harp competitions at Feisanna

[unknown-user]

Can anyone give any information about the harp competitions

frequently held at Irish dance feisanna?

[marta-cook]

The first thing to understand about Feisanna is that they are, as

you may already know, primarily dance competitions. Music

takes a completely back seat. Usually one judge, a local

musician, judges all the instruments. Whether they play fiddle,

guitar, or are a singer, they are responsible for judging

everything, and they may or may not be able to offer any

constructive commentary to a harpist. Some feisanna do not

have levels for either proficiency or age, beyond “senior” (over

18) and junior (anyone under 18.) Some feisanna do make a

distinction between beginner and advanced or have several age

levels, and some even have both age and level options. Some

may not have harp at all, but only “miscellaneous.” However,

some feisanna, like St. Louis Irish Arts, do take the music

seriously and have judges for each instrument who not only play

that instrument but are often professionals on that instrument.

St. Louis has a particularly strong harp program so you will

encounter both stiffer competition and a very knowledgeable

judge. You will also find multiple age levels and skill levels in St.

Louis. Milwaukee has both age and level distinctions, but I have

no idea who would be judging there. As you can see it really

varies by the venue and what the local Irish music scene is like.

You can probably get away with playing a lot of marginally Irish

repertoire like Danny Boy at feisanna where the music is not

taken very seriously, but the other extreme would be Milwaukee,

where all competitors, even “beginners,” must play two

contrasting dance tunes, which, at tempo, are pretty advanced

repertoire on the harp! Each feis will specify their repertoire

requirements on the syllabus. If there is an Irish dance school

near you, contact them about getting hold of syllabi for different

feisanna. Also a lot of feisanna are probably online now. Look at

all the syllabi and see what they offer in terms of levels and what

repertoire they require.

[marta-cook]

The first thing to understand about Feisanna is that they are, as

you may already know, primarily dance competitions. Music

takes a completely back seat. Usually one judge, a local

musician, judges all the instruments. Whether they play fiddle,

guitar, or are a singer, they are responsible for judging

everything, and they may or may not be able to offer any

constructive commentary to a harpist. Some feisanna do not

have levels for either proficiency or age, beyond “senior” (over

18) and junior (anyone under 18.) Some feisanna do make a

distinction between beginner and advanced or have several age

levels, and some even have both age and level options. Some

may not have harp at all, but only “miscellaneous.” However,

some feisanna, like St. Louis Irish Arts, do take the music

seriously and have judges for each instrument who not only play

that instrument but are often professionals on that instrument.

St. Louis has a particularly strong harp program so you will

encounter both stiffer competition and a very knowledgeable

judge. You will also find multiple age levels and skill levels in St.

Louis. Milwaukee has both age and level distinctions, but I have

no idea who would be judging there. As you can see it really

varies by the venue and what the local Irish music scene is like.

You can probably get away with playing a lot of marginally Irish

repertoire like Danny Boy at feisanna where the music is not

taken very seriously, but the other extreme would be Milwaukee,

where all competitors, even “beginners,” must play two

contrasting dance tunes, which, at tempo, are pretty advanced

repertoire on the harp! Each feis will specify their repertoire

requirements on the syllabus. If there is an Irish dance school

near you, contact them about getting hold of syllabi for different

feisanna. Also a lot of feisanna are probably online now. Look at

all the syllabi and see what they offer in terms of levels and what

repertoire they require.

[marta-cook]

The first thing to understand about Feisanna is that they are, as

you may already know, primarily dance competitions. Music

takes a completely back seat. Usually one judge, a local

musician, judges all the instruments. Whether they play fiddle,

guitar, or are a singer, they are responsible for judging

everything, and they may or may not be able to offer any

constructive commentary to a harpist. Some feisanna do not

have levels for either proficiency or age, beyond “senior” (over

18) and junior (anyone under 18.) Some feisanna do make a

distinction between beginner and advanced or have several age

levels, and some even have both age and level options. Some

may not have harp at all, but only “miscellaneous.” However,

some feisanna, like St. Louis Irish Arts, do take the music

seriously and have judges for each instrument who not only play

that instrument but are often professionals on that instrument.

St. Louis has a particularly strong harp program so you will

encounter both stiffer competition and a very knowledgeable

judge. You will also find multiple age levels and skill levels in St.

Louis. Milwaukee has both age and level distinctions, but I have

no idea who would be judging there. As you can see it really

varies by the venue and what the local Irish music scene is like.

You can probably get away with playing a lot of marginally Irish

repertoire like Danny Boy at feisanna where the music is not

taken very seriously, but the other extreme would be Milwaukee,

where all competitors, even “beginners,” must play two

contrasting dance tunes, which, at tempo, are pretty advanced

repertoire on the harp! Each feis will specify their repertoire

requirements on the syllabus. If there is an Irish dance school

near you, contact them about getting hold of syllabi for different

feisanna. Also a lot of feisanna are probably online now. Look at

all the syllabi and see what they offer in terms of levels and what

repertoire they require.

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