Classes and Teachers

from beginners to professional

Classes at Craiceann

Classes are held each morning and afternoon, Monday to Friday in the island’s arts centre Aras Eanna.

Classes cater for all playing levels and we have a special stream for complete beginners who start to play on the island.

Students are separated into different groups based on their playing ability.
Based on their self rating, and the need to have manageable class sizes, students will be allocated to a particular grouping with those of a similar standard and ability
Students will normally remain with that group for the week, although if either a student or a teacher feels an individual would be more suited to an easier or more challenging level, then movement to another group can be arranged if this is approved by the Craiceann Team.

Each learning group will be located in a separate room, and teachers will rotate through the groups. The beginners group will be taught by the same teacher for the first half of the week and then get exposure to the other teachers for the second half of the week. Pupils may like to bring a recording device, but will be expected to ask each tutors permission before using this during class. As well as the structured daily classes Monday thro’ Friday classes, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings there will also be classes where each student can choose to attend the a particular tutor. Some of these evening classes will have specific themes and others will be more free-form where topics can be decided by student/tutor agreement.

Classes

Find your right class

Self Assessment

Please refer to the information below for your self rating.
Please read the descriptions of the four different levels and choose the one that is closest to your abilities when signing up for Craiceann!

Beginners

for people who are picking up a bodhrán for the first time and for people who have owned a bodhrán for a long time but have never really played under instruction. We deal with the posture of the instrument, learn the playing technique from scratch and deal intensively with the rhythmic differences in Irish music (emphasis on reels and jigs).

Student characteristics

Absolute beginners
No drum experience whatsoever

Basic

for "experienced beginners" who already have basic knowledge and playing experience. We deepen the different playing techniques and focus on rhythmic security in the accompaniment of jigs, reels etc.. We also experiment with the sound variations of the bodhrán and bring the skin hand further into play.

Student characteristics

Beginner level drummers
Little experience on the drum

Standards for this Level

Basic understanding of alternating strokes
Basic understanding of simple voicing patterns
Able to demonstrate an understanding of reel and jig patterns with difficulty
Unable to demonstrate proficiency in accompanying reels and jigs

Competent

for those who can at least accompany jigs and reels with confidence. We look at other, increasingly complex Irish rhythms and coordinate strumming and skin hand.

Student characteristics

intermediate level drummer
moderate session experience
Maybe some prior instructional experience (i.e., workshops and/or private lessons)
Good understanding of reels and jigs

Standards for this Level

Able to demonstrate reels and jigs with decent feel and tempo
Demonstrates a sensitivity to the sections of a tune (i.e., variation between sections, “playing the tune,” sensitivity to the melody player’s changes in dynamics)
Adequate control over basic pitch changes of the drum
Uses a wider vocabulary of sounds when playing

Advanced

for people with a lot of experience and great skill on the bodhrán. We look at sound variations (melody, bass line), more complex grooves and may take a closer look at music from outside Ireland …

Student characteristics

Student is competent in a session setting
Student may perform with his or her own ensemble
May have had numerous lesson and workshop experiences

Standards for this Level

Student must be able to demonstrate proficiency with:
- Control of rhythm
- Accents vs. unaccented noted in rhythms
- Demonstrating a vocabulary of voicing beyond open, mute, and “pop”
- Performing reels, jigs, polkas, and slipjigs with recorded music or a live musician
Student is adept with tipping and voicing skills
Student can tune his or her drum very quickly to an appropriate tuning
Student demonstrates proficiency with double ended triplets

Meet the Teachers

Aimée Farrell Courtney

Aimée Farrell Courtney’s dynamic playing ranges from her renowned sensitive style of accompaniment to electrifying rhythmic solos and duets. Since her win at The World Bodhrán Championship, she has gone on to perform with Irish folk luminaries such as Dónal Lunny, Andy Irvine and Liam O’Flynn, tour with bands such as Danú, CARA and Emma Langford, performing in venues such as The 3 Arena (Dublin) and The Royal Albert Hall (London). She is now on the road to discover the possibilities of the bodhrán in other music collaborating with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts to name but a few.

Aimée’s love of music is evident in her teaching. In 2012, she devised a music education programme for primary school level and more recently founded TradDRUM, a global bodhrán community providing positive experiences in music through education and events. She has acted as tutor and lecturer in Maynooth University, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Champlain College, World Academy of Irish Music and Dance University of Limerick and Newcastle University (U.K.).

Aimée holds a Bachelor of Music degree specialising in Irish Traditional Music and a Master in Music specialising in Performance from TUDublin Conservatory of Music and Drama. Graduating with First Class Honours, Aimée was also awarded the Leo Rowsome Gold Medal for Outstanding Traditional Performance and the Michael McNamara Gold Medal for Outstanding Overall Performance. She is also a trained Sound Therapist currently working in therapeutic settings across Ireland. Website: http://www.aimeefarrellcourtney.com/

Website

Brian Morrissey

Brian Morrissey is a renowned musician, composer, producer, arranger and tutor. Brian qualified with a BA (Music) degree and HDipEd from University College Cork in the late 90's and was the world’s first bodhrán player to take bodhrán as his primary instrument for an entire university music degree programme. He was also the first ever banjo & bodhrán player to be conferred with an M.A. in Irish Traditional Music Performance in 2000. Brian worked as a lecturer and tutor in the areas of Irish Traditional Music and Community Music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick for five years, and has also worked as a regular tutor at the School of Music and Drama, University College Cork.

He is in huge demand as a bodhrán tutor at home and abroad, having mentored numerous All-Ireland title winners in recent years.

