I was on staff for the 5 weeks of the summer series this year
so it was easy for me to compare the various theme weeks of traditional
music. The biggest change I've seen in the Irish program is that
it is now the most popular week to attend at Augusta, eclipsing
even the cajun or American styles weeks. Total cost is around
$550 which includes all meals at the college cafeteria, and a
shared dorm room. Its also possible to pay only the $300 tuition
fee, and stay in local bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, or motels.
Many of the Instructors are familiar faces from other Irish "music
schools" such as the East Durham, New York program in the
Catskills, or "celtic week" at Warren Wilson College
in North Carolina. Daily classes consisted of instruction in:
fiddle; banjo; flute; whistle; pipes; singing; set and ceili dancing;
playing in a band; piano; harp; and hammered dulcimer.
Several classes were filled to capacity well before the start
of the program, so potential students should contact Augusta early.
The advanced Irish fiddle class, for example, filled up two months
early. I opted for an Irish piano class taught by Brendan Dolan
and came away with lots of useful playing tips. My staff duties
included helping to set up the early morning ceili and set dance
class led by Jim Keenan from County Armagh. The class was so much
fun that I ended up joining in and dancing. By the end of the
week, I had learned a set dance which we performed for the assembled
Irish week students at the Friday afternoon "student showcase."
Multiple music jams and sessions continued in the Augusta tradition,
and stretched each night well beyond 3 am, providing lots of opportunity
for students to play with others. Impromptu ceili dances would
spring up in the evenings on the large wooden porches where session
musicians would congregate after dinner.
Although the courses of instruction were focused primarily on
Irish music, there was a well attended fiddle class on Cape Breton
music taught by Jerry Holland. There were no classes in Scottish
music, however, such as might be found at other "celtic"
music schools. I did notice a couple of highland bagpipers lurking
about during the week although Its a bit hard for a highland piper
to merely "lurk, " since they could be heard for quite
a distance out in the woods away from the campus proper!
For more information call or write, or visit the web site at:
Augusta Heritage Center,
Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, West Virginia 26241, 304-637-1209.
www.augustaheritage.com