Music 2208.99 / 7208.99 

(Performing Ensemble)

Ensemble director/contact for questions: Isaac McCarthy

Instructor of Record: Erin Allen

Prerequisites: Open to non-majors. Prior experience with an instrument is recommended (details below).

Offered: Thursdays • 5:30–7:35 p.m.

Note that not all ensembles are offered every semester. Please visit Class Search and consult with your academic advisor.

Course Description

This course serves to facilitate understanding and development of Appalachian, string band, and bluegrass ensemble playing. In class, focus will be given to introducing relevant and appropriate repertoire, developing ensemble skills, and learning arrangement techniques. While repertoire selection will be student-driven, the instructor will serve as a reference to help develop music for performance and to coordinate performances. In this course, students will become familiar with the Nashville Number System, learn repertoire through the aural tradition, and be connected to resources to improve their individual skills with regards to ensemble, instrumental, and vocal techniques. Students will then demonstrate these skills through a minimum of one public performance a semester. While students need no personal experience with the genres performed in class, prior experience with an instrument is recommended.

No formal audition is required for this ensemble, but students should be comfortable (on a bowed instrument: producing a sound and playing basic melodies; on a fretted instrument, changing between CAGED chord shapes at a medium tempo) prior to joining the group. Bringing your own instrument (fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, cello, accordion, etc.) is encouraged for this ensemble; vocalists with no instrumental training and/or musicians without access to an instrument are welcome to join with consent of instructor; contact Isaac McCarthy for information.

Born and raised in West Virginia, Isaac McCarthy (pictured, center) celebrates Appalachia through his modern interpretation of traditional music. His holistic approach to Appalachian tradition blends dance, song, and tune to create music for the 21st century — as a writer, dance caller, and multi-instrumentalist specializing in three-finger banjo, he can be found playing on stage with groups such as The Bear Essentials Trio and The Sweaty Hands String Band.