Manx Folk Group Workshop

Manx Folk Group Workshop

Mon, 30 Jan 2006

On the 30th of January this year, a workshop was held for secondary school folk groups at the Department of Education Music Centre in Douglas. Secondary music teachers had previously commented that their folk groups rarely experienced Manx music outside of the school and it was agreed that a workshop with local musicians would provide inspiration to the students while broadening their knowledge of Manx music. Organised by Chloë Woolley, Manx Music Specialist for the Manx Heritage Foundation, the morning workshop featured members of the local group, King Chiaullee as the tutors. The objective of the workshop was to introduce new repertoire to the students, develop aural skills and instrumental techniques and bring members of the school folk groups together for the first time. Over thirty young musicians attended from Ballakermeen, St. Ninian's, Ramsey Grammar and QEII High School. King Chiaullee began the workshop with a recital of Manx traditional melodies and their own compositions, followed by a demonstration of the music to be studied during the morning session. The members also talked about how they work as a group, and offered ideas on arranging music and how to select complementary melodies for sets. The students were then divided into five groups, according to their instruments, to concentrate on the chosen melodies with each member of the band. Manx musicians, Cinzia Curtis and Kirsty Lawrence also assisted in the teaching. To focus on instrumental technique during the workshop, students had already been sent the Manx traditional melody "Three Little Boats" to practice in advance, but they were also taught the tune, "Car y Phoosee" by ear during the morning. At the end of the session, all of the musicians gathered for a performance of the set. The workshop was enjoyed by all, and there have been requests from staff and pupils for similar events in the future.

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