Previous Schedules
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View the 2017 YTS Schedule.
View the 2016 YTS Schedule. View the 2015 YTS Schedule. View the 2014 YTS Schedule. View the 2013 YTS Schedule. |
View the 2017 Workshop Descriptions.
View the 2016 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2015 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2014 Workshop Descriptions. View the 2013 Workshop Descriptions. |
Sara's Workshops
Migration of Songs Between the United Kingdom and North America
Scots and Ulster Scots have migrated in such numbers that no other European nation has ever lost such a high proportion of its people. In the early days, these were men and women who left behind them a homeland rich in the oral tradition of song and ballad singing; an inheritance which they carried with them wherever they went. Their legacy is apparent to this day. Sara will trace the migration of songs from the United Kingdom to North America by singing a song and discussing it, or part of it, from its source and then singing the American or Canadian version showing the changes and the similarities. Sara likes to make the workshop as interactive and informal as possible by encouraging the participants to sing on choruses and refrains and ask any relevant questions.
Interpretation of Songs and Ballads
We will look at choosing songs for our repertoire, discuss what we can do physically and mentally to approach the singing of ballads and songs. We will look at style, use of decoration, balance, pace, timing, rhythm, phrasing and dynamics. It will be very interactive—participants are encouraged to bring a song on which we can work.
Traditional Songs from the Logging Camps of Northern New England and Canada
The movement of the Irish into the logging camps of northern New England and Canada brought along many songs. These songs adapted, adjusting from their original forms to fit the needs of the Irish as they took on various occupations and social mores both in urban and rural environment. The workshop will deal with the Irish taking hundreds of songs and tunes to the “new world,” and will illustrate what happened to them as the Irish began to integrate into different cultures.
Scots and Ulster Scots have migrated in such numbers that no other European nation has ever lost such a high proportion of its people. In the early days, these were men and women who left behind them a homeland rich in the oral tradition of song and ballad singing; an inheritance which they carried with them wherever they went. Their legacy is apparent to this day. Sara will trace the migration of songs from the United Kingdom to North America by singing a song and discussing it, or part of it, from its source and then singing the American or Canadian version showing the changes and the similarities. Sara likes to make the workshop as interactive and informal as possible by encouraging the participants to sing on choruses and refrains and ask any relevant questions.
Interpretation of Songs and Ballads
We will look at choosing songs for our repertoire, discuss what we can do physically and mentally to approach the singing of ballads and songs. We will look at style, use of decoration, balance, pace, timing, rhythm, phrasing and dynamics. It will be very interactive—participants are encouraged to bring a song on which we can work.
Traditional Songs from the Logging Camps of Northern New England and Canada
The movement of the Irish into the logging camps of northern New England and Canada brought along many songs. These songs adapted, adjusting from their original forms to fit the needs of the Irish as they took on various occupations and social mores both in urban and rural environment. The workshop will deal with the Irish taking hundreds of songs and tunes to the “new world,” and will illustrate what happened to them as the Irish began to integrate into different cultures.
Thomas' Workshops
The Story Song
In the Irish Traveller tradition there is an art form which involves the telling of a story, the final part of which comes in the form of a song. The song has no meaning without the story. Thomas will tell and sing one such example of a traditional story song. He will teach you the song, give you a chance to ask some questions and then have a go, as a group, at telling the story and singing the song.
An Irish History in Song by an Irish Traveller
Thomas will tell you about the history of Ireland from the perspective of Irish Travellers who are believed to be the ancestors of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland. He will intersperse this with songs passed down through his family illustrating the Travelling life and some historic songs. You will have a chance to ask questions and learn one of the songs.
An Irish Traveller Style of Singing
A chance to learn some techniques from an Irish Traveller: The "sean nos" or "old style" of Irish singing is highly decorated and feeling. The Traveller style is even more so, having an intense and soulful sound with complex decoration and a warble or throat vibrato to add power to the delivery. Come and have a go at some of these techniques and listen to some powerful singing by Thomas McCarthy.
In the Irish Traveller tradition there is an art form which involves the telling of a story, the final part of which comes in the form of a song. The song has no meaning without the story. Thomas will tell and sing one such example of a traditional story song. He will teach you the song, give you a chance to ask some questions and then have a go, as a group, at telling the story and singing the song.
An Irish History in Song by an Irish Traveller
Thomas will tell you about the history of Ireland from the perspective of Irish Travellers who are believed to be the ancestors of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland. He will intersperse this with songs passed down through his family illustrating the Travelling life and some historic songs. You will have a chance to ask questions and learn one of the songs.
An Irish Traveller Style of Singing
A chance to learn some techniques from an Irish Traveller: The "sean nos" or "old style" of Irish singing is highly decorated and feeling. The Traveller style is even more so, having an intense and soulful sound with complex decoration and a warble or throat vibrato to add power to the delivery. Come and have a go at some of these techniques and listen to some powerful singing by Thomas McCarthy.
