A Ceilidh Band project for instrumentalists from all backgrounds. Over a number of weeks, members of Dancing Feet Ceilidh Band work with musicians to put together and perform the music for a ceilidh

This Project is ideal for secondary school pupils, targeting musicians who have a reasonable mastery of their instrument (usually the equivalent Grade 3/4 upwards). All instruments are welcome and no previous experience of folk/traditional music is necessary. Through ensemble playing the participants will explore Scottish, Irish and European traditional dance music, devising their own arrangements of the tunes, with the Ceilidh providing an immediacy and a depth of understanding and awareness of the music that they would not necessarily achieve in a purely musical performance.

We have found that meeting weekly for two hours over a six week period is ideal, but projects can be tailored to suit your needs and can be in or out of school time.

 

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To introduce participants to a genre of music that they otherwise might not have access to, or to expose them to the music in a new light

  • By teaching  folk music to young musicians in a dynamic and exciting way, leading to performance.
  • Participating at a celidh, both as dancers/audience and as performers
  • See professional folk musicians perform

 To broaden their musical skills and experience

  • By teaching an aurally transmitted music
  • Introducing participants to a new style of playing
  • Ensemble playing and musical arrangement
  • Playing for dancing

To make folk music accessible to young people

  • By  running workshops in an informal teaching environment
  • By making workshops fun
  • By sharing our passion and enthusiasm for folk music and encouraging the same out of the musicians we work with