Lessons at your own pace

Ever want to try your hand at learning the cultural arts, but couldn’t make your way to Cape Breton? Well let us come to you! The College is pleased to present our latest learning opportunity – online instructional video lessons! Now, students have the opportunity to learn in an easy and convenient way all from the comfort of home. The lessons are professionally filmed with the student’s perspective in mind, and feature local instructors who are all masters of their craft.

Six different disciplines are taught by six knowledgeable and experienced instructors who will be sharing tips and techniques to get you playing, dancing, singing and speaking Gaelic the Cape Breton way.

Each discipline is offered at 3 levels with 10 lessons per level for a total of 30 lessons in each discipline. You can choose as many disciplines as you are interested in at whichever level is right for you. Whether you are a complete beginner looking to try something new, have some experience in a similar style or discipline, or would like to improve your existing skills, you will find yourself learning and progressing with each lesson.

Each level can be purchased for $20/6 month subscription. Click over to our Online Shop to get started! Once payment is processed, you will receive an auto-generated email within 24hrs from the training platform when your access is set up. Please note this activation email contains your user access information and may end up in your spam folder. Please check your spam folder if you do not see the activation email within 24hrs. 

Level One:
  1. Ciamar a tha thu? / How are you?
  2. Dé an t-ainm a th’ ort? / What’s your name?
  3. Dé tha seo? / What is this?
  4. An t-side / The weather (part 1)
  5. An t-side / The weather (part 2)
  6. Beannachdan / Greetings
  7. An taigh / The house (part 1)
  8. An taigh / The house (part 2)
  9. Cia miad? / How many?
  10. Naidheachd bheag: Fiaclan Breagha / Little story: Beautiful teeth
Level Two:
  1. Càite bheil? / Where is?
  2. Creutaiream / Animals
  3. Dé tha thu deanadh? / What are you doing?
  4. Lathaichean na seachdain / Days of the week
  5. An colainn / The body
  6. An teaghlach / The family (part 1)
  7. An teaghlach / The family (part 2)
  8. An gabh thu tì? / Will you have tea?
  9. An toil leat…? / Do you like…?
  10. Naidheachd bheag: La a Bhréitheanaid / Little story: Judgement Day
Level Three:
  1. Na ràithean / The seasons
  2. Fosgail, Duin / Open, Close
  3. A’ faicinn / Seeing
  4. Dè tha thu a’ cluinnteil? / What do you hear?
  5. A’ toirt / Giving and receiving
  6. Aodach / Clothing
  7. Dé bheir thu leat? / What will you bring?
  8. Gnìomhan / Activities
  9. A’ dol air chèilidh / Going visiting
  10. Naidheachd bheag / Little story: Haley’s Comet
Level One:
  1. Calum Crùbach: Intro and background
  2. First turn: Rehearsing the words
  3. First turn: Singing rehearsal
  4. Second turn: Rehearing the words
  5. Second turn: Singing rehearsal
  6. Am Muileann Dubh: Intro and background
  7. First turn: Rehearsing the words
  8. First turn: Singing rehearsal
  9. Second turn: Rehearsing the words
  10. Second turn: Singing rehearsal
Level Two:
  1. ‘Ille Dhuinn ò gù: Intro, background and chorus
  2. First verse
  3. Second verse
  4. Third verse
  5. Fourth verse
  6. Fifth verse
  7. Sixth verse
  8. Seventh verse
  9. Eighth Verse
  10. Singing the song through
Level Three:
  1. Mo Mhàiri Lurach: Intro, background and chorus
  2. First verse
  3. Second verse
  4. Third verse
  5. Fourth verse
  6. Fifth verse
  7. Sixth verse
  8. Seventh verse
  9. Eighth verse
  10. Singing the song through
Level One:
  1. The chanter
  2. The scale
  3. ‘G’ grace note scale
  4. ‘D’ grace note scale
  5. ‘E’ grace note scale
  6. Low ‘G’ grace note and strikes
  7. Bottom hand doublings
  8. Top hand doublings
  9. Slow air – Skye Boat Song (A)
  10. Slow air – Skye Boat Song (B)
Level Two:
  1. Gaelic song – Fail il O
  2. Birl
  3. Grips
  4. ‘D’ Throw
  5. Taorluath
  6. March – Cutting Bracken (A)
  7. March – Cutting Bracken (B)
  8. GDE’s
  9. Jig – Old Joe’s (A)
  10. Jig – Old Joe’s (B)
Level Three:
  1. Strathspey – Calum Crubach (A)
  2. Strathspey – Calum Crubach (B)
  3. Reel – Elizabeth’s Big Coat (A)
  4. Reel – Elizabeth’s Big Coat (B)
  5. Reel – Jenny Bowser (A)
  6. Reel – Jenny Bowser (B)
  7. Medley
  8. Playing with other instruments
  9. Bagpipe maintenance and striking in
  10. Tuning bagpipes and cutting out
Level One:
  1. Introduction to the instrument
  2. Strings and tuning
