Workshops

Celtic Kalissa Landa teaches this hands-on workshop covering Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and Ottawa Valley styles. The class covers bow technique, ornamentation, lilts, slurs, slides etc. and includes reels, jigs, polkas, airs and strathspeys. Kalissa has been playing fiddle since before she could walk, and dedicates much of her time to teaching both children and adults. She runs the fiddle program at the prestigious Academy of Music. For beginners, intermediate, or advanced fiddlers.

Celtic /Whistle Paperboys flute/whistle player will have you playing a jig or a reel by the end of the class. While using the framework of the melody, you will learn many of the ornaments used in , including slides, rolls, trills, hammers etc. We will also look at some minor melody variations, and where to use them in order to enhance the basic melody. Geoffrey is a founding member of , a four-year member of the Irish Rovers, and the longest serving Paperboy. Geoffrey has composed many of the Paperboys’ instrumentals.

Latin Music Overview In this workshop, the Paperboys demonstrate different styles of , stopping to chat about them and break down their components. It's a Latin Music 101 for students to learn about the different kinds of genres throughout Latin America, including but not limited to Salsa, Merengue, Mexican , , , , Norteña, , Samba, and Soca. This is more of a presentation/demonstration, and students don't need instruments.

Latin Percussion Percussionist/Drummer Sam Esecson teaches this hands-on workshop, during which he breaks down the different kinds of percussion in Latin music. Sam will talk about, and play, different patterns, rhythms and claves, and spend time teaching the students in the latter part of the workshop. Instruments used in this workshop include but are not limited to congas, bongos, cajon, shakers, claves, guiro, pandeiro, shekere, djembe, doumbek, riq, timbales and marimba. Sam has vast experience in both drumming and percussion, and teaches in his hometown of . In addition to playing in the Paperboys, he also plays in the Afro-Beat band, The Polyrhythmics, and the Latin band Maracuja.

Jarana, Vihuela, and Cuatro These stringed instruments are all related to the . The vihuela is at the heart of every band, and the jarana is at the heart of Son Jarocho music from Veracruz, . The cuatro is the heart and soul of Venezuelan Joropo music. In this workshop Tom Landa breaks down the different rhythms, patterns and chords of these three instruments. He talks about the music, but also about the history of where the music comes from, and where it's heading today. Tom was born in Mexico and returns frequently to play. He was awarded a Council Grant to study jarana in Veracruz, Mexico.

Brass Trombone player Nick La Riviere and trumpeter Mark D'Angelo lead this workshop. Nick is a fantastic arranger and musician who teaches community bands, and is a sought after session player. Nick also conducts workshops on improvisation, arranging and jazz. Mark teaches Mexican Mariachi trumpet as well as classical trumpet. Mark is one of the founding members of Mariachi Los Dorados, Canada's premiere Mariachi band.

Booking: Mike Green & Associates; phone 734.769.7254; email [email protected]

Celtic Guitar Tom Landa teaches this hands-on guitar workshop that runs through rhythms and patterns found in Celtic Music. The workshop covers Celtic accompaniment to reels, jigs, polkas etc. Tom is the founding member of The Paperboys and Locarno, and has spent the last 21 years touring the world and teaching in his hometown of Vancouver.

Voice/Canto Tom Landa teaches hands-on workshop with students to improve their singing. This can focus on either Anglo or Mexican music.

Bass In this workshop, Ronnie Swirl teaches bass basics, either hands-on or as a demonstration, and covers genres such as Latin, Jazz, and Rock. Ronnie is a graduate of the music program in Selkirk College, and is a sought after bassist in Vancouver. He has played with TNile, Mazacote and was a founding member of SSRIs.

Banjo In this 5-string banjo workshop, Brad Gillard teaches chords, picking melodies and various techniques. Styles include Bluegrass, Celtic, and folk music. Brad has been playing banjo for 20 years and has played with Clambake, , and The Clumsy Lovers, as well as with The Paperboys.

Songwriting Tom Landa and Geoffrey Kelly teach you everything you need to know about writing and composing, from lyrics to melody. In this class, students will come away having written a song with the help of Tom and Geoffrey.

Bodhran Tom Landa and Geoffrey Kelly teach this hands-on workshop on bodhran, the tradition Irish frame drum. Students will learn how to accompany jigs and reels and work on tipper technique, hand and wrist technique, and basic rhythms patterns.

Paperboys Band Lab In this workshop, The Paperboys work directly with student bands and teach them a song. The goal of the workshop is for the students to learn a complete song, with specific arrangements, and then perform it as a band. Through the course of a day or more, the Paperboys work with the students by breaking down into groups (percussion, flute, fiddle, guitar, jarana, bass, brass, etc.) and teach them their individual parts. After running through the individual parts, the group of students gets together as a band and starts rehearsing the song, slowly at first and then eventually at speed. The workshop culminates with the performance of the song. A minimum of an afternoon is needed for this workshop.

Booking: Mike Green & Associates; phone 734.769.7254; email [email protected]