2010 BARGA SCHOOL OF PIPING, TRADITIONAL MUSIC and DANCE

June 20 - June 27, 2010
Barga, Tuscany, ITALY

Boxwood is pleased to collaborate with Hamish Moore and B.I.G. to present a week of exploration, discovery, and celebration of Scottish music and dance. Barga dates back a thousand years and is a walled hill town of astounding beauty. As well as being surrounded by natural, spectacular mountain scenery its architectural glory is a joy and its narrow streets and lanes make pedestrian transport the norm with the presence of cars somewhat of a rarity. This all adds to the incredible charm of the town.

Teaching will take place in an old Convent School, which is ideally suited to hosting classes.
As well as budget dormitory style accommodation in The Convent, Barga has many self-catering apartments, hotels and Guest Houses. Because approximately 60% of the town's population have relatives in the west of Scotland and through the strong links forged by John Bellany with East Lothian, Barga quite rightly and proudly boasts the title of, "The most Scottish Town in Italy".

Faculty and Classes:

Coordinator:

  • Hamish Moore

Piping

  • Allan MacDONALD
  • Fin MOORE
  • Tiber FALZETT
  • Alberto MASSI

A wide range of piping styles is on offer as well as the school catering for the complete range of abilities from beginners to advanced.

  • Competition piping
  • Pibroch and Pibroch Song: this is the speciality of Allan MacDonald.
  • Dance Piping: where the students will learn the tempi and rhythms needed to play for the old hard shoe percussive step dancing and Scotch reels.

Fiddle

  • Sarah HOY - Sarah is one of Scotland's brightest and best young fiddlers and teachers and can offer a wide range of styles from Scottish, Irish, Shetland to Cape Breton.

Dance

  • Frank McCONNEL - is arguably Scotland's best step dancer with a huge wealth of teaching and choreographic experience. He is also a very well known and respected contemporary dancer.
    He will be offering classes in some of Scotland's oldest and most exciting dance forms including Scottish Step Dance, Cape Breton Square Dancing, Quadrilles, Lancers.

Flute

  • Chris NORMAN - Chris will be teaching traditional Scottish dance music and vocal airs with an emphasis on tunes from the older collections. Classes will emphasis on translating vocal, piping and fiddle techniques to the flute to revive a Scottish idiomatic style and distinguish it from other Celtic styles of playing. Chris also has a wealth of experience in other styles including Cape Breton, Irish, French Canadian as well as renaissance & baroque if students are interested.

Meals and accommodation:

Meals lodging are not included in the registration fee. It has been organised so that everyone attending the school has the opportunity to eat together, a great chance to discuss matters of the day, sing the occasional song or play a tune round the table.

Lunches will take place at the beautiful Ricardo's Trattoria, which has stunning views of the mountains from one of the most beautiful balconies anywhere in the world. Hosted by the lovely Scots Italian Adele and her husband Ricardo. Lunch includes two generous courses, wine, bottled water, coffee €10. Alternatively students can go to a very good local bakery where a small lunch can be had for €5.

Dinner has been organised in The Osteria which is in the heart of The Old Town in Piazza Angelio, one of the most beautiful piazzas in the world. Hosted by the wonderful and welcoming Ricardo Negri who takes a pride in all things culinary. Two courses, wine, water and coffee for €15.

Accommodation:
1. Dormitory style accommodation as been organised for those students on a budget at €5 per night. This is in The Convent School. - N.B. There are only 30 places
2. Hotels:
? The Alpino Hotel
? Villa Moorings
3. Self-Catering Apartments (email: tuscanrentalsadmin@gmail.com)

More information on meals and lodging is available through Hamish Moore or B.I.G.

 

TUITION & REGISTRATION:

Registration for Chris Norman's flute classes is available here via PayPal. Tuition for the week is £300. As mentioned above, lodging and meals are not included.

 

 

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