Sean Nos Singing Weekend
A new weekend course is coming to Halsway! Led by Chan Reid, this singing course will focus on learning unaccompanied Irish sean nos (“old style”) traditional songs in the English and Irish language and in particular, the singing techniques needed to deliver sean nos songs in a traditional way.
The course will explore a range of repertoire from the different regions of Ireland with an emphasis on Irish language songs collected from the Connemara region and English language songs from all over Ireland. This is a chance to learn the unique style of singing these songs in the Irish tradition, by ear, taking a ‘mind, body and spirit’ approach to delivering these songs. Chan will explore breathing and relaxation techniques as well as teaching the Irish “vocal ornaments” that are such a unique feature of sean nos singing, as part of developing good overall singing practice within the course.
You will go home with:
a repertoire of sean nos songs in the English and Irish language to perform.
An understanding of the history and tradition of sean nos singing and the different regional styles throughout Ireland.
Where to find these songs using digital and paper resources.
Who is it for?
This course is suitable for all singers, with or without experience of sean nos singing. You do not need to be able to read sheet music, and words and audio files will be provided for all songs. You’ll spend time working in groups or various sizes, guided through the process, and additionally there’ll be time for some 1:1 learning.
The Team
Chan (aka Sian) Reid was born into a musical family in Ireland and was given a lifetime of tunes and songs by her grandmother Joan Kelly, that Chan now carries and shares in the aural tradition, teaching melodies by ear and weaving stories with her voice for others to carry into the world.
Chan is a multi-instrumentalist and established choir leader, vocal coach and music educator with over 25 years experience holding group and one to one singing workshops. She lives in East Sussex where she chairs the Hastings branch of Comhaltas Ceolteoiri Eireann, which she founded in 2016.
Chan frequently appears on Irish television and radio singing sean nos “old style” unaccompanied songs in English and Irish and is a sought after singing and music workshop host and performer all over the UK and Ireland. In 2024 she was given “saothar” (living composer) status by the Irish Traditional Music Archive for her own work composing songs in the Irish traditional style. Chan continues to collect and write songs in the Irish living tradition and her work is performed by singers all over the world.