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Class Descriptions

FULL-SEMESTER CLASSES   Class registration form as a PDF
 

21 September - 9 December 2010

All School Recital on Sunday 12 December

Important note about Performance with BRIM:  Students enrolled in any BRIMS 12-week class have the opportunity to take part in BRIMS’s traditional music and dance ensemble (the performance arm of BRIMS) for no additional fee.  Trad Ensemble requires an interest in performance and in honing stage presence and related skills.  Attendance on Tuesdays from 5:00-6:00 is required for participation.  More details below.

Children’s Introductory Class Scoil Sampler

Beginners, Ages 7-11, Mimi Vidaver, Alex Caton and Lori Madden, plus guest instructors
Tuesday 4:00 - 5:30 pm   $170, BRIMS Member $150
A Sampler for the younger student new to Irish music and dance. Instruction will include dance, singing, language, beginning fiddle or beginning tin whistle (students choose one). No previous experience necessary.  Students just need to have an interest in Irish music and/or dance and a desire to develop that interest through hands on learning.  Stagecraft and performance skills will also be a focus.  As they advance in the program, students will be encouraged to hone their specific skills and interests and gradually advance into the next level of class offerings. BRIMS students enrolled in the Scoil Sampler will have occasional opportunities to perform alongside Trad Ensemble.  Consistent attendance required for participation in performances.

FIDDLE

Irish Fiddle II, Intermediate/Advanced, Ages 12 to adult, Alex Caton

Tuesday 6:00-7:00 pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

Students will increase their repertoire in this class by learning tunes by ear. Specifically we will focus on stylistic and technical aspects of Irish fiddle music including ornamentation, intonation and tone.  We will also delve into various ways to bring out the rhythm and phrasing of our tunes.   

 
Irish Fiddle I, Beginner, Ages 12 to adult, Alex Caton

Tuesday 7:00-8:00 pm $210, BRIMS Member $190

Students should already play some violin and be familiar with the instrument.  Students will learn tunes by ear and we will discuss what makes Irish fiddle music sound Irish.  We will also work on improving our fiddle sound by focusing on tone, rhythm and intonation.  In addition, we will learn various types of tunes that correspond with Irish dance.

 
WHISTLE/FLUTE

Flute, Adv. Beginner/Intermediate, Ages 12-adult, Aaron Olwell

Tuesday 6:00-7:00  $210, BRIMS Member $190

Whistle II, Adv. Beginner/Intermediate, Ages 12-adult, Aaron Olwell

Tuesday 7:00 pm-8:00: $210, BRIMS Member $190

Guitar

Introduction to Irish Accompaniment on Guitar (DADGAD tuning) Stu James
NOTE:  This is a 4 week course which meets:  Sept.21, 23, Oct. 5 & 12
Tuesday 6:00-7:00 pm:  $70, BRIMS Member $64
CLASS LIMIT:  4 Students
In this four week class, students will learn the fundamentals of accompanying Irish traditional tunes on guitar.  We’ll cover the basic rhythms (reels, jigs, hornpipes and polkas), chord shapes, and common major and minor progressions.  Time permitting, we’ll also learn how to pick a tune and/or accompany a song.   In this class, we’ll be using DADGAD tuning; an open style guitar tuning that is very popular for backing Irish musicians.  Ages 12 and up are welcome.  Some experience on guitar is helpful (simple chords and strumming in standard tuning).  You will need a guitar, capo, and pick. 

DANCE
Although we will be taking special care to warm up and cool down at each dance class meeting, please consider that Irish step dance is, at times, a high impact, aerobic activity and may not be appropriate for individuals with foot, ankle, knee or hip problems.
 

Cape Breton Step Dance Advanced Beginner, Ages 12-adult, Meg Madden

Tuesday 7:00-8:00pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

In this class we will study repertoire, delve deeper in to style and nuance, break down rhythms, and create new steps out of all of our basics.  We will practice improvisation within the style, build strength and develop confidence in our movements.  Maybe a little yoga, maybe a history lesson, maybe a couple sit-ups scattered in there, but definitely a fun, very creative, thoughtful and hard-working class! 

Irish Step Dance, Chldren’s Beginner, Ages 6-12, Lori Madden

Thursday 4:00-5:00 pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

Complete beginners will explore the basic building blocks of Irish step and Irish social dance in a fun and relaxed environment.  Emphasis is on building skills while enjoying dancing with others.

Irish Step Dance, Youth Adv. Beginner, Group A, Ages 7-12, Marina Madden

Thursday 4:00-5:00 pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

For the child who has successfully completed the Beginner class and can execute the basic steps with ease.  Students should also be able to start to incorporate new material at a quicker pace and learn some basic choreography.

Irish Hard Shoe: Basic Rhythm & Technique, All Ages Carrie Brubaker

NOTE:  30 minute class

Thursday 5:00-5:30 pm  $105, BRIMS Members $95

For the student at any level from beginner-intermediate.  Focus will be on perfecting sounds and basic rhythms.  All youth and beginner students must complete this basic class before advancing to teen/adult hard shoe.

Irish Step Dance, Youth Adv. Beginner, Group B Ages 7-12, Lori Madden

Thursday 5:00-6:00 pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

For the child who has successfully completed the Beginner class and can execute the basic steps with ease.  Students should also be able to start to incorporate new material at a quicker pace and learn some basic choreography.

