House Party Weekend and Workshops
November 2024
Details about the venue, event and workshop tutors are shown below.
Booking instructions and online booking form are found here: November Booking 2024
Booking instructions and online booking form are found here: November Booking 2024
House Party - Dunfield House 8th to 10th November 2024
The Venue
Situated on the Welsh Border near Kington, Herefordshire, Dunfield House is a rare survivor from the reign of Charles 1st with a story that transcends plagues, civil war, and 400 years of history till it ends up today as a residential centre with indoor swimming pool, fresh cooked meals and now space for old-time music.
The weekend House party includes all meals, accommodation and workshops and runs from the afternoon of Friday 8th November till after lunch on Sunday 10th November.
Accommodation is in bunk style dormitories or there are some private rooms for couples depending on booking levels and situation. Some space is available for motorhomes/caravans, all as detailed in pricing structure below.
Situated on the Welsh Border near Kington, Herefordshire, Dunfield House is a rare survivor from the reign of Charles 1st with a story that transcends plagues, civil war, and 400 years of history till it ends up today as a residential centre with indoor swimming pool, fresh cooked meals and now space for old-time music.
The weekend House party includes all meals, accommodation and workshops and runs from the afternoon of Friday 8th November till after lunch on Sunday 10th November.
Accommodation is in bunk style dormitories or there are some private rooms for couples depending on booking levels and situation. Some space is available for motorhomes/caravans, all as detailed in pricing structure below.
The Party
This year’s House Party at Dunfield House includes all the normal features we have included in previous years with a selection of workshops run by some of the country’s best-known performers and teachers as well as a mixture of other activities.
There will also be slow jams on Saturday morning and afternoon and one on Sunday morning. The Sunday slow jam will concentrate on waltzes followed by a singalong jam.
Saturday afternoon will feature a short barn dance (subject to numbers) giving you chance to either work off your energy or play in the band.
Friday and Saturday night will feature short performances by the tutors followed by sessions with the tutors.
This year’s House Party at Dunfield House includes all the normal features we have included in previous years with a selection of workshops run by some of the country’s best-known performers and teachers as well as a mixture of other activities.
There will also be slow jams on Saturday morning and afternoon and one on Sunday morning. The Sunday slow jam will concentrate on waltzes followed by a singalong jam.
Saturday afternoon will feature a short barn dance (subject to numbers) giving you chance to either work off your energy or play in the band.
Friday and Saturday night will feature short performances by the tutors followed by sessions with the tutors.
The Tutors
Dan Stewart - banjo, guitar and mandolin
Dan Stewart is a highly respected clawhammer banjo player and guitarist who has been performing for over 15 years, playing mainly Old-Time American and Cajun music.
Dan has been teaching music since 1996, both for private students and for workshops at festivals, and is one of the banjo tutors for the Saturday Workshops at Cecil Sharp House, London.
He plays regularly in three bands, Rattle on the Stovepipe (with Dave Arthur and Pete Cooper), The Hotfoot Band (with Chris Murphy and Kirsten Hammond), and Swallowtail, a duo with his sister, fiddler Sarah Tadros, performing Irish, Scottish and English folk music.
To hear Dan playing follow Sandy Boys (youtube.com)
Dan Stewart - banjo, guitar and mandolin
Dan Stewart is a highly respected clawhammer banjo player and guitarist who has been performing for over 15 years, playing mainly Old-Time American and Cajun music.
Dan has been teaching music since 1996, both for private students and for workshops at festivals, and is one of the banjo tutors for the Saturday Workshops at Cecil Sharp House, London.
He plays regularly in three bands, Rattle on the Stovepipe (with Dave Arthur and Pete Cooper), The Hotfoot Band (with Chris Murphy and Kirsten Hammond), and Swallowtail, a duo with his sister, fiddler Sarah Tadros, performing Irish, Scottish and English folk music.
To hear Dan playing follow Sandy Boys (youtube.com)
Emily Smith - running the Old Time fiddle workshop
Emily Smith’s love for American fiddle styles was ignited 20 years ago by an early Stringbean Akeman recording of Little Maggie with Chubby Wise on fiddle. Since then she has been a passionate fiddle student, learning from great players on trips to the US and Sore Fingers. As her understanding of old-time music has deepened, she has shared her own knowledge here at fiddle camps, festivals and Sore Fingers.
Emily regularly performs with The Firecrackers, the Ragged Out String Band and Emily Smith and Ed Hicks. Her passion for American fiddle styles has led her to explore the endless treasure trove of Old-Time fiddle tunes which she loves to share through teaching and performing.
