2024-25 IMPORTANT CIM DATES | 

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Irish Music & Arts Summer Camp – Half Day

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

At Irish Music & Arts Summer Mini-Camp (a condensed version of the 9am-3pm camp being offered the week of July 15th), campers will meet new Irish music friends, gathering each day to learn songs, try Irish instruments, listen to stories, do arts & crafts, and learn some myths & legends.

This camp will be led by singer, flute/whistle player and dancer Adrienne O'Shea and advanced CIM students.

Irish Music & Arts Camp is open to all, whether you play an Irish or non-Irish instrument (or no instrument at all)! We will have instruments here to try. Bring a snack, water bottle, and sunhat each day, and arrive with sunscreen applied. Some days will include a walk to nearby Newell Park.

For some of the music-specific workshops, campers will be divided by age and/or previous experience with Irish music. Students with no prior instrument experience will learn tin whistle & singing. Tin whistles are available for sale from CIM for $15 each, on the first day of camp. Please contact admin@centerforirishmusic.org with additional questions regarding programming or placement.

**For children going into grade 1 to grade 6.**

$160

Introduction to Irish Harp Summer Camp – Half Day

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

At Irish Music & Arts Summer Mini-Camp (a condensed version of the 9am-3pm camp being offered the week of July 15th), campers will meet new Irish music friends, gathering each day to learn songs, try Irish instruments, listen to stories, do arts & crafts, and learn some myths & legends.

This camp will be led by singer, flute/whistle player and dancer Adrienne O'Shea and advanced CIM students.

Irish Music & Arts Camp is open to all, whether you play an Irish or non-Irish instrument (or no instrument at all)! We will have instruments here to try. Bring a snack, water bottle, and sunhat each day, and arrive with sunscreen applied. Some days will include a walk to nearby Newell Park.

For some of the music-specific workshops, campers will be divided by age and/or previous experience with Irish music. Students with no prior instrument experience will learn tin whistle & singing. Tin whistles are available for sale from CIM for $15 each, on the first day of camp. Please contact admin@centerforirishmusic.org with additional questions regarding programming or placement.

**For children going into grade 1 to grade 6.**

$160

Make Up Week for Summer Term

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

Make up week for Summer Term private lessons.

First Day of Fall Term

First Day of Fall Term at the Center for Irish Music. Youth ensembles start the week of September 9th.

Session Playing

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

Are you interested in playing with others in an informal setting, also known as a session, but aren't sure where to start? You are not alone! This class is a great, safe way to experience a weekly session and build your confidence around showing up to other sessions in the future. We will build on your existing repertoire of tunes by learning from each other, while also working on some Twin Cities session classics you can bring to any session around town!

This class will focus on melody players, but accompanists are welcome as well!

$306

An Luan Adult Ensemble

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*In-Person Class*

An Luan has been together for many years, and is always on the lookout for new members - especially melody players on fiddle, concertina or accordion! This experienced group of musicians has a history of performing regularly around the Twin Cities with a large repertoire of session tunes and not-so-well-known tunes since 2010. They strive to play great music together and have fun while they are at it.

New and interested students, please contact Brian Miller at dadgadguy@gmail.com before enrolling.

Reminder: All ensemble students need to take regular private lessons from a CIM instructor to be in a CIM ensemble.

$314

Songs from Derry Singers

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*In-Person Class*

Dáithí was born and raised in the city of Derry in the north of Ireland, a place where everybody seemed to have songs to sing. In these classes he will teach a variety of songs he loves and learnt from local singers including Seán Ó hÉalaí, Brian Mullen, Frank Shiels and Kevin Mitchell.

$126

New Adult Ensemble with Danny Diamond

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*In-Person Class*

Join fiddler Danny Diamond for a new adult ensemble at CIM, open to students who have not been in an adult ensemble before. This new group will learn tunes from Danny, building up a common repertoire that they enjoy playing together in a mixed group of instruments.

