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Contact Jill:   jillyelliot@gmail.com 07515 904 707

Join our online zoom classes and sessions - all welcome - distance no object!  - use this link for everything:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88960263597?pwd=QnM5U2ZiU0tnVkhNNXBkTDczSDBUdz09

Meeting ID: 889 6026 3597

Passcode: 545084

If you'd rather find out a bit more before "zooming in" :

https://youtu.be/tPzFEmfW13Q   main film

https://youtu.be/wZLHyEDqsv8  what people say

https://youtu.be/E70usTV_DAc  how it works

We also have a Community Band "Highly Strung" and we play for charity barn dances, fetes, concerts, and other events.  Click here for schedule.

There are 5 "sessions" each week -  Two "Morning Assemblies", Irish Group, Mixed English/Irish/Scottish Group, Beginners Slow and Steady - just use the zoom code and we will see you there! - No fee.

There are 6 "classes" to learn tunes and improve your technique - £10 per week - come to as many as you wish in a week - only pay or weeks you attend.  Zoom in for a complimentary trial session using the above zoom link.

Gain access to the extensive A-Z resource of over 1000 tunes with recordings at slow learning pace, recordings to play along with the band plus music score, fiddle tab, mandolin tab and whistle fingering.  You require a password and username.  The annual fee is £50 to include 5 weeks of classes and associated sessions.  Scroll down for further details.

"Classes"  - learn tunes and improve your technique -how to play them with rhythm and phrasing - open to all melody instruments, accompanists and percussion - not just the fiddle (violin)!!  

"Sessions" - zoom in to the various free sessions to play English, Irish and Scottish Traditional dance tunes with the experienced Ceili Band.

Morning Assembly - Tuesday and Thursday 9.00 am - 9.30am - the band play tunes from from the Morning Assembly list.   Not just for musicians.... Audience welcome to play, clap or jig along - and start the day with a smile!   

For an initial fee of £50 for 5 weeks of classes, gain immediate access to the A-Z Tunes Resource page with hundreds of  tunes with recordings and visual aids for one year.  After the 5 weeks continue at £10 per week for any number of classes or sessions you attend in that week.  Only pay in weeks you attend.  

Introductory plans for complete beginners:

Plan A - 5 group lessons via zoom including full access to the A-Z Tunes resource for one year - £50

Plan B - Internet via zoom or in person if appropriate - 1 hour private lesson plus 5 group lessons (including a loan instrument if available) plus full access to the A-Z Tunes resource for one year - £90 

All classes and sessions are suitable for melody instrument and accompanists. Percussion instruments are welcome too via zoom.  

Classes

In the classes we learn tunes in the traditional manner by ear, phrase by phrase.  This is by far the best way for a tune to stick in your head and you will start to appreciate your instrument and music in a different way.  25 years listening to the experiences of many people confirms this! 

Classes for English, Scottish and Irish tune-learning are on Tuesday morning 9.30am, Wednesday evening at 7pm and Thursday morning at 9.30am.  

There are more classes for learning Irish tunes on Tuesday evening at 7pm and Thursday morning at 11am.

See "Classes - Dates, Times and Tunes" in the column with the dark green background down the left  of your screen.  Each class has its own page which tells you what we have been learning in previous classes and what we plan to learn in upcoming classes.  Click on the class you wish to find out about and the link will take you directly to the relevant page.

In the sessions each person in turn asks for a tune or set of tunes with the aim of getting a lot of playing into the hour.  We play at a speed appropriate for the players at the session.

Our sessions are a great way to pick up new tunes by ear or discover new tunes you would like to learn.  They also provide you with the opportunity to play along with a professional ceili band to encourage the discipline of playing at a constant speed and with rhythm and feeling.

You will find a list of tunes we play at each of the sessions and the morning assemblies by clicking the links in the section in the left hand contents column with the heading "Free Sessions - Dates, Times and Tune Lists".

Timetable dates and tunes to be played.  

Every group and session has a dedicated page on this website.  Access each page via links in the left column in sections "Classes - dates, times and tunes" and "Sessions - dates, times and tune lists."