Arts: Music   

In this course, Pat O’Scannell, a performer of Irish traditional music who has attended Irish sessions in the U.S., Canada and Ireland for over 40 years, will introduce students to the Irish session. No previous musical knowledge is required, and questions are welcome. The first meeting includes a full description of the session and a discussion of its history, cultural importance, function and place in the modern world. The second meeting concentrates on the instruments and the details of their history, construction and technique. It will go into more depth on two vocal traditions, ballad singing and sean nós, that one might find at play in an Irish session. The meeting will conclude with a mini-session. A brief bibliography will be made available to the students, as well as supplemental resource material with an extended bibliography, lists of players, singers, festivals, periodicals and other items of interest to those who wish to explore this subject matter more fully on their own.

NOTE: The class includes an optional three-hour lab consisting of visits to Irish sessions at Dunbar Winery, 2881 Hillcrest Road, Medford, on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and at the Copper Plank at the Elks Lodge, 202 N. Central Ave., Medford, Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m.

Playing the harmonica can bring joy to you, to other musicians with whom you play and to those who enjoy listening to music. In class, we’ll listen to recordings to become familiar with the typical chord progressions one hears when listening to the blues. Then we’ll improvise harmonica “riffs” (strings of notes that sound good) that complement them. We will let our ears guide us, playing the notes that our hearts and gut-sense tell us sound right. We will not be reading music or expecting to play a given song in exactly the same way twice. As with any skill, it takes practice to be a good harmonica player, so you will be expected to practice on your own between classes. The instructor will direct you to recordings and online resources that provide background music with which to practice. Having access to a CD player, the internet and a computer with speakers will be essential.  

NOTED: A $15 fee is due at the first class meeting for materials. The instructor will provide each student with two Blues Band harmonicas in different keys, printed materials and audio recordings (on CD). Each class session builds on the one before, so it is important that students attend all sessions. Students who know they will miss a class are asked to take the class during another term.  

Playing the harmonica can bring joy to you, to other musicians with whom you play and to those who enjoy listening to music. In class, we’ll listen to recordings to become familiar with the typical chord progressions one hears when listening to the blues. Then we’ll improvise harmonica “riffs” (strings of notes that sound good) that complement them. We will let our ears guide us, playing the notes that our hearts and gut-sense tell us sound right. We will not be reading music or expecting to play a given song in exactly the same way twice. As with any skill, it takes practice to be a good harmonica player, so you will be expected to practice on your own between classes. The instructor will direct you to recordings and online resources that provide background music with which to practice. Having access to a CD player, the internet and a computer with speakers will be essential.  

NOTED: A $15 fee is due at the first class meeting for materials. The instructor will provide each student with two Blues Band harmonicas in different keys, printed materials and audio recordings (on CD). Each class session builds on the one before, so it is important that students attend all sessions. Students who know they will miss a class are asked to take the class during another term.