This ensemble is open to melody players (fiddle, flute, accordion, concertina, whistle, uilleann pipes, banjo, mandolin for example) who can play at least 10-15 tunes by ear at a reasonable speed. Accompanists (guitar, bouzouki, bodhrán etc) should have experience accompanying Irish tunes and be able to choose chords if needed. There is room for one or two accompanists in this group (guitar, bouzouki, bodhrán etc), so please contact Lily at lgaetgaeow@centerforirishmusic.org before registering.

Over time, the group may work on developing arrangements, songs, or wherever Danny decides to lead you! Regular private lessons on your principal ensemble instrument are required to be in a CIM ensemble, and generally ensembles run year-round, especially Fall and Spring (summer class depends on student & instructor availability). The first 60 minutes of class time is with the instructor, and the last 30 minutes, the group is self-led.

Reminder: All ensemble students need to take regular private lessons from a CIM instructor to be in a CIM ensemble.

$274

Workshops with the Friel Sisters & Friends

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

The Center for Irish Music is thrilled to welcome the Friel Sisters and friends Cathal Ó Curráin and Marty Barry for an afternoon of workshops before their concert at the Celtic Junction Arts Center! All instrument workshops are aimed at intermediate to advanced players and will be taught by ear. Workshops are $25 each. Register now at www.centerforirishmusic.org/register.

$25

Canceled Five Great Stories Behind Five Great Tunes

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*In-Person Class*

“Why did King Brian march? Why does the Lark sing best?”

Behind every tune, there’s a story. Discover the vibrant history of five outstanding tunes and why they still matter to us today. Join CIM harp instructor Chad McAnally in a journey through this great music and it’s epic tales.

Open to all melody instruments.

$90

Introduction to Tin Whistle for Kids, Year 1

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*In-Person Class*

The tin whistle is a rewarding Irish instrument and a great fit for young musicians with small hands. Join Carmen Pasquerella for a brand new Introduction to Tin Whistle for Kids class, designed for musicians going into Kindergarten to grade 2.

Carmen will teach your child how to play polkas, marches, and jigs. Hands-on parental support is needed for regular practice at home.

$219

Introduction to Tin Whistle for Kids, Year 3

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

Norah's continuing whistle class will keep moving forward for a third year, this year working in some basic ornaments as we continue to solidify our rhythm, sense of pitch, playing-together skills through building our repertoire (more tunes).

This year, Norah will incorporate a few more songs for fun (and to learn a little bit of Irish), and to help with pitch development.

In addition to CIM holidays, this class will not meet on December 17.

Email nrendell@centerforirishmusic.org with any questions.

Prerequisites: Introduction to Tin Whistle for Kids, Year 2: Summer

$206

Swallowtail Intermediate Ensemble

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*In-Person Class*

The Swallowtail Ensemble class is an intermediate level mixed-instrument ensemble.

Directed by Hannah Flowers with support from Carmen Pasquerella, students will learn tunes and arrange them in sets to perform together as a group. This class has a strong focus on building ensemble skills including playing fluently, adding variations, listening to each other, maintaining excellent rhythm, using simple harmonies, preparing for performances, increasing knowledge of traditional Irish music, and having fun with each other and the music!

Save the date for the Center for Irish Music Ensemble Holiday Concert at the Celtic Junction Arts Center on Saturday, November 23rd at 3:00pm.

New members are welcome, but should contact us at admin@centerforirishmusic.org to be sure the ensemble is a good fit.

Reminder: Intermediate ensemble students are required to take regular private lessons from a CIM instructor. Private lessons with CIM instructors support learning the ensemble repertoire and reinforce technical & stylistic aspects of each student's instrument. Financial aid is available.

$314

Irish Pub Songs

The Center for Irish Music 836 Prior Avenue North, Ste. 400, St. Paul

*Hybrid Class*

This Fall, we will offer two sections of this class so students can participate remotely and in person at CIM. Please check the location ("Online" or "MULT" for in person) before registering.

Pub songs are raucous, tuneful, and above all, fun! But like the most intricate reel, you need skill and a concentrated approach to play and sing them well. Todd will teach the vocal techniques and rhythmic strategies needed to help you stand and deliver these wonderful ballads and drinking songs. All instruments encouraged.

$252