Those who stop by J&B Coffee Saturday afternoon can expect to hear a commotion of Irish music.
The Texas Tech University School of Music, Caprock Celtic Association and Vernacular Music Center will sponsor sessions to teach anyone in the community traditional Irish music from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday.
"For those who are familiar with Irish music, the classes are intended to be very accessible," said Christopher Smith, who will teach the classes, "but for those who are unfamiliar it is a chance to embrace a new art."
Smith, a musicology and Celtic ensemble professor at Tech, said the classes will provide an opportunity for the community to get a "jump start to a new hobby."
The classes, which he started in 2001 after moving from Indiana, are offered to all ages and levels of experience, he said.
"I enjoy playing Irish music, but after moving I realized I had no one to play with," Smith said, "Irish music is like jazz, it's a group music."
The classes are taught with focus on instruments in the mandolin family, but he said he is open to teaching all types of traditional Irish instruments.
"I particularly like the bouzouki," said Smith.
Although the classes on Saturdays focus on playing music, Caprock Celtic Association will host a special event at 7 p.m. Monday at J&B Coffee.
The event will be an opportunity to enjoy both playing music and dancing, he said, and the Caprock Celtic Association will continue to hold special events outside of the Saturday classes throughout the semester.
"The whole purpose of these classes are to get the community involved," Smith said, "I really feel strongly that participating is more rewarding than listening or watching."
Be the first to comment on this article!