pipes in G. (Can also include elements of Swedish tunes)

Flute
Beginner – Advanced
General workshop on technique and repertoire, boehm system or traditional 6 hole flute can be catered for. Including grace notes for the classical flute.

Scottish Smallpipes
Grace note surgery: Improving musicality and performance using grace notes. (Advanced)
Grace notes are a very powerful tool that pipers can use to good effect, this workshop aims to strengthen and improve grace notes.

Sessions
Any standard
Anytime, anyplace, anywhere!

Research
Vicki’s Masters level research includes online bagpipe teaching and online sessions, visit the masters website