Robert's Workshops
The Singing Roots of the Blues
Blues songs are among the most identifiable songs associated with the American singing tradition, however the blues did not come out of thin air. In this workshop we will explore the kinds of songs that helped to form the music that would eventually become known as blues. We will explore things like field hollers, work songs, and the concept of floating verses. We will also explore the African singing aesthetic and show how it fed into the formation of the music that we now know as the blues.
Spirituals to Gospel
The Spiritual is a uniquely American style of music that was born in the time of slavery. Some feel that it, along with Jazz, might be among America's only original style of music. Gospel, on the other hand, was born in the 1930's and it is one of the most important and popular styles of sacred music. In this workshop we will showcase the differences and similarities between these two styles, and we will also attempt to explore the history and purposes of these two legendary styles of sacred singing.
Lead Belly Songs
Huddie Ledbetter aka "Lead Belly" was a legendary African American singer in the early part of the 20th century. Famed as a player of the 12 string guitar, Lead Belly was also a powerful song leader and writer. We will be learning a number of his great songs, including "Irene," "Take This Hammer," "Rock Island Line" and "Midnight Special."
Blues songs are among the most identifiable songs associated with the American singing tradition, however the blues did not come out of thin air. In this workshop we will explore the kinds of songs that helped to form the music that would eventually become known as blues. We will explore things like field hollers, work songs, and the concept of floating verses. We will also explore the African singing aesthetic and show how it fed into the formation of the music that we now know as the blues.
Spirituals to Gospel
The Spiritual is a uniquely American style of music that was born in the time of slavery. Some feel that it, along with Jazz, might be among America's only original style of music. Gospel, on the other hand, was born in the 1930's and it is one of the most important and popular styles of sacred music. In this workshop we will showcase the differences and similarities between these two styles, and we will also attempt to explore the history and purposes of these two legendary styles of sacred singing.
Lead Belly Songs
Huddie Ledbetter aka "Lead Belly" was a legendary African American singer in the early part of the 20th century. Famed as a player of the 12 string guitar, Lead Belly was also a powerful song leader and writer. We will be learning a number of his great songs, including "Irene," "Take This Hammer," "Rock Island Line" and "Midnight Special."
Lisa's Workshops
Vocal Coaching; Your Voice as a Tool of Expression
Lisa will give this workshop twice over the weekend to allow for smaller group workshops.
This vocal workshop will be accesible for everyone, including folks who don't think of themselves as "singers".
Lisa's clinics deal primarily with vocal production as it relates to singing in various folk styles. She will cover aspects like vocal projection and where you place the voice, how you use dipthongs and liquid consonants, rounding vowels so that you can progress seamlessly from register to register, using your breath, and ways of emphasizing a song's narrative drama without the tempo and dynamic changes usually found in classical and popular music. She's interested in helping participants “edit” their own voices to find what works best for them, whether they want to recreate traditional songs in an individually unique manner or want to channel the old styles and sounds. She will draw on examples ranging from Joe Heaney to Frank Sinatra to Satchmo; Jean Ritchie to Ethel Merman.
Songs of Life Love and Leisure, from New England and Beyond
The Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada have a rich vocal repertoire ranging from sea songs, songs of the woods, and songs associated with leisure and work. Many are rooted in Irish, Scots, and English traditions. Others recount local or New World topics and frequently draw on popular and theatrical melodies. New England gave rise to the early factory system, and I usually have something to sing about the processes of early industrial change stresses and the internal dislocation and migrations. I also sing love songs, kids songs etc and a modern country song or two from Labrador. Some of the songs have choruses, but others are meant for deep listening. Lisa will sing and also invite participants to share songs.
Lisa will give this workshop twice over the weekend to allow for smaller group workshops.
This vocal workshop will be accesible for everyone, including folks who don't think of themselves as "singers".
Lisa's clinics deal primarily with vocal production as it relates to singing in various folk styles. She will cover aspects like vocal projection and where you place the voice, how you use dipthongs and liquid consonants, rounding vowels so that you can progress seamlessly from register to register, using your breath, and ways of emphasizing a song's narrative drama without the tempo and dynamic changes usually found in classical and popular music. She's interested in helping participants “edit” their own voices to find what works best for them, whether they want to recreate traditional songs in an individually unique manner or want to channel the old styles and sounds. She will draw on examples ranging from Joe Heaney to Frank Sinatra to Satchmo; Jean Ritchie to Ethel Merman.
Songs of Life Love and Leisure, from New England and Beyond
The Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada have a rich vocal repertoire ranging from sea songs, songs of the woods, and songs associated with leisure and work. Many are rooted in Irish, Scots, and English traditions. Others recount local or New World topics and frequently draw on popular and theatrical melodies. New England gave rise to the early factory system, and I usually have something to sing about the processes of early industrial change stresses and the internal dislocation and migrations. I also sing love songs, kids songs etc and a modern country song or two from Labrador. Some of the songs have choruses, but others are meant for deep listening. Lisa will sing and also invite participants to share songs.
