Pagoda Project - - Townsville workshops

From Morris to Playford and Far Beyond

Karen Wimhurst & Paul Hutchinson

In these workshops we will take tunes from the English dance tradition as a framework for creative adventures in arranging, improvising and real time composing within a traditional canon. The outcome of each workshop will be a bespoke arrangement for performance in the Sunday Concert. The workshops are for intermediate to advanced players of any age.

Workshop One: Improvisation (Macro to Micro) led by Karen Wimhurst

English dances offer a wealth of fantastic tunes to learn while leaving everything else open to interpretation. From articulation and harmonies (micro improv) to a springboard for solo lines (macro improv) we will be exploring a couple of diverse tunes to create an imaginative new arrangement which encompasses the skills and instrumental colours of the group. We'll go from the simplest forms of improvising for those taking first steps and make space for full blown solos if that's what interests some of players.

Workshop Two:  Portsmouth meets Benny Goodman  led by Karen Wimhurst

This is an opportunity to mix and match two musical genres and explore how material from the jazz canon can inspire a new approach to a traditional dance tune.  Live jazz -trad fusion in the making!

Accordion workshops One, Two & Four  led by Paul Hutchinson

These workshops are designed to enhance your playing using ideas which I have developed over many years. Whilst left hand techniques are always requested (and time will be spent on this), I will make suggestions to improve the quality of the melody lines. I have carefully selected tunes with different rhythms and styles including two with second and even third parts.

Concertina players are encouraged to attend.

Workshop Three: Admiral Mitchel's Reel led by Karen Wimhurst and Paul Hutchinson

Using a tune from Paul Hutchinson's latest collection of eighteen century English Dances, the whole group will come together as a big folk orchestra to play a scored arrangement of the piece ready for the Sunday finale.

The charge for each 90-minute workshop is $40, or $25 concession (senior or student).

The total charge for workshops 1 & 2 in your stream and the combined workshop 3 is $120 or $75 concession.

Further information is available from Bronia Renison

Tel 0429 938 241  bronia99@hotmail.com

A registration form can be downloaded by clicking HERE: