Comhaltas: Blog: Scoil Éigse 2012

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí ÉireannComhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Photo credit: Wikipedia)The 40th Annual Scoil Éigse organised by Comhaltas takes place in Cavan Town, August 12th to 17th, the week preceding Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. At Scoil Éigse – CCÉ’s annual international Summer School students of all ages register for the various instrumental music, singing, dancing and Irish language classes. Scoil Éigse (meaning a learning experience focused on cultural discussion and participation) implies, this annual event, preceding Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, provides a broad-based cultural educational experience for students, their families, other visitors and the general public. Daily classes are central to the week’s purpose – students are placed in appropriately graded instrumental music classes (fiddle, flute, whistle, button-accordion, concertina, banjo, harp, uilleann-pipes and piano-accompaniment), traditional singing and amhránaíocht classes, dancing (set, sean-nós and céilí dancing) and conversational Irish classes. A mixed-instrument class also exists for adults only. The team of international tutors are all master performers with proven track-records as teachers and educationalists. These tutors have a wealth of artistic experience and knowledge, which, reflecting the underlying educational philosophy of CCÉ, they share with students in an atmosphere which promotes both active and reflective discerning participation. From it’s inception Scoil Éigse promoted quality teaching of quality material in a family/youth-friendly cultural immersion setting and as a result it gained in popularity primarily through word-of-mouth, the event itself being it’s own best advertisement!



WHO MAY TAKE PART?

There is no age limit at the Scoil Éigse and certainly no generation gap. Enthusiasm knows no age barriers and whether you are keen on learning sets or making a comeback on the accordion you will find fellow pupils to join you in a session, to exchange tunes, songs or steps. Beginners are accepted only in the dancing and traditional singing streams. On the various instruments only those who can play reasonably well are accepted, and the emphasis is on improving their traditional techniques and their knowledge and understanding of the music. There are two or more classes on each of the instruments (listed in paragraph 1), catering for pupils who might be respectively described as ‘improvers’ and advanced. Of course ‘advanced’ pupils in traditional singing and dancing are also catered for.


Comhaltas: Blog: Scoil Éigse 2012

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