Irish Tune Learning Class with Randal Bays - FALL 2024
8 weeks beginning September 3, 4 & 5

Sign up for classes here (be sure and specify which day)

Diamond bar
        bays cotter kilkelly
A good session is like a conversation, there's nothing like it. But if you want to play in a good session you need to know a fair number of tunes... in your head, not on a sheet of paper. I've been teaching these tune learning classes for the last twelve years in Seattle and Olympia, and now online. They're a good way to build your Irish repertoire in a group setting and have some fun while doing it. The class learns one traditional Irish tune per week, puts them in medleys and plays them together a lot, so by the end everyone has at least eight good session tunes in common... jigs, reels, hornpipes, etc.
Besides building a repertoire, the goal of the class is to improve at learning by ear.   I try to find interesting tunes that you'll actually encounter in a good Irish session; not the most common tunes, but also not the very rare outliers, although there are great tunes in both those categories.
Here's a video of me teaching Garrett Barry's jig.
These classes are all given on Zoom according to the schedule below.

WEST COAST

Tuesdays, starting September 3, 2024, 7 to 8:30pm Pacific Time (8 weeks)
Wednesdays, starting September 4, 2024, 7 to 8:30pm Pacific Time (8 weeks)

EAST COAST

Thursdays,starting September 5, 2024, 7 to 8:30pm Eastern Time (8 weeks)
In addition to the online classes you'll get access to the class web page to learn the tunes and access my archive of hundreds of tunes I've taught in this class over the years, including slow recordings, links to other musicians' settings, lots of background on the music, etc. (See below)

We have all levels of musicians in the class, but if you're just starting on an instrument you might find it challenging. More advanced musicians are definitely welcome but you'll need to be OK with learning slowly and with lots of repetition... it's traditional. :-)

The traditional tunes are taught by ear... we won't be using written music in the class.

Cost: $140 for all eight classes, including website access, archives, etc.

If you'd like to take the class but money is tight, please don't hesitate to let me know and we can work something out... I really want everyone who's interested in Irish music to be able to take these classes.

Please send me an email to register or for more information. You can pay via PayPal, Venmo, or check. Thanks!


PayPal: rsb@randalbays.com
Venmo: @Randal-Bays

www.randalbays.com

Many thanks for the generous support of:

Ceol Cascadia Irish Music Association

 

 

 

 

Kilkelly Bays session
Private lessons - FALL 2024

IRISH FIDDLE - all levels

GUITAR - accompaniment OR fingerstyle (DADGAD)

My private lessons are mostly online using Zoom or Skype, and I also teach at my home studio in Olympia, WA.

In private lessons I'll teach tunes or use tunes you already know to improve rhythm, phrasing and style, which leads into bowing, fingering, and ornamentation.

Occasional lessons - $60 for a 55 minute private lesson

Ongoing lessons: $50 per lesson if you sign up for at least four consecutive weeks and pay in advance.

If you're enrolled in a current series of tune learning classes the cost of an occasional lesson is $50 and a series of 4 is $45 per lesson.

I know that some people are doing well these days while others are not. If you really want to take lessons with me but can't afford my regular prices, please don't let that stop you. Send me an email and we'll work out a lower fee. :-)

Email for more information or to arrange a time.

Home page: www.randalbays.com