Learn Irish Session Backing on Zoom!
Taught by Nye Farley and Tiffany Schaefer on July 13, 2025.
11am-2pm EDT, 4pm-7pm BST. View your time zone HERE.
Recording available afterwards.
Sign-up HERE.
For Harps, Guitars, Bouzoukis and other stringed instruments -
Instructors Nye Farley (guitar) and Tiffany Schaefer (harp) will cover what you need to know in order to pick suitable chords by ear and make your accompaniment sound more professional with substitutions, inversions, links, passing chords, incorporating segments of melody and much more. They'll also be featuring a special section on how to play along in sessions with multiple accompanists.
The workshop will take place on Sunday, July 13 at 11am Eastern Daylight Time.
Click HERE to view the workshop in your time zone.
Information and sign-up link may be found HERE.
Participants will be able to actively ask questions and jam along at home, with a dedicated break out section for guitarists/other chordal instrumentalists, and one for harpists.
A recording, which will include both break-out sections, will be available after the workshop.
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Is This Workshop Right for You?
Brand-new beginners will not get as much out of this workshop. Harp players (and others) should already be comfortable with basic chord progressions and able to move fairly quickly between chords. If that’s you — and you’re ready to dig deeper — you’ll leave with tools and techniques that will transform your session playing.
Harp workshops in your area, or online!
Tiffany is available to teach group workshops at your local harp circle, harp festival, or on Zoom. Contact Tiffany to work out details and availability.
Check the event page for any upcoming workshops.
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A sampling of workshop topics:
A Playful Start to Arranging for Harp: A DIY Toolbox
Meet My Friend, Anxiety: Finding Space for Discomfort in Performing (all ages & instruments)
Harp in Irish Sessions: Everything You Need to Back Tunes, Without Knowing the Melody
Music Theory Made Easy: An Intensely Practical Crash Course
My Harp Has a Scottish Accent: An Introduction to the Individuality of Trad. Scottish Music
Fearless Composing: A Light-Hearted, Gentle Shove into Musical Creativity
Put Your Hands Together: Exercises for Two-Hand Coordination for Beginners
Teacher Training: Strategies & Resources for Teaching the Celtic Harp to Adults and Children​
Customize Your Music: Adapting for Small Harp & For Your Own Level (Beginner and up)
Dancing Fingers: Arranging Dance Tunes for Celtic Music (Mid intermediate and up)
Demystifying the Modes: A Bird's Eye View
Ear Training 101: If You Think You Can't Learn by Ear...You're About to Surprise Yourself
Easy Repertoire: Learn Some Favorite Tunes by Ear, Both Beautiful AND Easy
Intermediate Repertoire: Learn Some Intricate and Catchy Traditional Tunes by Ear
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What people are saying:
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​"I am so happy I was able to participate in the composing workshop! I learned so much and can't wait to try this on my own! I never thought I could ever compose, but now I'm hopeful. The workshop was a lot of fun." - Sherry N., Fearless Composing
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"I'm really enjoying it and learning so much! I've wanted to learn all this stuff for years, so I was so happy when I came across your workshop! And now I'm massively looking forward to my next session." Lavinia B., Harp in Irish Sessions
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"Tiffany was amazing!! She is an excellent teacher. Well prepared with handouts. She goes slow and teaches thoroughly. I love it when an excellent player is also an excellent teacher." - Paula B., The Harp Gathering, Archbold OH
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"This workshop was fantastic, Tiffany!...One of the big things that happened for me is that I think I can now study reading material and watch videos on these topics and have the tools to learn from them. Sylvia Wood's book Music Theory and Arranging Techniques for Folk Harps has always seemed like complete gibberish to me, but I picked up my long avoided copy the other day and actually understood it!" - Renee H., Music Theory Made Easy
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"I learned a lot and I have to tell you no one has ever explained modes to me as succinctly or as clearly as you did. The handout is excellent! You even gave me some ideas for noodling around in various modes on my own! Excellent!!" - Tracy F., Demystifying the Modes
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"I so “hate” this....but LOVE it - lol!! I’m so used to playing just what someone else arranged that I could feel my mind rebelling...But I kept going and about 3/4 of the way through really started getting it! I’ve always wondered how arranging was done but it seemed daunting and terribly “music theory” heavy (which I barely know) but wow....this approach is BRILLIANT!! I feel positively renewed in my playing!! Thank you." - H. M., A Playful Start to Arranging
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