Courses 2012 Index

Click to enlarge Dara Smaith's Fiddle ClassTo quickly navigate our Courses page, please click on the links below:

Please note: For the purpose of this section, the definition of “youth” is anyone aged 5 - 18 years.

Disciplines & Levels 2012

Disciplines covered under the curriculum for regular studies include:

Discipline

Levels

Fiddle F1,F2,F4,F5
Gaelic Song G4,G5
Step/Square-Dancing S2,S3,S5
Cape Breton Piano P3,P4,P5
Cape Breton Piping BP3,BP4,BP5
Pipe Music on the Fiddle F1,F2
Guitar Accompaniment G1,G2,G3,G4
GAB 1/GAB 2 (See GAB Guidelines)
Gaelic in Nature & Sports (See GAB Guidelines)
Highland Dance H5, H4, H3, H2,H1
Gaelic Drama See Guidelines
Bodhran (Week of July 30th only) B5, B4
Weaving W5, W4, W3

Senior instructors in each discipline are of world-class caliber and many instructors are among Cape Breton’s finest artists. The overall program offers a complete range of instruction from beginner to advanced levels in most disciplines each session. Exceptions to this are noted.

Sessions are tailored so that students may extend any one-week session to two or three weeks and are assured of continuity and advancement potential.

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Discipline Level Guidelines 2012

BellGAELIC SONG

G5 New Beginner – no experience necessary; G4 Advanced Beginner – can understand and say simple sentences, such as common greetings and expressions; G3 /G2/G1 Intermediate & Advanced – working knowledge of Gaelic language

BAGPIPES

BP5 New Beginner – no experience necessary; BP4 Advanced Beginner – beginning to blow on pipes, have learned fundamentals (doublings, triplets, grips, burls), basic sight reading skill; BP3 Intermediate – on pipes for 1 or 2 years, ability to play several tunes by memory; BP2 & 1 Advanced – ability to play all types of tunes in different time signatures

FIDDLE

F5 New Beginner - no experience necessary, F4 Advanced Beginner - should be able to play tunes at a slow to moderate pace, F3 Intermediate - have a good knowledge of tunes in the common major and minor keys, be able to play tunes at a moderate pace; F2 Advanced - have the ability to read music fairly well and be able to play almost at full tempo. F1 –can play all types of Cape Breton style tunes in most keys.

PIPE MUSIC ON THE FIDDLE

This course will teach only Pipe Tunes in the repertoire. Pipe tunes fit on the pipe scale will consists only of 8 notes. F2 Advanced - have the ability to read music fairly well and be able to play almost at full tempo. F1 –can play all types of Cape Breton style tunes in most keys.

STEP DANCE

S5 New Beginner – beginner who has no training ; S3 Intermediate - confidence in 5 strathspeys, 5 reels and 3 or 4 jig steps. S2 Advanced Learning to enhance their repertoire.

GAB IMMERSION

Gaidhlig aig Baile / Gaelic in the Community is an immersion methodology of teaching the Gaelic language. This method uses everyday activities, games and conversation in a total immersion environment to teach students. GAB 1 - Beginner level. Learning is completely oral and Gaelic will be the only language employed in the classroom. GAB 2 is available to students once they are able to comfortably carry on simple conversation about day-to-day matters, combines reading and writing with oral learning and practice to deepen and broaden knowledge and ability. Gaelic will be the only language employed in the classroom.

PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT

P5 New Beginner – No experience necessary. P4 Advanced Beginner - teaches basic chord patterns and techniques, P3 Intermediate - builds on the basic chord patterns and rhythms from P4 while refining basic rhythms and introducing the fundamental playing techniques for Cape Breton piano accompaniment. P2&1 - Advanced – Knowledge of most key signatures and associated chords, previous experience in CB Piano accompaniment required.

CAPE BRETON GUITAR ACCOMPANIMENT

CBG4 Advanced Beginner - teaches basic chord patterns and techniques, CBG3 Intermediate - builds on the basic chord patterns and rhythms from CBG4 while refining basic rhythms and introducing the fundamental playing techniques for Cape Breton guitar accompaniment.. CBG2&1 Advanced – Knowledge of most key signatures and associated chords, previous experience in CB Guitar accompaniment required.

GAELIC DRAMA/NATURE & SPORTS

No experience necessary, only energy and enthusiasm are required. Students will learn a short play during the course of their stay. The goal of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to acquire theatrical skills in addition to learning and enjoying nature & sports through the medium of Gaelic

HIGHLAND DANCE

H5Beginner: No experience necessary; H4: Has taken lessons through the year, knows 2 dances in full; H3 (Novice): Five dances required for this level; H2 (Intermediate); Should have knowledge of more than 5 dances; H1 (Premier) Requirements same as H2.

BODHRAN (Adult Session - week of July 30 only)

B5 New Beginner: no experience necessary; B4 Advanced Beginner; must know basic jig & reel rhythms. Please bring your own bodhran.

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Class Times

Regular classes (five 50-minute classes daily) held Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 2:50 pm. 

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Download 2012 Summer School Brochure

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