Some reel good classes
Irish music and dance among college’s spring community education offerings
Nora Sherwood and Gary Burman
Swing into spring with the stunning lineup of adult education courses at Oregon Coast Community College, some beginning next week.
The schedule features more than 50 classes and workshops, including a first-time workshop series from Yakona Nature Preserve and the Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District. Also on the schedule — for only the second time in 10 years — is SCUBA certification.
The lineup features a choice of creative writing courses, a variety of hands-on art and music courses and returning favorites like Mussel Harvesting — a class held on the beach that features not only instruction on how and where to harvest fresh mussels, but also one suggestion as to how to prepare them.
Irish music enthusiasts can learn to play the pennywhistle, experience traditional Irish music or enroll in Irish Dancing for Adults in classes that begin Monday, April 8, and Tuesday, April 9.
“Our Irish music classes all fit into their own category but are equal partners,” said instructor Gary Burman, who is co-hosting the advanced tune learning class with wife Nora Sherwood. “The music classes are for dance music and it fits with the dance class like a hand in a glove.”
Though the pennywhistle class is entry level, Burman stressed that it is not a simple instrument.
“People think the pennywhistle is a toy but it's not,” he said. “It's actually a pretty complex instrument. In the class, people will learn a lot about how to control their breath. That’s one of the most important skills you can have for playing an instrument like this.”
The advanced tune-learning class is for those with some experience.
“The tune-learning class is a new offering,” Sherwood said. “Irish music can sometimes scare people off because it's complicated. We teach what is called slow play so that these intricate melodies can be learned more easily. A lot of people just want to play backup, but in order to play backup, you need to know how to play melody first. Doing it this way you will still learn to be a backup musician, but will do it well. The learning is going to be by ear, which is the traditional way you learn this music. They will get sheet music and recordings to practice with at home, but this music is conversational. Listening is just as, if not more important, than playing — that is what the dancers do. Without listening, there would be no music. The history of Irish music and dance goes so far back no one knows which came first.”
Sherwood’s dance classes are the traditional Céilí style.
“The dances that we are teaching are some of the more simple dances that are done around Ireland and the US,” she said. “Irish dance can get very complicated very fast but we are emphasizing the more simple style of Céilí dancing. It is fun social group dancing.”
The most important thing the couple wants students to know is that once the class ends, the relationship most likely will not.
“We are hoping to have a session group and a dance group eventually,” Sherwood said. “We are doing this to grow our own music and dance colleagues. Basically, the three classes are the ingredients that we are hoping to grow into a community of people that will play music and dance together.”
Spring fitness classes, provided through Lincoln City Parks and Recreation, include Water Fitness, Gentle Yoga and Strength and Balance. Newport Florist returns with courses including Spring Wreath for Your Front Door, Basket of Living Bulbs, Succulent Garden Terrarium and more.
For more information, including the full schedule with dates, prices and locations, go to oregoncoast.edu/communityed or call 541-867-8501.