Playing Traditional New England Tunes at a Relaxed Tempo *In-Person* *NEW*

New England has a rich history of traditional music, which can be heard in contra dance halls throughout the region and beyond. There are jigs, reels, waltzes, and other tunes from Ireland, Scotland, France, Canada and elsewhere. In this course, for advanced beginner to intermediate players of instruments such as fiddle, guitar, mandolin, flute, and others, we’ll learn some of these melodies and work on playing them as a group at a relaxed tempo. Although playing by ear is encouraged, music stands will be provided. Bring your instrument and the book New England Fiddler's Repertoire, Third Edition. Instructors: Bob Phillipps & Thom Roach

Sections

Instructors

Bob has been exploring traditional folk music since the early 90s, first as a guitarist, later adding banjo and mandolin. He has played with various local community ensembles, including Roaring Jelly, Strathspey and Reel Society of New Hampshire, Boston Scottish Fiddle Club, and OH! CONTRAire. As a member of the trio Blue Parrot, he performed at the New England Folk Festival (NEFFA), BCMFest, Boston Athenaeum, and other events and venues in the area. Bob has competed numerous times at the Lowell Banjo and Fiddle Contest, taking home ribbons for his performances of 19th century classic banjo tunes. These days Bob enjoys sharing tunes and banter with Thom Roach.

Thom Roach has been playing the English concertina for 40 years. In the 1980s, he formed the faux-British Musical Hall group The Stowaways, later renamed The Knuckleheads and performed daily aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Thom was an integral part of singer-songwriter and Captain Beefheart alumnus Moris Tepper’s band, performing in all the clubs in Los Angeles and touring the Northwest, including performances at Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival and Canada’s Winnipeg Folk Festival. Since returning to New England, Thom has regularly attended the Quebecois Session of Boston and Northeast Squeeze-In sessions. Thom and Bob have gotten together every month for the past few years to play tunes and procrastinate.