Harp of Tara organizes a very active program in support of Irish Traditional music - a Weekly Slow Session, a Monthly Siamsa, House Concerts and Workshops, and Music Immersion Weekends

Irish Siamsa    Monthly Ceili    House Concerts And Workshops   
Kingston non-CCE Musical Events Irish Sessions Outside Of Kingston   

CCE Weekly Slow Session

Every Tuesday Evening, 7:00 - 9:00pm,
Ben's Pub (105 Clergy Street East at Princess)

A session (seisiún) is just a bunch of friends in a circle, playing tunes together. A 'slow' session is a session for people new to their instruments, or even for experienced musicians new to the Irish repertoire. There's a limited, easy to learn repertoire, and the tunes are played at an accessible pace.

Harp of Tara sponsors a weekly slow session, every Tuesday evening of the year, with few exceptions (eg if Tueday falls on December 25th) at 7:00, at Ben's pub.

The slow session welcomes people of all ages, at all levels, on all instruments. We provide a music book, and cds of the tunes played slowly. It's an excellent way for beginners to see how much fun a trad session can be and also a good place for the more experienced to pick up a tune or two. The atmosphere is friendly and the tunes are wonderful. No charge

As of 2012, we also host an absolute beginners introduction to Irish Music, all welcome, all instruments. Also at Ben's, from 6:00 to 7:00

There is also an independent Regular Session, also at Ben's, starting at 9:00

Tune of the week - Tralee Gaol Tralee Goal - Courtesy of Brian Flynn

Here are a few tunes to get started on, in PDF format: Slow Session - A Few Tunes for Beginners

Document - “Kingston Tune Repertoire, approximately. Slow Session and Regular Session”
Kingston Tune Repertoire - A list of the Tunes played at the slow and regular sessions

Document - “PC as a home Sound Studio - ABC's, Software, Slowing down recordings.”
PC as a Sound Studio

Document - Philippe Varlet - “A Way with the Bow” Courtesy of Mr Varlet.

Irish Fiddle Styles - A Way with the Bow  - Of particular interest to fiddlers, but the section on regional styles is useful for anyone with an interest in Irish music. Posted with the kind permission of Mr Varlet, who besides being a scholar and a musician, runs a terrific mail-order record store, with only the best in Irish Music. Great record reviews even if you aren't buying.    Celtic Grooves

The Toronto 'Black Book' - a 'must have' for Ontario Irish musicians

Some Sample Tunes
Star of Munster, slow  Star of Munster, regular speed
Foxhunter's Reel, Slow
Fahy's Jig

Siamsa

Harp of Tara also sponsors a Siamsa - a music social - every third Sunday of the month from October to May, in the very hospitable room upstairs at the Kingston Brew Pub (34 Clarence St).

The Siamsa provides an occasion for tunes, song, poetry, dancing, trying out your best ‘party piece,’ or whatever you wish to contribute. All ages, all levels, all welcome. The most family-friendly of the regular events. No charge.

If the monthly Céilí is the only event in Kingston that allows musicians an opportunity to play for dancers and for dancing to live music, the Siamsa is the main opportunity for musicians, singers, storytellers to get together for an enjoyable social.

The Calendar Listing Page has a complete listing of dates for the Monthly Siamsa

For further information, contact Paul Gillespie at pgillespie2@cogeco.ca.NoSpamm (remove the '.noSpamm' to e-mail

Monthly Céilí

This music is dance music. All musicians are welcome to play along with the band, while the dancers drive the beat at Harp of Tara's monthly Céilí. More info on the Kingston Céilí page.