As a performer and collaborator, Brian has shared the stage and recorded with many legendary musicians, primarily in Irish traditional music and also in the genres of jazz, classical, contemporary, ecclesiastical and country. Brian is a member of the groundbreaking groups Buille, TarantaCeltica and Fiddlesticks and has recently released an original duo album with singer/songwriter Eoin Coughlan under the name The OARS which was recorded in Louisiana, USA with multi GRAMMY winning producer Dirk Powell. Brian has featured on over forty albums and has collaborated/recorded with international artists such as Dirk Powell, Béla Fleck and Andrea Piccioni and giants of the Irish music scene such as Donal Lunny, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin (RIP), John Spillane, Kevin Crawford, Bobby Gardiner, Fintan Vallely, Cathal Hayden, Líadan, Breen-Rynne-Murray and many more.

Brian has been invited to teach at Craiceann many times over the years and is thrilled to finally make it to Inis Oirr for such a monumental week in the world of the bodhrán!

“When I heard Brian playing, I knew I was in the presence of a master. Since then, I haven’t come across any other pitched Bodhrán players nearly as good” - Donal Lunny.

Website

Kieran Leonard

Kieran is an Irish drummer, percussionist and bodhrán specialist currently working between Ireland, London and the USA.

As a member of the Grammy nominated, PBS Special featured group ‘Celtic Woman’. He has completed multiple USA tours, as well as other regions including South America and Europe and has just returned from Celtic Woman’s 20th Anniversary 79 date tour of North America. Post Covid, in 2023, Kieran joined the grammy winning group ‘Clannad’ for their Farewell tour finishing in the sold out 3Arena Dublin.

Educated at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London, Kieran is still very active on the both the Irish & UK orchestral scene as a percussionist, timpanist and drummer working regularly with English National Opera and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Other orchestral engagements include the Ulster Orchestra (Guest Principal Timpani & Percussion + Drum Kit), RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (Guest Principal Timpani), RTÉ Concert Orchestra (Percussion & Drum Kit) and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Website

Jim Higgins

His bodhran playing is full of baselines and very supportive for the tunes. No wonder he is in high demand as a live and studio artist.

Jim hails from Renmore in Galway. Born into a musical family, he went on to study music in University College Cork under Micheal O Suilleabhain amongst others. While in Cork, Jim caught ‘the bodhran bug’, playing alongside players such as Mel Mercier, Colm Murphy and Frank Torpey. He went on to play drums with fellow Galwegians ‘The Sawdoctors’ following a four year stint with ‘The Riverdance Show’ which took him around the world.

He is an honorary member of the Donegal based traditional group ‘Altan’ having recorded and toured extensively with them for the last fifteen years from the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House.

He has recorded and performed with such luminaries as Paul Brady, Christy Moore, Liam O’Flynn, Donal Lunny, Bill Whelan, Martin O’Connor and Lunasa.

Niamh Fennell

Niamh Fennell is from Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, coming from a musical family which is rather active in the local music scene.

She is a primary school teacher and has great enthusiasm and love for the Bodhrán. She started playing Bodhrán at aged sixteen and was greatly influenced by the playing of Martin O’Neill, Colm Phelan, Donnachadh Gough and many more.

In 2018, Niamh was successful in winning the Munster and All Ireland Fleadh competition. Niamh has been teaching the bodhrán for many years and is delighted to be teaching at Craiceann 2025.

”Niamh’s style is subtle and sympathetic to the music and is traditionally based with adequate amounts of technique used where appropriate”. -Junior Davey

Dermot Sheedy

Dermot, a trailblazing force in Irish Traditional Music, hails from County Clare.

A virtuoso of the Bodhrán, he holds seven All-Ireland titles. Globally captivating audiences with Hermitage Green, his three top 5 albums and sold-outshows span Ireland, the US, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and the UK.

Dermot, sought after as a session musician, collaborates with luminaries like Dónal Lunny, Síomha, Beoga, Kíla, The Kilfenora Céilí Band,Stockton's Wing, Strange Boy, and Susan O’Neill.

Mel Mercier (Lorg Lunny - TG4, 2010) lauds him as "the kind of percussionist that will create the future groove of Irish Traditional Music."

Website

Andy Kruspe

Huntsville-based bodhrán player Andy Kruspe has performed and recorded with several muscians and bands throughout the Southeastern United States. His playing has supported bands in several genres, including Irish Traditional, Celtic, Old Time, and Contra Dance Bands.

Andy is also active as a teacher, having presented workshops at several universities, clinics, and festivals. In addition to his love of performance, Andy is also passionate about the academic side, he co-presented a session on the bodhrán at the 2013 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), has taught many workshops and clinics at several universities and colleges, and has published a comprehensive method, The Bodhrán Primer. He finished his second book, Playing the Tune (a method of techniques for accompanying Irish traditional tunes), in summer of 2015 and his third book (First Steps) aimed at beginners in 2017.
Andrew holds a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degree.

Website

Katelyn Corrigan

My name is Katelyn Corrigan. I am from County Offaly. I have played bodhrán since I was very young and often crossed over the Slieve Bloom mountains into Laois to attend lessons with Colm Phelan for many years. It is an honour to now teach alongside Colm and the rest of the Craiceann crew! I have been fortunate to play bodhrán in many countries, but perhaps my favourite place to play has been Inis Óirr, where I have spent two summers working in Tigh Ned’s. I pulled pints during the day and met new musicians every evening and have a huge grá for the people here and the island.

Click here to sign up for Craiceann