NAFCo Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas - Workshop - North East Scotland College: Aberdeen City Campus

Finding your voice: nobody can be better at being “you” than you can. Learn how to speak on your instrument in an idiomatic way using vernacular language and dialects to explore regional styles from Scotland and beyond. Find your inner drummer by using dance rhythms found in traditional and non-traditional music. We’ll explore the possibilities of different approaches to rhythm on bowed stringed instruments. Learn how to make your tune come alive by becoming a better dance fiddler, and also how to be a part of the rhythm section and contribute to the group as a more well-rounded ensemble musician. Learn techniques new to the string world and develop your sense of groove. Use these skills to develop an arrangement of a set of tunes incorporating melody, rhythm, harmony, ‘horn’ parts, counterpoint, improvisation and more. We will begin with a focus on the previous two topics of language and rhythm, but expand to develop a performance-ready piece that delves into the inner workings of how to create an arrangement with shape and direction.