  3. ‘A’ scale, key, and time signature
  4. Jig – Piobroch of Donald Dubh (A)
  5. Jig – Piobroch of Donald Dubh (B)
  6. Jig – Piobroch of Donald Dubh (C)
  7. ‘D’ scale, key, and time signature
  8. Reel – Mike to the Rescue (A)
  9. Reel – Mike to the Rescue (B)
  10. Reel – Mike to the Rescue (all)
Level Two:
  1. Let’s march
  2. March – Glencoe (A)
  3. March – Glencoe (B)
  4. March – Glencoe (all)
  5. Medleys, cuts, and bowing rhythms
  6. Strathspey – Willie Fraser’s (A)
  7. Strathspey – Willie Fraser’s (B)
  8. Strathspey – Willie Fraser’s (all)
  9. Introduction to embellishments
  10. Transitions
Level Three:
  1. Jig – Ryan Lamey’s
  2. Jig – Ryan Lamey’s
  3. Strathspey – Stumpie
  4. Strathspey – Stumpie (with 4th finger and embellishments)
  5. Reel – Joys of Mabou Mines
  6. Take your time
  7. Reel – Sir Reginald MacDonald’s
  8. Reel – Sir Reginald MacDonald’s (with embellishments)
  9. Transitions between key changes
  10. Playing the medley
Level One:
  1. Key names
  2. Major scales
  3. Root chords in ‘C’ major
  4. Keeping time and finding the downbeat
  5. Chord chart for ‘C’ jig
  6. Sample jig rhythms
  7. Chording practice for ‘C’ jig
  8. Chord chart for ‘C’ reel
  9. Sample reel rhythms
  10. Chording practice for ‘C’ reel
Level Two:
  1. Triads and inversions
  2. ‘A’ minor scale
  3. Chords for ‘A’ minor
  4. Chord chart for ‘A’ minor strathspey
  5. Sample strathspey rhythms
  6. Chord chart for ‘A’ minor reel
  7. Sample reel rhythms
  8. Transitioning from strathspey to reel
  9. Developing the left hand – passing tones and runs
  10. Chording to the strathspey and reel
Level Three:
  1. ‘A’ major chords
  2. Slow air techniques
  3. Chords for lament in ‘A’
  4. Chording practice for lament
  5. ‘A’ march
  6. ‘A’ march with variations
  7. Jig in ‘D’ major
  8. Playing the melody and chording to yourself
  9. Reel with key change
  10. Tips, tricks, and etiquette
Level One:
  1. Basics of Cape Breton step dance
  2. Intro to strathspey (step 1)
  3. Strathspey step 2
  4. Strathspey step 3
  5. Intro to reel (step 1)
  6. Reel step 2
  7. Reel step 3
  8. Transitioning from strathspey to reel
  9. Intro to jig (step 1)
  10. Putting it all together
Level Two:
  1. Step review
  2. Strathspey step 4
  3. Strathspey step 5
  4. Strathspey step 6
  5. Reel step 4
  6. Reel step 5
  7. Reel step 6
  8. Transitioning from strathspey to reel
  9. Jig step 2
  10. Putting it all together
Level Three:
  1. Step review
  2. Strathspey step 7
  3. Strathspey step 8
  4. Strathspey step 9
  5. Reel step 7
  6. Reel step 8
  7. Reel step 9
  8. Transitioning from strathspey to reel
  9. Jig step 3
  10. Putting it all together
Gaelic Language:
  • Instructor: Carmen MacArthur
  • Students: Brandi McCarthy & Sam Ainsworth
  • Posters: Office of Gaelic Affairs/Oifis Iomairtean na Gàidhlig
Gaelic Song:
  • Instructor: Colin Watson
  • Text & Translations: Jim Watson
  • Choral Singing: Mickey John H. MacNeil
  • Songs: Calum Crùbach anns a’ Ghleann/Miss Drummond Of Perth (Traditional; tune by Neil Gow), Am Muileann Dubh/The Black Mill (Traditional), `Ille Dhuinn ò gù/Oh Brown Haired Lad (Traditional), Mo Mhàiri Lurach/My Darling Mary (Malcolm Gillis)
Piping:
  • Instructor: Kenneth MacKenzie
  • Tunes: Skye Boat Song (Traditional), Fail il O (Traditional), Cutting Bracken (Traditional), Old Joe’s Jig (Traditional), Calum Crubach (Neil Gow), Elizabeth’s Big Coat (Traditional), Jenny Bowser (J. Scott Skinner)
Fiddle:
  • Instructor: Andrea Beaton
  • Tunes: Piobroch of Donald Dubh (Traditional), Mike to the Rescue (Andrea Beaton), Glencoe March (Dan R. MacDonald), Willie Fraser (Donald Angus Beaton), Ryan Lamey’s Jig (Andrea Beaton), Stumpie (Traditional), The Joys of Mabou Mines (Donald Angus Beaton), Sir Reginald MacDonald’s (Traditional)
Piano:
  • Instructor: Susan MacLean
  • Rhythm Sheets and Chord Charts: Susan MacLean
  • Fiddle: Brandi McCarthy
  • Tunes: Angus Chisholm’s Favourite (Traditional), Miss Anderson (Traditional), Calum Crubach (Neil Gow), Muilean Dubh (Traditional), Hector the Hero (J. Scott Skinner), MacDonald March (Traditional), Jerry’s Beaver Hat (Traditional), Fermoy Lasses (Traditional)
Step Dance:
  • Instructor: Anna MacDonald
  • Fiddle: Brandi McCarthy
  • Tunes: All tunes traditional
Click over to our Online Shop to purchase your lessons now. Each level can be purchased for $20/6 month subscription. Once payment is received, you will receive an email with your log-in information. (Usually takes about 1 business day)