Learn folk tunes online from Shetland, Scotland and Ireland with Morag Johnston
This course will take you step-by-step through six folk tunes in a range of styles and tempos. From the comfort of your own home, you will learn the six tunes by ear, as well as appropriate ornaments and style.
Welcome
to the Scottish Whispers
online autumn course
Come and join me online this Autumn in my Scottish Whispers Online course where I will teach six tunes from Shetland, Scotland and Ireland. Along with the tunes, I will share with you appropriate ornaments and how to play them stylistically, too.
I will teach these tunes step-by-step by ear using my unique learning-by-ear method. This method is suitable for beginners to experienced ear learning musicians and was developed as part of my research at the University of Aberdeen.
I have been teaching this course online since 2020 and have tailored the lessons to suit the online space. During the lesson, participants are on mute and as such have complete freedom and privacy to learn: it is like having a private lesson but 1/4 of the cost! At the end of each lesson, feedback from the participants helps me to tailor the course to them.
After each lesson, participants receive a recording of the lesson as well as the sheet music and links to a youtube video of the whole set (collection) of tunes.
Finally I will share with you ways to keep the tunes in your memory for years and years!
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Learn
Learn a tune a week from online lessons every Monday night! Suitable from beginner, intermediate to advanced levels. You will have access to all content so can revise the tune and learn ornaments outside of lessons anytime you want.
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New Skills
Using the unique Scottish Whispers method, develop your ear playing skills and learn how to play confidently from memory. You will be led through a series of activities each of which develops and builds on your knowledge of the melody.
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With Style
Whilst learning the tune you will also pick up style, bowing and you will learn appropriate ornaments for each tune. You will put the tunes together into sets and by the end you will be able to play multiple tunes together: you will be ready for folk sessions!
What do students say?
Morag’s relaxed and friendly manner put me at ease right away, and I actively looked forward to our lessons each week. Morag’s method of teaching music is enjoyable and rewarding for students, and above all effective in its apparent simplicity. Thank you, Morag. I’ve already enrolled on your next course!.— Sheila
It has lifted my mood every gloomy Thursday morning. I have learned to play 6 Shetland and Irish folk tunes on cornett. I have discovered ways of increasing enjoyment and efficacy of my own practice. My pupils are benefitting from the new teaching practices I have picked up. And of course, I am listening to lots of gorgeous folk music.
Friends, amateurs, pros, listeners, dancers etc etc, do sign up!!
— Tamsin
You have absolutely nailed a format that can genuinely work better online and from the privacy of one’s own home.
— Annabel Knight, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Sign up to Scottish Whispers!
Upcoming Course Details
Price : 80 euros
Classes run on Mondays at 19h30 - 20h30 Central European Summer Time (GMT+2)
Dates: 25 September, 2 October, 9 October, 16 October, 23 October, 30 October, 6 November, 20 November
How to Sign Up
Fill out the form on the right
I will send you an email of confirmation of your place and how to pay
Every week I will send you a Zoom link to the course as well as links to any extra resources.
FAQs
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This course is suitable for anyone 16 + on any instruments. In the past, those who have played accordian, sacbkut, cornetto, whistle, gamba, pipes, cello, viola and a tuba player have all taken part.
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This course is designed for people who know their way around their instrument. It is suitable both for those with and without prior folk experience. Music reading is not needed. Amateur players, professional musicians and students of Birmingham Conservatoire have all taken part in this course. This workshop is of particular interest to those who would like to: try new skills, learn folk tunes and/or be able to play music from memory. An enthusiasm and a positive attitude to new experiences is an advantage.
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No, you can be a complete novice in ear playing and folk music.
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Download and be ready to use Zoom conference app https://zoom.us/ There is no other preparation required, just bring your instrument and an open mind! You will be taught in a group by ear. During the course of the lesson, you will only be able to see and hear Morag. At the beginning and the end of each session you will be able to speak with and see the other participants.
Here is more information about Scottish Whispers.
Here is a video I made earlier this year to let people know about Scottish Whispers and how it works. For any other questions, send me an email!
This video was filmed in my home turf Rennes, Bretagne by Petite Roche Productions and was translated into French by Anne-Julie Dupart. Enjoy!
Here is a recent set participants learned.
I love this set of one strathspey and two reels which come from the Lady Elizabeth Ross Collection. Filmed in Glasgow in July 2022 by Campbell Parker, with Alison McGillivray on cello.