The workshop is aimed at players who can already play their fiddle/violin at a basic level. Emily will teach Old-Time American fiddle tunes, breaking down each tune phrase by phrase and focussing on the tunings, bowing patterns and inflections that make the unique sound of Old Time fiddle music. The tunes will be taught by ear so you don’t need to read music.
To hear Emily’s playing, follow the link below.
Wild Shoat | Emily Smith (bandcamp.com)
Emily Smith’s love for American fiddle styles was ignited 20 years ago by an early Stringbean Akeman recording of Little Maggie with Chubby Wise on fiddle. Since then she has been a passionate fiddle student, learning from great players on trips to the US and Sore Fingers. As her understanding of old-time music has deepened, she has shared her own knowledge here at fiddle camps, festivals and Sore Fingers.
Emily regularly performs with The Firecrackers, the Ragged Out String Band and Emily Smith and Ed Hicks. Her passion for American fiddle styles has led her to explore the endless treasure trove of Old-Time fiddle tunes which she loves to share through teaching and performing.
The workshop is aimed at players who can already play their fiddle/violin at a basic level. Emily will teach Old-Time American fiddle tunes, breaking down each tune phrase by phrase and focussing on the tunings, bowing patterns and inflections that make the unique sound of Old Time fiddle music. The tunes will be taught by ear so you don’t need to read music.
To hear Emily’s playing, follow the link below.
Wild Shoat | Emily Smith (bandcamp.com)
Paul and Clare Sheridan - running the dance workshops
Paul and Clare have been been members of FOAOTMAD since the beginning and have tried to promote dance, and especially freestyling, at any opportunity. They have been dancing and performing since the 1980's.
They were part of Roughshod Appalachian Cloggers for 17 years and performed at many festivals across the UK, America and Germany. Their preferred style is now to put their homemade board down whenever the music inspires them and to freestyle, playing the tune with their feet in improvised percussion.
Paul and Clare have been been members of FOAOTMAD since the beginning and have tried to promote dance, and especially freestyling, at any opportunity. They have been dancing and performing since the 1980's.
They were part of Roughshod Appalachian Cloggers for 17 years and performed at many festivals across the UK, America and Germany. Their preferred style is now to put their homemade board down whenever the music inspires them and to freestyle, playing the tune with their feet in improvised percussion.
Prices
The cost is £190 per person all inclusive based on a shared room. There are some smaller rooms that can be let to couples at an extra £20 per room on a first come first served basis. (Individuals may be able to book a single room depending on availability).
There are a few spaces for motorhomes/caravans at £160 per person (no hook-ups), which includes all meals, access to facilities in the house, and all the workshops and sessions. Non-participating guests are welcome at a reduced rate, contact [email protected] for details.
No deposit required – just a commitment to pay the full amount by 31st August 2024.
Family rooms, and parking for motorhomes or caravans are limited so please check availability. Book early to be sure.
Definition of proficiency level for musicians in relation to workshops.
Different ability levels are taught at different times and at different locations. You may be asked to assess your proficency level when applying to join our workshops, so we can ensure the course work is properly matched to expectations. In order to help you do this, we have summarised our definitions as follows:
Beginner:- Someone who has just starting to learn and would probably know little or nothing about the instrument and have little or no music theory knowledge.
Novice:- Would be able to play a few tunes, understand the tuning of the instrument and know a little about music theory, chords, keys etc.
Intermediate:- Would be comfortable playing in sessions, know 20 or more tunes, know about different tunings and keys. They would probably have a basic understanding of basic music theory.
Advanced:- Would have a large repertoire of tunes, be comfortable playing in all the main keys and be capable of at least a little bit of improvisation. May be at band level and have knowledge of music theory.
Different ability levels are taught at different times and at different locations. You may be asked to assess your proficency level when applying to join our workshops, so we can ensure the course work is properly matched to expectations. In order to help you do this, we have summarised our definitions as follows:
Beginner:- Someone who has just starting to learn and would probably know little or nothing about the instrument and have little or no music theory knowledge.
Novice:- Would be able to play a few tunes, understand the tuning of the instrument and know a little about music theory, chords, keys etc.
Intermediate:- Would be comfortable playing in sessions, know 20 or more tunes, know about different tunings and keys. They would probably have a basic understanding of basic music theory.
Advanced:- Would have a large repertoire of tunes, be comfortable playing in all the main keys and be capable of at least a little bit of improvisation. May be at band level and have knowledge of music theory.
