Welcome

…and if you like to plan ahead, it's always the Second Sunday in May.

Several people have asked for the music to Paul James' great tune "Horizonto", and you can now download it from the Music page.

Who are we? What do we do?

Stafford Folk Players is a society created to provide opportunities for a complete cross-section of the community to receive instruction in many aspects of playing traditional music in different styles on a wide variety of instruments. We have organised Music Days for some time now and have grown considerably in numbers.

In the 1950s/60s Stafford had a flourishing Folk Dance Club and team of Morris dancers. Numbers have fluctuated over the years and both are still here today. Among the dancers were a number of Folk musicians and in about 1973 they decided to get together and form a workshop/session group which met monthly. The venues have changed over the years, as have the musicians, but they still meet monthly at Walton Village Hall in Stafford on a Sunday from 2.30 to 5.00pm.

2011 workshop dates: March 6, April 3, September 11, October 2, November 6, December 4.

2012 workshop dates: January 8, February 5, March 4, April 1.

Around the country, bigger events for Folk musicians take place every year, but there was nothing in our immediate locality offering tuition by a wide variety of leaders/tutors.

In 1993, to fill this gap, the first Stafford Music Day took place. It was small but very successful. It has continued annually ever since, and numbers have grown considerably.

In 2002, Stafford Folk Players was established and registered as an official society.

Since 1996, Stafford Music Day has taken place on the second Sunday in May. We have 6 to 8 tutors: all very competent teachers and talented multi-instrumental Folk players who have their own bands and have played at most of the major UK folk festivals and abroad. See the Tutors page for more details.

Aims

To provide high quality tuition for Folk musicians of all ages and levels of skill and experience.
To advise on playing techniques for most instruments used by Folk musicians.
To build a programme of workshops based on the requests and needs of participants via Questionnaire feedback on Music days or from interested outsiders.
To give instruction in playing for many styles of Folk Social Dance (including International dance).
To provide workshops teaching Theory, Arranging, Composition of music, and Band skills.
To give an opportunity for a large group of musicians of all abilities to play Folk tunes together in a massed band.
To play in a band for Folk Dancing.
To listen to our public for advice and new ideas.
To promote playing Folk music to a wider audience.
To have fun!!

Publicity

Publicity for specific events can also be found in Libraries throughout the County, Educational establishments, Folk Dance and Music Clubs, Folk Festivals, National and regional Folk publications, Newspapers and local Radio stations.

Tutors

All of our tutors are very well qualified to both teach and perform at a very high standard. They are well-known and highly respected on the National Folk Circuit, and abroad. Many are teachers of music, or lecturers at colleges of music. The caller is also of national repute and a musician.

Music and Instruments

The music for the warm-up and final jam will be available for download from the website (see the Programme page). Music for the workshops will be provided on the day, as the tutors often prefer to give it out during the session rather than having people learn it in advance. Music for the scenarios will be available on the sign-up table to give people a better idea of which band would be most suitable for them. We aim to have B flat parts (for clarinet players) available for most of the workshops, the warm-up and the final jam. There will always be at least one workshop option in each session suitable for G/D melodeons. If you play any other transposing instrument, please get in touch beforehand.

Access

Easy Access is available for those with disabilities through age or misfortune. These Music Days are intended to accommodate participation by anyone whatever their situation.

The 2012 Music Day will be from 9.30am to 6.15pm on Sunday 13th May at Barnfields Primary School, Lansdowne Way, Wildwood, Stafford, ST17 4RD

Barnfields School is easy to find. Follow the A34 to Cannock from Stafford. See the Cooperative, set back from the A34 on the right where you turn right off the main road, to reach the school. Or see streetmap.co.uk

For more information email You must enable JavaScript to see this e-mail address. or better call Liz Hope on 01785 614 613.

Pricing for 2012

Ticket type	In advance	On the door
Adult	£22.00	£28.00
Family (1 adult + own children)	£27.50	£30.00
Child / Full time student	£9.50	£10.50
UB40	£9.50	£12.00
Refreshments (drinks at all breaks + Ploughman's Lunch and drink)	£5.00	N/A

All under 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.