Learn Christmas Tunes on the Tin Whistle - Workshop by Cedar Dobson

We will focus on one or two melodies per workshop (and examining more), analysing them as Christmas melodies at first and then diving into the work of 'tradifying' the melodies, making them sound like Traditional Irish tunes. These workshops are open to all levels of experience (will be segmented in three parts based on beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels). We will look at ornamentation, breathing, phrasing, expression, variations, and more! By the end of the workshop, you will not only know how to play two or three Christmas melodies on the whistle but you will also have the knowledge of how to approach non-Trad tunes and make them sound more like Trad tunes. Let's have fun and enjoy the Christmas spirit together!

Cedar Dobson is a versatile musician, performer, and producer hailing from California with a deep passion for traditional Irish music. Cedar’s high-energy and emotional music, inspired by Traditional Irish music with a contemporary flair, is uniquely captivating.

Currently based in Dublin, Cedar holds an Honours Bachelor's Degree in Music Production at Pulse College based in Windmill Lane Recording Studios. Cedar has performed in the United States, Ireland, Scotland, and Brazil. She performed with the band ‘Tradify’ in festivals across Ireland including Fiddler’s Green, The Ennis Tradfest, and the Fleadh Cheoil. Cedar has performed as a guest musician with various bands across Ireland, and she has opened for the legendary Trad band, ‘Altan’.

Cedar has released four self-produced albums, including ‘Harmonies’ (2021), her original solo meditation flute and whistle album, ‘Tradify: Take Flight’ (2023), a high-energy contemporary Irish Traditional music album, ‘A Whistle Wonderland: Christmas Melodies in a Celtic Style’ (2024), a Trad-sounding Christmas album featuring primarily tin whistles, and ‘Decade’ (2025), a contemporary Trad album featuring renowned musicians such as Ian Kinsella, Aimée Farrell Courtney, Brian Hughes, and others.

Cedar composed music for the TG4 Autumn Showreel video entitled ‘Seoladh Sceideal an Fhómhair 2023’. Her immersive audio-visual project ‘Shoreline Serenity’ was installed in Windmill Lane Recording Studios for ‘Winter in Dublin’. This project was supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Visit Dublin.

Cedar has been featured in the latest edition of the Irish Music Magazine, which includes information from her most recent album ‘Decade’. ‘Decade’ has been broadcasted on Raidió na Gaeltachta and stations across the United States, the UK, Europe, and New Zealand. Cedar is currently performing across Dublin, pursuing freelance session recording work, teaching whistle lessons, and planning her next album. You can find her music for sale in digital and CD formats on Bandcamp at ‘Cedar Dobson Music’.