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2025 Workshops
We offer Saturday and Sunday Workshops at the Baltimore Irish Trad Fest, with Saturday being more dedicated to working on individual instruments, and Sunday being more oriented towards topical workshops. Below you'll find what we mean by 'Fundamentals,' 'Intermediate,' and 'Advanced' instrument classes on Saturday, as well as see descriptions for the topical workshops on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday Instrument Workshops
Saturday Topical Workshops
Sunday Topical Workshops
Instrument Classes: Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced
On Saturday, we offer instrument classes marked 'Fundamentals,' 'Intermediate.' or 'Advanced.' These level designations are meant to ensure that you get the most out of your class, and it's important that you choose the class that most fits your level to ensure the best experience. Tunes will be learned by ear in ALL instrument classes, and an instrument and recording device should be brought.
Fundamentals for Advanced Beginners: If an instrument class is called 'Fundamentals for advanced beginners, it is meant for students who know the basics of playing their instruments, but may be new to or unfamiliar with Irish traditional music, or may not be able to learn tunes by ear quickly. Most Fundamentals classes are offered both in the morning and afternoon, so that participants can spend a whole day working on the fundamentals of their instrument if they would like.
Fundamentals teachers (both AM and PM unless noted):
Banjo/Mandolin (Patrick Winch), Bodhran (Myron Bretholz), Concertina (Meghan Mette), Fiddle (Sarah Collins - AM, and Joanna Clare - PM), Flute/Tin Whistle (Eliot Grasso), Guitar (Seán Earnest), Sean Nos/Old Style steps (Catherine Marafino Brice - AM and Megan Downes - PM)
Intermediate/Advanced: If an instrument class is called 'Intermediate', it is appropriate for students who have some experience with their instrument, can learn by ear, and has a decent repertoire of tunes under their belt. If an instrument class is called 'Advanced', it is for students who can play a large number of tunes at dance tempo, and who feel experienced in Irish traditional music. Advanced classes will be faster-paced. Classes marked 'Intermediate/Advanced' would be appropriate for both levels of player.
Intermediate/Advanced Teachers (Both AM and PM unless noted):
Adv. Tenor Banjo/Mandolin (Pauline Conneely), Int/Adv Flute (Steph Geremia), Int/Adv Bodhran (Josh Dukes), Int/Adv Tin Whistle (Kathleen Conneely), Int/Adv Concertina (Catriona Fee), Int/Adv DADGAD Guitar (Dáithí Sproule), Int/Adv Harp (Eileen Gannon), Int/Adv Button Accordion (Sean McComiskey - AM and Billy McComiskey - PM) Advanced Fiddle (Eimear Arkins - AM and Liz Knowles - PM) Intermediate Fiddle (Rose Flanagan - AM and Sarah Collins - PM), Int/Adv Dropped-D Guitar (Eamon Sefton), Int/Adv Piano Accompaniment (Brendan Dolan - AM and Donna Long - PM), Int/Adv Pipes (Kieran O'Hare), Int/Adv Sean Nos Steps (Megan Downes - AM and Catherine Marafino Brice - PM), Int/Adv Bouzouki Accompaniment (Pat Broaders - PM Only)
Saturday Topical or All Levels Workshops
The Practice of Practice (Liz Knowles - AM)
This class is intended for all levels and all instruments. Liz will discuss making practice more effective and topics will include focusing, scheduling practice, goal-setting, practicing for speed, and more.
Ballad Singing (Pat Broaders - AM)
This class is intended for singers of all level. Pat will discuss technique for singing ballads, and will focus on that technique by teaching a few songs.
The Music of O'Carolan for All Instruments (Donna Long - AM)
This class is intended for intermediate players of all instruments. In this workshop, Donna will introduce students to 17th century harper Turlough O'Carolan and his music. Students will learn some of his pieces by ear as an introduction to this important figure in Irish traditional music.
Ensemble for All Instruments (Rose Flanagan and Brendan Dolan - PM)
This class is intended for all instruments. In it, Brendan and Rose will discuss arrangement and playing together, and the class will learn and work together to arrange a piece.
Tune Composition (Liz Carroll - PM)
This class is intended for all instruments. In it, fiddler and composer Liz Carroll will talk about her approach to composition in Irish traditional music. Perfect for any player who is interested in composing their own tunes.
Sean Nos Singing - Eimear Arkins (PM)
This class is intended for singers of all levels. Eimear will discuss sean nos singing technique, and will teach a few songs in the sean nos style.
Sunday Topical or All Levels Workshops
Sunday Workshops will all take place at businesses on the Avenue (36th Street) in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood.
1:15-2:30 PM
Intro to Irish Traditional Music on the Tin Whistle (Cushla Srour)
This class is open to all players and ages. No experience is expected, and D whistles are available for purchase for $10. In this class, Cushla will teach you the basics of the tin whistle, and you will walk away with your first Irish tune. Great for kids or those who have never played Irish music before and would like to try it out.
Irish Social Dance I with Megan Downes
This class is open to dancers of all levels. This class will encourage you to partner with others and get the most fun out of listening to Irish music. The Pride of Erin, St. Bernard's Waltz, and variations on what Billy McComiskey calls the Catskill Shuffle will highlight some of the skills you can use to dance with friends at music sessions and ceilis. If you want to join the fun, this is a place to start, or add to your repertoire. If you bring a partner, your admission will cover both participants.
Baltimore Tune Repertoire (TBA)
This class is open to all instruments. In this repertoire class, you will learn a few Irish traditional tunes that are tried and true parts of the unique repertoire in Baltimore's Irish music community. Tunes will be taught by ear, bring your instrument and a recording device.
2:40-3:55 PM
Youth Fiddle Class for 9-12 Year-olds (Joanna Clare)
This class is intended for youth who have experience with the violin, but who do not currently play Irish Music. Instructor Joanna Clare will give students an intro to Irish traditional music on the fiddle and the idiosyncrasies and techniques that differentiate it from other types of music.
Irish Social Dance II with Megan Downes
This class is open to dancers of all levels, who will work toward comfortable partnering while answering the question, What's an up jig? Megan will help you move to the music with more ease. If you play music and want to develop your sense of phrasing and metre, dance class is a good place to start. Clare sets differ from Connemara and Kerry sets in their steps and groove, evoking regional variations in music. There is space in the dance to improvise footwork based on fundamentals in common with Sean Nós dance. If you bring a partner, your admission will cover both participants.
Health and Wellness for Musicians (Sean McComiskey, DPT)
Music can be hard on your body. In this class, physical therapist Sean McComiskey will give participants insights and techniques that will help them take care of their bodies.
3:05-5:20PM
Traditional Song Share (Dáithí Sproule and Eimear Arkins)
This class is open to all singers. In this class, the instructors will share some songs that they like to sing, and will help to build participants' repertoire and appreciation for Irish traditional singing.
Slow Session (TBA)
This session is intended for all players of all levels. Hosts will play through common session tunes at a slower pace, giving participants a chance to try out the techniques that they have learned over the weekend in a relaxed setting.
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