Longford's Camlin Keys Piano Festival daytime workshops

The inaugural Camlin Keys Piano Festival takes place on Saturday, June 17 and organisers are delighted to announce their daytime Workshops.

Throughout Saturday daytime, in St John’s Church, they have Andrew Yau leading a series of Piano Duet and Ensemble workshops.

Andrew Yau is a multi- instrumentalist, conductor and arranger, with experience performing on RTE and in The National Concert Hall; with orchestras and with the famous Jazz composer Tigran Hamasyan. Graduating from Maynooth University Andrew’s focus is on performance, composition and piano ensemble.

In these workshops, Andrew will share tips, techniques and essential skills for creating excellent music together.

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His suggested ensembles may include Piano Duet (four hand piano); Piano and any solo instrument (Violin, Flute, Voice); Piano and ensemble (Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello).

This is a great opportunity to perform and receive guidance on the technical and musical challenges musicians face when learning and performing together in an ensemble.

Each duo or group will perform one piece and have a performance focused discussion and workshop.

Register for a workshop with Andrew and develop skills in either piano duets or piano focused ensembles. All repertoire or song choices must be emailed in advance of the competition and cannot be changed once selected.

In St John’s National School there will a classroom dedicated to workshops for children’s activities as well as rooms for the competition classes.

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The Music with Dee-Dee Workshop will see participants join Dee-Dee Hickey for a lively hour of early-years musical fun, games and stories, from ages baby upwards, booking is essential. Dee-Dee is well known in Roscommon and South Longford for her energetic music groups and story-time – actively involving children in all aspects of singing, dancing and playing music with her, as well as, acting out her stories. Parents can sit and watch or join in the fun too!

There will also be a STEM workshop - What can you make a piano out of? See if you have the technical know-how to programme a micro-bit and get a paper-piano working or can we get a makey-makey piano using grapes going? Join us for an hour of creation through programming and see what instruments we can make using electronics.

Piano as an Adult; many people think they are too old to start learning the piano, this is not true.

The programme includes a half hour chat on taking up the piano, or returning to it after an extended break, you’re never too old to learn something new – and it’s very good for the brain.

There are other workshops in the pipeline with updates available on social media.

If you would like to book-in to any of the workshops or have any queries, visit the website, www.camlinkeys.ie, email camlinkeyspianofestival @gmail.com or call/text 085 265 4240.

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The competition classes are all open for entry, with the deadline June 9: “ We are aware that Longford Community Games talent final is on the same day and are liaising with them to ensure entrants won’t have to pick one or the other.

“ We have an option on the entry form to let us know which CG group participants are involved with to avoid a clash of competitions – but get entries in early,” the organisers tell.