Developing Your Bodhrán Toolkit

PASIC50

Thursday, November 13, 2025 – 5:00pm
Indiana Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN
Room 205

Description

Every percussionist has a built-in musical toolkit – a functional vocabulary of musical concepts. Regardless of whether you are just beginning your journey or have been performing for years, you can leverage your preexisting knowledge to effectively play the bodhrán in a variety of contexts.

In this workshop, we will explore how several fundamental elements of bodhrán performance can be combined with our own personal experiences in fresh and creative ways. We will begin with a crash course in technique before digging into an analysis of an Irish reel. As we develop our accompaniment of the tune, we will learn how to play a basic “motor rhythm,” and discuss methods for incorporating space, voicing, sticking, and ornamentation to bring the music to life.

There will be a selection of drums and sticks available for participants, but you are welcome to bring your own bodhrán/ frame drum!