Gaelic Language & Song Workshop

Join us on Saturday, April 29th for the inaugural Gaelic Language Workshop at the Littlefield Celtic Center! We are pleased to partner with Stacey Giermann and Rich Hill from Seattle-based Slighe nan Gaidheal to present a fun introductory workshop to Gaelic language and song basics. This is a spectacular opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning some traditional Celtic songs or finding out more about studying the Gaelic language. The workshop is designed as a beginning course for newcomers to the language, however, all levels of learners are welcome. Participants will start the day with a quick introduction to what Scottish Gaelic is and a bit of the language’s history. The workshop will then provide students with an introduction to Gaelic–we’ll wrap our minds (and tongues) around words that look like a jumble of letters, focusing on pronunciation and basic vocabulary. Participants will begin talking with basic, beginning conversational games. After a lunch break, students will then learn about various types of Gaelic songs, including Puirt, waulking, laments, and more, and their purpose and significance in Celtic culture. Song sheets and pronunciation guides will be provided for students to sing along. Instructors will demonstrate each song and then teach it line-by-line to students. This is sure to be a fascinating workshop for those who want to learn more about Celtic culture and the Gaelic language. Recording devices are encouraged to assist in later practice. Stacey Giermann is a Gaelic language coach and speech teacher. Rich Hill has 25 years of experience teaching Gaelic. Both have studied with some of the best Gaelic teachers and singers in the industry. CAF members may recognize Stacey and Rich from some of the events they have sung at, including the most recent Traditional Scottish Breakfast in November 2016. Students have the option of purchasing a boxed lunch option provided by the Littlefield Celtic Center. Please email events@celticarts.org or call 360-416-4934 if you would like to take advantage of this but have specific dietary restrictions/requests. We ask that you contact us at least 10 days before the event in order to allow us time to make arrangements for alternative lunch options. The Littlefield Celtic Center is also within walking distance from several dining options in downtown Mount Vernon. Information about cancellations, refunds, and exchanges can be found on our Ticket Policy page.