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Join Mike O'Connor at La Grande Gennerie, Normandy
6-10 September 2010

Write songs like Carrying Nelson Home, The White Shepherd, Singing in the May ...
Plan your next folk opera ...
Tell your stories ...
Hone your performance and accompaniment skills ...

Songwriters, singers, storytellers, dreamers ... all are welcome.

Have a brilliant and enjoyable time at a tutored 'musical workshop/retreat.'
Tuition is relaxed and personal, tailored to your needs.
The countryside is beautiful, your companions will be like-minded.
Experience the delights and hospitality of rural France.

Click here for a PDF Brochure

This tutorial is part of a very special music workshop series pioneered by Martyn Wyndham-Read. It is now held at the farm of La Grande Gennerie, near Carelles, in the beautiful Mayenne countryside on the borders of Brittany, Normandy and the Western Loire, run by Englishwoman Alison Benn with Martyn Wyndham-Read's blessing.

The tutorial comprises a week of expert tuition, wonderful wine and fantastic food in the beautiful Normandy Countryside! The cost is £250 per person which includes a barbecue on the Sunday evening at 6pm so everyone can meet up and chat beforehand. The course starts 9.30-10am on Monday and finished at 4.30-5pm each evening, except Wednesday which will finish at 1-2pm after lunch, and on Friday at 4pm - to get ready for the concert. Partners are welcome and will be charged 25 euros per day for lunch and refreshments.

The course offers musicians, friends and partners, a chance to spend a relaxed, informal, yet constructive week in the company of the tutor of their choice. It is a truly magical experience, at a place where you can learn at your own pace with a small group of like-minded people in a tranquil and inspiring location. This is an opportunity to enjoy the peaceful French countryside with excellent wine, food, music and of course good company.

Mike O'Connor has a towering reputation for creating great songs that are by turns, evocative, powerful and atmospheric. His songs are sung by Martyn Wyndham-Read, Craig-Morgan-Robson, and many more. His work has been celebrated in Living Tradition magazine and is much applauded.

His course is aimed at musicians who write or wish to write and perform songs in a traditional genre, but want to improve their songwriting and performance skills.

Mike will address the whole art of songwriting, both lyrics and music. It will cover both conventions and innovations in traditional genres. For those who wish Mike will teach musical theory and notation. UK Copyright, and Mechanical and Performance Rights will be mentioned.

By the end of the week you will have the ability to craft songs that are effective and memorable and take them into the world of traditional music with confidence that they will be enjoyed by both performer and audience.

The course is suitable for anyone who has ever thought about writing a song, is not tone deaf, and who speaks good English. Knowledge of music theory or notation is not essential, but may be helpful. It doesn't matter if you play an instrument or not, or what instrument you may play.

Mike's recorded songs include: Carrying Nelson Home, The White Shepherd, Last Song, Summon up the Sun, Geevor Lads, Singing in the May, Shining Down on Sennen, The Best of Autumn, The Last Shift at the Crowns. He is well known for his folk operas 'The Cry of Tin', 'Unsung Heroes, and 'Cornish Lads'.

Mike is a lovely fiddle player, a masterful teller of both epic stories and tall tales, and the acknowledged expert on Cornish music. Expect a fascinating week that will extend your musical horizons!

Click here for the La Grande Gennerie Home Page

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