Transmission of Song Among the New York Irish

The Irish Arts Center in New York City provides a§rich context for the transmission (teaching and§learning) of song, dance, and instrumental music.§Classes in amhrán (song) include the basic class of§Irish Song with a Performance Class or Singers §Circle to follow. Classes in rince (dance) cover§couple dances and waltzes, céilí dance, set dance,§and the exhibitionistic step dance. Classes in ceol§(instrumental music) cover bodhrán, tin whistle,§fiddle, banjo, mandolin, bazouki, and guitar, with a§chance to play in house bands. This book describes§the author s experience teaching the Irish Song class§and Singer s Circle while in search of folk§pedagogy . Over thirty invited singers, mostly born§in Ireland, presented classes for IAC students and§the community. Ethnographic data from these singers§and their interactions with students, including§investigations of song parameters and processes of passing it on , are compared throughout. Four§narrative voices those of songs, singers, students,§and the author are interpreted toward capturing§meaning, feelingfulness, and Irish worldview embedded§in the processes of teaching and learning.