2025 SWW Saturday

NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend 2025 – Saturday Workshop

Fiddle Techniques and Tunes

with Stewart Hardy, Niles Krieger and Grace Smith
Saturday 5th July
9.30 am – 5.00 pm
Wylam Methodist Church, Chapel Lane, Wylam NE41 8AA

Follow-up Materials

No. 8 Hornpipe (James Hill) – with Stewart

Here is a link to the Video Tutorial that Stewart created on the tune for our first Virtual Summer School in 2020:

There is also a lovely playthrough of this tune by Stewart on his YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/QCwJgKrXQwk

Chinquapin Hunting – with Niles

Here is an audio file of Niles playing the tune freely at the start of the Saturday morning workshop:

Chinquapin Hunting – Niles (freely)

Steady playthrough of Chinquapin Hunting

Chunquapin Hunting – Chords (with visual assistance from our tutors!)

Thanks to Jools for the videos!

We also enjoyed playing Da Lounge Bar (Annlaug Børsheim) during the sessions, and thought it would be nice to share the notation and Video Tutorial that Kevin Lees created for us on this tune in Block 5 of 2022:

Advance Materials

Please have a listen, and print notation if you would like it and are able to, for No. 8 Hornpipe (James Hill) and Chinquapin Hunting, and any session materials you would like to have with you.

No. 8 Hornpipe (James Hill) – with Stewart

Audio files

No. 8 Hornpipe – Full
No. 8 Hornpipe – Steady
No. 8 Hornpipe – Free Full
No. 8 Hornpipe – Free Steady

Zip File of all pdfs and audio files for download

(right click or Ctrl Click and “Save link as…”)

Chinquapin Hunting – with Niles

Chinquapin Hunting – Worksheet (pdf)

N.B. There is a different tune in A major with the same name!

Session

Updated Live Tunes docs! These have the new Live Tunes up to and including 2025 Block 4. If you have previous versions, you will only need the final pages.

Big Tunes

These are the tune we will definitely play in the sessions over the weekend. The page numbers refer to the Live Tunes docs (either the normal version or the bowed version) and the Live Tune Sets document.

  • Maggie O’Ham (Live Tunes p.18)
  • Polska from Småland (Live Tunes p.20)
  • Gilsland Hornpipe (Live Tunes p.17)
  • Bob & Joan / Cuckold Came out of the Amery (Live Sets p.5)
  • Mona’s Delight (Live Tunes p.10)

Some Live Tune Harmonies from last year – just for fun, if you want to try them!

If you would like to access the full resources for any of the Live Tunes, including audio files and even the video recordings of the Live Zoom Calls in which they were taught, you can access the Live Teaching Resources page.

Wylam Methodist Church, Chapel Lane, Wylam NE41 8AA

Please arrive from 9.30 am for a 9.45 am start.

  • 09:30 : Welcome
  • 09:45 : Physical Warm Up
  • 10:00 – 11:15 : Workshop 1
  • 11:15 – 11:45 : Morning break
  • 11:45 – 13:00 : Workshop 2
  • 13:00 – 14:00 : Lunch
  • 14:00 – 15:15 : Workshop 3
  • 15:15 – 15:45 : Afternoon break
  • 15:45 – 17:00 : Session

You will need to bring all of your own equipment, including a music stand if you wish to use one.

Lunch is not included, so please bring a packed lunch, or there is a tea shop, a pub and a Spar a couple of minutes walk away. There will be a one hour break for lunch.

Tea and coffee will be provided during the morning and afternoon breaks. Please advise us of any dietary requirements.

Travel

There is a small car park at the Methodist Church, or please park with consideration in the surrounding residential streets. Wylam Station is well connected by train (about 30 mins from Newcastle Central Station or 20 mins from Hexham Station) and is 10-15 mins walk away, or catch the X84 bus from Eldon Square (35 mins via West Road, or 52 mins from Hexham). If you would like a lift from the station, please ask and we will ask around.

Saturday Evening Social

Saturday 5th July
7.30 – 10.30 pm
Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill NE44 6DJ

There will be an informal concert by Tyneside Fiddle Alliance at 7.30 pm, followed by a session for everyone. Many of the tunes will be from our Live Tunes repertoire, but not exclusively! All instruments are welcome. Free entry – any donations towards the event will be much appreciated!

Car Parking – please park carefully and respectfully around the village and avoid blocking any access. Here is a map provided by the venue. The largest parking space is around by St James’ Church – you will need to allow about 5 mins to walk back to the Parish Hall.

Riding Mill Car Parking – pdf

NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend 2025

  • Saturday 5th July – Fiddle Techniques and Tunes, 9.30 am – 5.00 pm @ Wylam Methodist Church
  • Satuday Evening Social – an informal concert by Tyneside Fiddle Alliance, followed by a session for everyone. 7.30 pm @ Riding Mill Parish Hall
  • Sunday 6th July – Beyond the Tunes, 9.30 am to 4.00 pm @ Riding Mill Parish Hall

If you would like to attend the short concert from Tyneside Fiddle Alliance, followed by an music session, we will be at Riding Mill Parish Hall at 7.30 pm on Sat 5th July. Just turn up, all instruments are welcome! Free entry – any donations towards the event will be much appreciated!

COVID-Secure Guidelines

By attending an in-person event organised by NEFS, you agree to follow any COVID-secure Workshop Guidelines in place, and any further reasonable requests made by the venue, the Tutors or Directors to keep the group safe and all attendees feeling as comfortable as possible.