One thing we love at Powers is the rich variety of styles, genres, techniques, and knowledge our faculty members bring to the halls. So we’re excited to bring you more options to dive into Greater Boston’s vibrant traditional Irish music and dance scene! Come as you are, and leave with a new appreciation for the music of Boston, Ireland, and our world.
Once a month, Powers fiddle instructor Ellery Klein leads an Irish music session geared towards those who are learning the repertoire and want to play it at a moderate pace.
Ellery will post the next new “Tune of the Month” online ahead of the session– a jig, reel, slide, polka, hornpipe, or air (slower tune). The first five minutes of the next session will be spent playing the tune at a slower pace.
The rest of the session will work off a common tune list, as well as any special Irish tunes from you or other attendees.
Click here to see the common tune list for this session.
Click here to see the tune list on a YouTube playlist.
Who should come?
Everyone is welcome! While aimed at adults, players of any age are welcome to attend. If you don’t know a tune, sitting back and listening is encouraged, as is quietly trying to catch a few notes, or recording on your phone.
Email Ellery with any questions at fiddlerellery@gmail.com
Sessions will be held the third Thursday of the month from 7:00-8:30 PM at Powers unless otherwise noted.
- September 19
- October 17
- November 21
- December 19
- January 16
- February 27
- March 20
- April 17
- May 15
- June 12
Check this webpage for upcoming session dates, and feel free to just show up!
Adding your name to the mailing list is encouraged so we can let you know about any changes to the schedule (instructors getting sick, etc).
Suggested Donation: $20 at the door
We know some of you love to attend events like this for free at other local venues. Because Powers is a nonprofit, the suggested donation helps us cover program costs, so we can keep offering sessions to you on a regular basis.
Donate here
What instruments are best for Irish music?
Traditionally, Irish music has been played on fiddle, pipes, wooden flute, whistle, button/ piano accordion or concertina, and the harp. Guitar and bouzouki have become common in the last decades. Cellos and violas are welcome to this session but should have the technical ability to play higher positions or know they might need to play down the octave.
If you play a silver flute or other woodwind/brass instrument, it’s encouraged to purchase an inexpensive D whistle to learn the melodies and gain familiarity with the tradition.
Non-Melody Players:
While it may seem easy to grab an instrument, show up and start playing, you’re highly encouraged to take lessons and practice the individual tunes, just like the melody players do. Wondering where to start?
Resources for guitar players:
- Matt Heaton’s “Backer Corner” instructional playlist on YouTube
- Flynn Cohen’s Peghead Nation Irish Backer online course
Bodhran players – start from the basics with these resources:
Want to have more fun with Irish music and culture?
Powers is hosting an Community Irish Céilí on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.!
Get the Irish spirit of community, music, dance and “the craic” (Irish for “fun times”) going strong! We’re thrilled to invite you to our building and performance space for an evening of fun for all ages.
All are welcome!
(Especially families, students, older adults, and anyone who loves Irish music!)
- Learn about and participate in Irish music and dance traditions
- Listen to fiddle and folk music
- Try some simple Irish “ceili dances” with instruction from a dance caller!
Led by:
Ellery Klein, Artistic Director for Powers’ String Traditions summer program, Irish music sessions, and fiddle department
Jaclyn O’Riley, dance caller, founder/director of O’Reilly Irish Dance
