www.irishmusicholidays.com

Here is the opportunity for guitar players to spend a few days under the tutelage of Clare guitarist MJ McMahon, while taking in the sights and sounds of Ennis. MJ will be the host tutor for this retreat and will teach the guitar workshops each morning. MJ uses the alternative tuning system – DADGAD in his tutorials as this is particularly suited to Irish and other Celtic music genres due to its modal nature. He will examine chords, chord structures and strumming patterns of some of the more typical tune types and keys in the Irish tradition; the Jig, Reel, Slip Jig and Hornpipe focusing on the keys of D, G, Em and Am. He was also focus on the use of sliding chords, inversions, bass runs, hammer–on technique and more complex strumming patterns.

This retreat will feature two afternoon masterclasses given by two renowned guitarists: multi–instrumentalist Neill Fitzgibbon and Aodán Coyne of the group Socks in the Frying Pan. These masterclasses will give you a chance to learn techniques of other guitarists who use the same DADGAD tuning, ask questions about your own playing and listen to them playing in an intimate setting.
You will be taken on a sight seeing trip out to the wild West of Co. Clare during the retreat week. We will show you the natural beauty of The Burren, the Atlantic sea, and will stop off in Doolin for dinner at the legendary Gus O’Connors Pub. After dinner we will all go for a music session out West! Ennis is full and brimming with live music in the pubs.
Also available: Tin Whistle: October 4th – 9th (Tutors: Kirsten Allstaff, Kevin Crawford and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh).
Fiddle: November 9th – 14th (Tutors: Tola Custy, Niamh Dunne and Katie Boyle).
Flute: October 26th – 31st (Tutors: Kirsten Allstaff, Steph Geremia and Conor Byrne).

For further information: Website: www.irishmusicholidays.com, Email: irishmusicholidays@gmail.com
or Tel: 00353 852854320.