Date: 27/06/20
Time: 12:00 am - 12:00 am
Major Events | Online Events | Workshops

We are really pleased to bring you an online hammered dulcimer workshop with Patti Amelotte. Patti would have been one of our tutors at Halsway Dulcimer Week in May, and she always brings us a lot of music, fun and great teaching.

Patti Amelotte
Patti Amelotte

Patti is well known to the UK Hammered Dulcimer world, having been a popular performer and teacher over here for the past 15 years. Patti loves teaching, and aims not only to increase student’s musicality but also to build their self-reliance and belief – as well as to express themselves and have fun. If you have met Patti, you will know that having fun comes as naturally as breathing to her!

More Musical Music

Patti will present this workshop over two separate days – a 3-hour workshop, and then a follow-on 1-hour Q&A session two weeks later, to give you a chance to practice techniques and tunes and come back to her with questions.

  • Workshop: Saturday, 27th June, 2020: 3:30 – 6:30 pm (BST) (3 hours)
  • Q&A Follow-up: Saturday, 11th July, 2020: 4:30 – 5:30 pm (BST) (1 hour)

Our online workshop will include a 30-minute concert from Patti with her traditional Irish music group Looney’s Fortune, socially-distanced in her music room at home!

Looney’s Fortune

Patti’s lovely assistant ‘Skipper’

Workshop Schedule

Saturday June 27th: 3:30 – 6:30 pm (BST)

  • 3:30 – 4:30 Introductions & Session 1More Musical Music.
  • 4:30 – 4:40 (Break)
  • 4:40 – 5:40 Session 2 Arrangement of “Darcy Farrow”
  • 5:40- 6:00 (Break)
  • 6:00 – 6:30 Looney’s Fortune in Concert

Saturday 11th July: 4:30 – 5:30 pm (BST)

  • 4:30 – 5:30 Follow up Q&A

Workshop Descriptions

Session 1

More Musical Music – Improving dynamics and expression when playing

In this workshop, we will first play a lovely round “The Hushed Whisper of Spring” (Patti Amelotte) to demonstrate techniques and exercises to improve our playing dynamics. Then we will use the beautiful tune “Come Before Winter” (Jim Taylor) to learn how to apply these techniques for more expressive playing.

Session 2

Arrangement of “Darcy Farrow” (Steve Gillette & Tom Campbell)

Enjoy learning both the melody and an arrangement of this ballad, made famous by John Denver. We will start by all running though the melody to get it “under our hammers”, then add easy harmony, and also a solo arrangement for more advanced players, as time permits. You will enjoy and get more from the class if you are able to listen and work through the tune beforehand: Darcy Farrow (Played by John Denver).

The workshop will be delivered using free Zoom software. If you have any queries about any aspects, contact Hilary Davies.

Practicalities

This workshop is for advanced beginners and above. It is designed to cater for multiple levels throughout the workshop. If you are not sure about the suitability of this workshop for you, please contact Hilary Davies.

Music for the workshop will be made available a few days beforehand. This is so that you are able to download handouts, and listen to any audio/video files in advance. If you have time, it will be helpful for you to listen to the music, and work though the tunes on your dulcimer before the class. This will let you focus on arrangements and applying techniques to the music.

You will need to be able to download an up-to-date version of Zoom (v.5.0 or later) before the workshop. A laptop or iPad work best, but a smart phone is also fine. If you are unfamiliar with the technology and need help, please contact Hilary, or join one of the Nonsuch Online Zoom sessions to try it out. 

Booking

The cost for the workshop and Q&A session is £30.

Payment is via PayPal, Debit or Credit card at time of booking through our online booking form below.

Book Your Place Here

Contact Hilary Davies if you have queries.