manx celtic music and dance

Manx music and dance training sessions for teachers

05 Mar 2013

Russell Cowin, Malcolm Stitt and David Kilgallon at the CPD session
Russell Cowin, Malcolm Stitt and David Kilgallon at the CPD session

Two bumper training days of Manx music and dance were held for Isle of Man teachers in January. Organised by Chloë Woolley (MHF) and Jo Callister (DEC), the half day ‘continuous professional development’ sessions were designed to help teachers introduce or enhance elements of Manx culture in the classroom and encourage participation in the annual Manx Folk Awards (18-20 March). Carol Hayes from Perree Bane dance group started with a fantastic workshop on Manx dancing, where she taught newcomers some old and new dances and suggested ideas for simplifying them for children. Breesha Maddrell then led an afternoon of ‘Singing Manx Songs with Confidence’, which focused on how to use straightforward Manx Gaelic songs in a variety of ways in the classroom. The next day started with a ‘whistle-stop’ crash course on the Manx tin whistle using the scheme of work ‘Feddan’ which was designed by Chloe Woolley for the Music Service’s Primary Music Initiative. The teachers left equipped with resources to try whole-class teaching of the whistle themselves. The final CPD was designed for teachers who already play a classical instrument which is also associated with folk music. Everyone took part in a basic bodhran lesson with Russell Cowin before embarking on some traditional techniques on fiddle with David Kilgallon, guitar with Malcolm Stitt or whistle with Jo Callister. The session finished with everyone playing a very impressive rendition of Graih Foalsey and Cum y Shenn Oanrey Cheh. If you would like any information on workshops or training sessions from the Manx Music Development Team, please get in touch…

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