Celtic Banjo/Mandolin Class with Ed Koenig

The Mandolin and the Irish Banjo (4 - string) are tuned the same except that the banjo is an octave lower. We'll explore ways that these two instruments are used for playing Irish and related styles of music. We'll learn a few tunes (melodies) and can touch on accompaniment possibilities if folks are interested in that. The course will be geared to beginner and intermediate players. I plan to contact enrolled students prior to the class date, in order to send out preliminary materials and fine-tune the course design.

We are very excited to offer this class in person for the first time since March 2020!  Please be advised that everyone must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask during the class as per Registry Theatre protocols.  Sláinte!

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Ed Koenig

Ed began performing and recording traditional/roots music in the 1970s. His more recent involvement in Celtic music (since the 1990s) is an expansion of his interest in other traditional styles. Currently, his main instruments are the acoustic guitar, the mandolin, and the Irish (4 string) banjo. Ed recorded two CDs with his fiddler friend, Philippe Elsworthy – “Fiddle and Mandolin” (2011) and “The Crooked Path” (2014). He also released a CD of Christmas tunes for solo guitar (“Peace on Earth”) in 2014 and has been included on several compilation CDs including “Ceol Cara” (2013).

For almost 20 years Ed has been a member of Waterloo Region’s Grand River Ceili Band and has participated in various Celtic sessions. He has taught Celtic guitar, mandolin, and banjo for nearly that long as well – including a lengthy stint with the Riverside Celtic College (Guelph, Ontario).

Ed also has an academic interest in traditional music and has taught ethnomusicology courses at Mount Allison University. While in New Brunswick he participated regularly in sessions that featured a blend of Celtic and Acadian traditions.