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Event
Gaelic Piping Workshop - Smallpipes or Border pipes in "A"
Two hour workshop for Smallpipes or Border pipes in "A" taught by Ben Miller. Ben is available for private lessons earlier in the day for those with pipes in "D".
Ben is a player of Scottish smallpipes, border pipes and the highland pipes whose repertoire and style draw mainly on the Gaelic traditions of western Scotland and the Canadian maritimes, blended with a healthy dash of Iris tunes for good measure.
Originally from Upstate New York, Ben has spent a number of years living in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he recently completed a post-graduate degree at the University of Edinburgh's School of Scottish Studies.
Ben's interest in traditional music stems from his exposure to the bagpipes at a young age, in his home town of Queensbury, as well as his familys strong connection to its Scottish and Irish roots, through both his American mother and Canadian father. He began studying the Highland Bagpipes around age eight, but by twelve he began to shift his focus to the bellows-blown Scottish smallpipes and Border pipes.
Ben has played with several competitive pipe bands during his career, but left the pipe band scene to pursue traditional Scottish and Cape Breton dance music, and has traveled extensively to Scotland, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton to further develop his own unique style.
Ben is an experienced instructor, in both one-on-one and group settings. He has been a member of teaching staff at several large-scale piping workshops, including the Pipers Gathering (Vermont, USA), P.E.I. Fiddle Camp (Prince Edward Island, CAN) and the Maine Pipes and Fiddle Workshops (Maine, USA).
Ben is also involved with several other projects in addition to his solo career, including a dynamic new duo with Cape Breton fiddle player, Anita MacDonald, and the innovative Edinburgh-based quartet, Larsa. He has also collaborated extensively with dancer Sophie Stephenson, of Fort Augustus, on Scottish step-dance programs across Scotland and abroad.
In addition to teaching and performing, Ben is also a writer and scholar, having recently completed a post-graduate degree in Scottish Ethnology, at The University of Edinburgh's School of Scottish Studies, where he focused on musical performance in the Gaelic dance-music tradition. He also contributes regularly to Piping Today Magazine, published by the National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.
For interested students, Ben is able to follow up the workshop using a combination of Skype, mp3 recordings, and personalised lesson plans. He can create monthly, or semi-monthly lesson packages to meet your individual needs. His approach goes beyond technique, to focus on aural learning skills, music theory, repertoire, and historical background, aiming to provide students with the foundation to become both strong pipers and good musicians.
Workshop will be on the third floor of Montgomery Legion Hall. Advance registration preferred, onsite registration will be available space permitting. Tickets for the concert and dance (Feb 27 8pm) at which Ben will perform are available online at http://cbsession.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the workshop.
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LocationMontgomery Legion Hall Third Floor (View)
330 Kent St.
Ottawa, ON K2P 2A6
Canada
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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Contact
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