meet Wednesdays, 7.30 - 9.30pm.
The ACE Centre, Nelson. BB9 7NN.

A FREE 'taster' session is on September 8th at 7.30pm.
Come and see what goes on?

The Pendle Folk Orchestra is an independently run weekly, group workshop to bring together enthusiastic players of all instruments and backgrounds in a friendly, tutor-lead environment, to learn and play folk and traditional music. They learn through the playing of music primarily from the rich local repertoires of Lancashire and North-West England although regularly dip into those of Britain in general and further afield. They learn how to play the types of tunes commonly found in traditional music like jigs, hornpipes and waltzes, reels, polkas and airs.

The workshops are open to players of all kinds of instruments and of all and abilities from ages 14 upwards. You should have some experience and your own instrument. These workshops are NOT suitable for complete beginners but previous experience of folk music is not a requirement and nor is the capacity to read music.

If you play, at whatever level, and would like to improve, come and join us. We hope to develop our playing abilities to enable us to perform at public events and to play for social dancing at country dances and ceilidhs.

The cost of attending the workshops for the 2010/11 season is £70 per person per term. A concessionary rate of £50 is available for those in full time education or receiving income related benefits.

For more information see below or contact me.

Learning by Ear

Learning by ear is an important feature of traditional music. It is the way in which much of our indigenous music, song and dance has been passed down from one generation to the next. Reading music can of course be useful and the tutor uses both approaches - often teaching music first by ear but providing notation later as an aide-memoire. Students vary in the ways in which they prefer to learn and the tutor will try to respond to different needs.
You may find it useful to bring with you a portable recording device. A digital solid state recorder/mp3 player is ideal and becoming popular although many of us have recording capability with our moblie phones. You should also bring writing materials so that you can make notes where relevant and you may wish to bring a music stand too.

Ability Levels

Ability levels are very difficult to define as everyone will have had a different level of experience and will learn at different speeds and in different ways. Indeed two players of apparently similar ability will find different aspects of learning and playing easy or difficult. The tutor will try to accomodate all ability levels within the group but, dependant on numbers, it may be beneficial to separate into two groups, one for 'players' and one for 'experienced players'. So, as a general guide...

A Player is expected to be able to play the scales most commonly used on their instrument and a range of tunes of moderate difficulty, though not necessarily at 'dance speed'.

An Experienced Player will have a growing repertoire including most of the familiar dance forms: jigs, reels, hornpipes etc, which they can play at 'dance speed'. They will be expecting to improve their playing technique, widen their repertoire and develop a traditional style.

When & Where

The Pendle Folk Orchestra will meet for 10 weeks of each term from 7.30 to 9.30pm on Wednesday evenings. Come and join us!

Autumn Term 2010:
     September - 8th.- free taster session. 15th. 22rd. & 29th.
     October       - 6th. & 13th.
     November   - 3rd. 10th. 17th. & 24th.
     December  - 1st.

Spring Term 2011:
     January       - 19th. & 26th.
     February     - 2nd. 9th. & 16th.
     March          - 2nd. 9th. 16th. 23rd. & 30th.

Summer Term 2011:
     April             - 27th.
     May             - 4th. 11th. 18th. & 25th.
     June            - 8th. 15th. 22nd. & 29th.
     July             - 6th.

The workshops are held at:-

ACE (Arts & Culture & Enterprise) Centre.
Cross Street,
Nelson.
Lancashire.
BB9 7NN

Tel.: 01282 661080

The ACE Centre is in the heart of the Pendle area in Nelson town centre and is a superb venue for aspiring musicians. The centre is easily accessible and suitable for wheelchair users, and those with mobility difficulties.

Click here for a map showing where we meet. It is completed, believe me!?