Folk Harp Weekend
Dive into the fantastic world of folk harp playing! We're delighted to welcome back Steph West, this time joined by Clotilde Trouillard and Harriet Earis, to lead a weekend of harp workshops and sessions in our annual weekend dedicated to harp playing in a folk context.
Using a range of repertoire we'll explore the music, arrangements and techniques for playing the harp in traditional music, and there'll be classes for players of all levels.
Harriet will be teaching mostly traditional Welsh tunes, while Clotilde explores music from Brittany. There will also be plenty of time for informal playing and socialising!
Who is it for?
This weekend is for players of any level, or anyone who is interested in getting started. Our Folk Harp Weekend will require more advanced players to work by ear, with music provided at the end.
For complete beginners, and those who have taken a beginners course but want a refresher. Working on basic technique, making a great sound and learning how to play in comfort. We work slowly and carefully with more individual attention.
Steph West is providing harp hire again for anyone who does not have their own instrument yet. This will need to be booked in advance so let us know at the time of booking if you wish to reserve one of these.
Our improvers class is for players who can already perform a simple tune. If you can play a simple Christmas carol with a simple left hand then this is for you. We’ll work steadily and calmly on building your skills and include some technique work if needed.
Our intermediate/advanced class is for players who want to try faster tunes with more complicated music.
The Team
Harpist and singer Steph West works as a performer, teacher and workshop leader. She embraces both English and Irish trad styles, working with artists and organisations in both fields. Steph currently plays with the English Harp Project, celebrating English folk tunes on the harp through concerts and workshops. The only harpist with 9.5 fingers, Steph works within the integrated/disabled arts world as a performer with the British Paraorchestra and RNS Moves, and has mentored for Open Up Music who are pioneering the National Open Youth Orchestra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4n4CVBW4dw
Clotilde Trouillard
Bio coming soon!
Harriet Earis
Harriet started the harp aged 7 and was originally classically trained. When asked to join a London-Irish band in her gap year, she had a religious conversion to trad music and has never looked back since. She is now considered one of the foremost exponents of the Celtic harp in the UK, specialising in Welsh, Irish and Scottish music.
With her trio of harp, bass and drums she also mixes Celtic music with jazz - and more recently with tap dance.
Together with her love of Celtic music, Harriet speaks Welsh, Irish and Scots Gaelic and has an MA in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge. She has been a busy full-time musician since 2001, touring extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and America.