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Updated in [October 16th, 2023]

What does this course tell?
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Develop the skills and techniques that give authentic Irish concertina its distinctive sound with this free online concertina course. It is ideally suited to students who have completed our basic Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 courses and want to learn how to enhance their playing, or to anyone who has a good grasp of the fundamentals of playing the concertina. In this course, you will be introduced to some of the techniques that give Irish folk music its distinctive colour such as 'cuts' and 'triplets'. Here, former all-Ireland champion concertina player Conor O'Loughlin passes on some of those skills that he has learned both through Irish music’s oral tradition and through studying music at university. This course includes a lesson on playing chords on the concertina along with new tunes.
Throughout the course, Conor breaks the tunes down into segments so that the learner can remember each part more easily. There are also accompanying notes for each tune in the resources section of the course. These include reminders of when to add ornamentation or the extra notes that 'colour' traditional Irish music. The course begins with ‘Jackie Daly’s Jig’, named for the famous accordion player from County Kerry. Conor introduces two of the most popular forms of ornamentation used in traditional Irish music, the ‘cut’ and the ‘triplet’. A cut involves quickly tapping a note before the main note you are playing while a triplet is a set of three notes played in the space of two. Once the whole tune is played, there is the opportunity to play it through at a slightly higher tempo with the ornamentation included. The next tune is the hornpipe, ‘Off to California’. A hornpipe is similar to a reel but with added bounce. Conor teaches the tune in two sections, showing you where to add ornamentation in the form of triplets. The final section of this course is devoted to the reel ‘The Weeshie Bag of Potatoes', also known as ‘Follow Me Down to Carlow’ and Conor devotes a lesson to teaching you how to play concertina chords before moving on to the tune itself. This is a popular reel at sessions and a fitting finale to this intermediate course.
For anyone who is relatively new to the Irish concertina and wants to broaden their repertoire and learn how to recreate authentic traditional Irish sounds, this free online concertina course provides the perfect training. Our tutor, Conor O'Loughlin, is one of the top young players in Ireland, having won the national title at Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann in 2017 and winning the prestigious Siansa Gael Linn competition that same year with the band Dúchas. More recently, Conor graduated from the University of Limerick with a performance-based degree in Traditional Irish Music. He formed a new group, The Conifers, with his college friends and together they have toured internationally with their debut album by the same name. He lives in Corofin, near the Clare Burren, in an area that boasts a vibrant traditional Irish music scene with its annual festival in March attracting visitors from across the world. Through our three free concertina courses, Conor shares the knowledge, skills and techniques that are key to developing as a concertina player. Learners can also gain certification by passing the end-of-course assessment. If you want to master those techniques and tunes that will take your concertina-playing to the next, toe-tapping level, begin the course today!


We considered the value of this course from many aspects, and finally summarized it for you from two aspects: skills and knowledge, and the people who benefit from it:
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What skills and knowledge will you acquire during this course?
During the Traditional Irish Concertina Intermediate course, learners will acquire the following skills and knowledge:
1. Techniques for authentic Irish concertina playing: The course focuses on developing the skills and techniques that give traditional Irish concertina its distinctive sound. Learners will be introduced to techniques such as 'cuts' and 'triplets' that are commonly used in Irish folk music.
2. Playing chords on the concertina: The course includes a lesson on playing chords on the concertina, which is an important skill for accompanying other musicians or playing in a session.
3. Learning new tunes: Learners will have the opportunity to learn new tunes throughout the course. The tunes are broken down into segments, making it easier for learners to remember each part. Accompanying notes for each tune are also provided, including reminders for ornamentation and additional notes that add color to traditional Irish music.
4. Ornamentation techniques: The course teaches learners how to add ornamentation to their playing, such as cuts and triplets. Ornamentation is an essential aspect of traditional Irish music and adds flair and character to the tunes.
5. Building repertoire: By learning new tunes and techniques, learners will be able to expand their repertoire of traditional Irish music. This will enable them to participate in sessions and perform a wider range of tunes.
6. Insights from an experienced tutor: The course is taught by Conor O'Loughlin, a former all-Ireland champion concertina player and a top young player in Ireland. Conor shares his knowledge and skills acquired through both the oral tradition of Irish music and his formal music education at the University of Limerick.
7. Certification: Learners have the opportunity to gain certification by passing the end-of-course assessment. This certification can be a valuable recognition of their progress and skills as a concertina player.
Who will benefit from this course?
This course is beneficial for students who have completed the basic Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 courses and want to enhance their concertina playing skills. It is also suitable for individuals who already have a good grasp of the fundamentals of playing the concertina.
Specifically, this course is ideal for those who are interested in learning how to play traditional Irish concertina music with an authentic sound. It is designed to help learners develop the skills and techniques that give Irish concertina its distinctive color and style.
Professionals or individuals with a specific interest in Irish folk music, particularly those who want to broaden their repertoire and learn how to recreate authentic traditional Irish sounds, will benefit from this course.
Additionally, musicians who are looking to improve their ability to play chords on the concertina will find value in this course.

Course Syllabus

Ornamenting Concertina Music

Course assessment