Irish Step Dance Youth Intermediate/advanced, Ages 7-14, Marina Madden
Thursday 5:30-7:00 pm  $275, BRIMS Member $255

Students must have enough skills to assimilate new material quickly, and a working knowledge of light shoe reel, jig, and slip jig.  Form and technique will be fine-tuned, and we will use existing skills to create new choreography for group dancing.

Irish Step Dance, Advanced, Ages 14-Adult, Carrie Brubaker

Thursday 6:00-7:30 pm  $275, BRIMS Member $255

Dancers with a minimum of two years' experience with Irish step dance will work on refining technique, style, and musicality.  In addition to more intricate soft shoe steps, we will also focus intensively on hardshoe technique, working on hornpipe, treble jig and treble reel steps.

Irish Step Dance, Teen/Adult Advanced Beginner, Ages 12-Adult, Lori Madden

Thursday 6:00-7:00 pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

An intermediate class for teens and adults that continues to build on basic skills while increasing repertoire and adding slip jig rhythm to reel and jig.

Irish Step Dance, Teen Adult Beginner, Ages 12-Adult, Lori Madden

Thursday 6:00-7:00 pm  $210, BRIMS Member $190

Complete beginners will explore the basic building blocks of Irish step and Irish social dance in a fun and relaxed environment, adv. beginners will continue to build on section I.  Emphasis is on building skills while enjoying dancing with others.

TRAD ENSEMBLE Alex Caton, Lori Madden

Tuesday 5:00-6:00 pm

Students enrolled in a BRIMS 12-week class have the opportunity to take part in BRIMS’s traditional music and dance ensemble for no additional fee.  Trad. Ensemble requires an interest in performance and in honing stage presence and related skills.  Focus, and a detailed knowledge of common repertoire are also highly recommended. Note: Younger BRIMS students enrolled in the Scoil Sampler will have occasional opportunities to perform alongside Trad. Ensemble.  Consistent attendance (no more than 2 unexcused absences) required for participation in performances.

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

     Alex Caton (Fiddle and Guitar): Alex first put bow to hand at the age of five and continued her studies in violin through college. Since then she has dedicated her life to passing on the tradition of Irish fiddle and has been teaching privately for 12 years now. Alex founded and is director of the Mountain Road Fiddle Camp in Mingo WV.  She has also been      involved with the Blue Ridge Irish Music School as a teacher and board member for several years.  When Alex is not teaching or planning for fiddle camp, she is playing Irish and Old Time music across the country and globe as a solo     artist.  Alex also loves playing with Odd Legged Jenny, with partners Pat Egan and Pete Winne, and also gypsy music    with various musicians.  Outside of fiddle, Alex enjoys singing and performing on guitar, banjo and piano.

      Carrie Brubaker (Dance): Carrie began Irish dancing in 1995 with the O’Neill-James School in Falls Church, VA, there she studied under Laureen O’Neill-James and assisted with the beginning adult classes.  In 2002 she joined the Culkin School which has a large and active adult dance group.  At the Culkin School she studied with Sean Culkin, Nicki Sack and Caterina Earle.  While dancing with the Culkin School she competed as a member of the National Championship adult ladies ceili team. 

     Stu James (Irish Guitar Accompaniment):  Stu has been playing traditional music in one form or another since his Mom brought home a piano when he was 15.  He currently plays rhythm guitar and mandolin in the local Charlottesville band, King Golden Banshee.  Stu has has had the pleasure of studying Irish Traditional music with Eamon O’Leary, Angelina Carberry and John Doyle at Swannanoa.

     Lori Madden (Dance, Trad & Scoil): Lori has been providing instruction in Irish Step, Irish Social, Ceili, and Set Dance to children and adults for ten years through BRIMS.  In addition, Lori teaches Irish dance in Lynchburg, and at the Mountain Road Fiddle Camp in West Virginia and Terpsichore’s Holiday dance camp, also in West Virginia.  Lori has performed with the Humorous Abandon Irish dance ensemble at Floyd Fest and the Lake Eden Arts Festival and also in the full length Irish dance productions Drowsy Maggie and Robin Hood.  In 2003, Lori served as Irish dance consultant for the Paul Wagner film Angels.

     Marina Madden (Dance): Marina has been Irish step dancing since the age of four and performing since she was six.  Marina has studied Irish dance with Emily Oleson, Matthew Olwell, Kara Butler and Donny Golden.  After serving as an apprentice teacher with BRIMS for 2 years, Marina became a full teacher at BRIMS in 2009-2010. Marina also taught step dance

at the BRIMS Summer Camps in 2009 and 2010.

     Meg Madden (Dance):  Meg has been teaching Cape Breton and Irish Step dance for a decade, from Augusta Heritage Center's summer class programs to Tandem Friends School Spectrum summer program, with many other schools and classes scattered between.  Meg was been last seen dancing with partners Matthew Olwell and Emily Oleson in Good Foot Dance Company.  Other performance experience includes dancing with Malke Rosenfeld, Lunasa, The Chieftains, Cleek Schrey and many other lovely musicians and dancers.  Meg is excited to return to BRIMS, where her music and dance career all began as a student and a teacher.  


     Aaron Olwell (Irish Flute & Tin Whistle):  Aaron has played Irish music on whistle and flute since he was a boy and also plays concertina as well as Irish and old time fiddle.  Aaron also works as a flute maker in Nelson County.

BRIMS Class Fee Structure
Please note: 
-There is a 20% discount/class for additional family members OR for additional classes taken by one person.
-Class fees for non-BRIMS members have an additional $20 registration fee.