This event will initially adress questions around session etiquette, but then most of the time will be spent playing some Irish traditional music together. Feel free to join in even if you’re relatively new to playing your instrument, or less familiar with Irish music, but be aware that the leaders won’t be teaching tunes or techniques around playing a given instrument in this particular workshop.
Alina Larson has been playing Irish traditional music for much of the past decade, mostly on pennywhistle but lately on uilleann pipes. She dabbles in a number of other traditional and folk instruments, and loves the sense of musical community that arises in session spaces, as well as in playing for dancers. Lately, she has been making the rounds playing for Irish céilí and set dances around the San Francisco Bay area, and is a regular attendee of sessions around Berkeley.
Valerie Rose teaches Irish fiddle at the United Irish Cultural Center and at California Coast Music Camp. She plays for Irish set dancing in the band Avalanche (along with Alina), performs for contra dances with the band Midnight Chargers, performs with Irish flute player Jason Pollack, and plays and sings in a duo with concertina player Daniel Hersh.