House Concerts and Master Class Workshops

Harp of Tara also sponsors a regular series of House Concerts and Workshops with visiting Irish Musicians. Kingston had not been a stop on musical tours until we started these house concerts, which have brought some memorable moments for all involved. Coming up on January 25-7, 2013, the Annual Kingston Immersion Weekend, Fiddle and Flute, with Patrick Ourceau and Ian Goff. Check Special Events

Past House Concerts and associated workshops include:

Uilleann Pipes Reed-Making Workshop with Joe Kennedy, co-sponsored with local pipers
Maeve Donnelly and Steve Baughman - Fiddle and Guitar workshops
Diorma - 2004 workshops with Niamh Dunne (Fiddle), Lindsay Moynagh (Harp), Thomas Johnston (Pipes), Shane Greene (Accordion)
Michael Rooney and June McCormack - 2004 Flute and Harp Workshops
Spraoi - 2005 Workshops with Dan MacDonald (Fiddle), Kelley Hood (Pipes), Greig Cairns (Guitar) , Pat Simmonds (Accordion).
Laura Risk And Paddy League - Fiddle and Bodhrán workshops
Flook Concert, co-sponsored, at the Octave Theatre. 2005
Patrick Ourceau and Deborah Quigley - 2006 Immersion Weekend, Fiddle and Pipes
Maeve Donnelly and Tony MacManus - 2007 Fiddle and Guitar Workshops
Patrick Ourceau and Deborah Quigley - 2007 Immersion Weekend, Fiddle and Pipes
Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Tomkins - Fiddle, Bodhrán, whistle flute and pipes, playing together. 2007
Patrick Ourceau and Deborah Quigley - 2008 Immersion Weekend, Fiddle and Pipes
Paul LeGrand - Irish Language Weekend Fiddle Workshop. April 2009
Liz Carroll and John Doyle Concert, Fiddle and Guitar Workshops. April 2009
Steafan Hannagan, Saskia Tomkins, Karen Light Immersion Weekend. Bohdran, Fiddle, Whistle.    May 2009
Patrick Ourceau - 2010 Fiddle Immersion Weekend
Mark Finnan, John Hoffman, Glen Caradus 'The Corktown Man, in Story and Song' and
   'Music, poetry and song related to the life of D'Arcy McGee. October 2010
Patrick Ourceau - 2011 Fiddle Immersion Weekend
Liz and Yvonne Kane, and Edel Fox. 2011 Fiddle, Concertina and Repertoire worshops, and House Concert
Patrick Ourceau - 2012 Fiddle Immersion Weekend

Other (non-CCE) Music Events

• 'Plastic Paddys' (Dennis Wilson and friends), play at Ben's on Monday nights
• The Kingston regular session for advanced players, every Tuesday evening at 9:00, at Ben's Pub
• The Kingston Céilí Band holds a weekly practice at Ben's on Wednesday nights
• Harp Circle
  We meet about once a month - usually on a Sunday afternoon. Historically harp circle is an opportunity for harp players of all skill levels ( and none) to make music together. You do not have to be 'good' to play with us. The pieces are doable especially if you let go of the idea that you have to play every single note( try one hand only, the first note of every bar, whatever).You do need to purchase the book we use: Finale(Washington Area Folk Harp Society) available through Mrs Sim harpmei@hotmail.com or online at Melody's music.
  
  Feel free to come and check it out even if you don't yet have the music. It's a lot of fun!
  If you have questions or need directions email Karen: heartfullistening@yahoo.ca

Sessions outside of Kingston

Belleville  Session hosted by the Quinte Irish Canadian Society’ http://www.qics.ca/

Wednesdays, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Engineers Hall, corner of Pine St. and Chatham St. in East Belleville.

All levels of musicians, tune books are welcome. The tune book is up on the web site. Irish repertoire

Contact Wilfred sessions@qics.ca

 

 

Toronto – sessions just about every night.  The Toronto black book has been around for decades, vast repertoire, and good settings

The Toronto Black Book, Peterborough Renditions: http://www.ken-brown.ca/blackbook/

 

Ottawa.  Again, multiple sessions, check Craig Hamm’s ‘Irish Music Ottawa’ http://www.irishmusicottawa.ca/ for locations. 

The tune book of the Ottawa Slow Jam is also up on the web, with chords:

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/ottawajam/files/Slow%20Jam%20Book/

 

Montreal

Several sessions and a Tunebook are on the web: http://music.gordfisch.net/montrealsession/index.html