The Big Experiment/yr Arbrawf Mawr ('BEAM' for short) is Wales’ own ‘folk school’ - a wonderful way to spend a long weekend in a beautiful location, cram-packed with music and dance. Over three days there’s 31 hours of tuition and activities, including mixed-instrument groups, singing, dancing and clogging, taster workshops, talks, masterclasses, concerts, performances and sessions.
It’s a fantastic environment to learn a wealth of new repertoire, improve your technique, experiment with unfamiliar (and unusual) instruments, songs and dance styles, and make new friends at the same time.
There’ll be a tutors’ concert, a twmpath (dancing), sessions (with songs too) and a chance to perform in the Noson Lawen. The evening events will be open to the public.
Welsh-speaking or not, you’re equally welcome. Our resident translator, Martin Davies, helps learners and non-Welsh-speakers access all areas. There’s simultaneous translation when needed, and help in singing Welsh songs is on tap as well.
New for BEAM 2012 is a strand especially for folk songs, such as those collected in the Pembrokeshire area where the course is located this year, and another concentrating on the unique Welsh song form of Cerdd Dant.
Also new this year are discounts for family groups and special afternoon workshops catering for our younger participants.
The Big Experiment begins on Thursday night as you register, settle in, meet the tutors and make some informal music. The event finishes at 4.00 on Sunday afternoon.
The verdict on last year's
“Superb weekend, full on. Wonderful tutors, great planning, friendliness, welcome to non-Welsh-speakers”
“The evening sessions were fantastic. I learnt so much in classes but the big highlight was the lovely friendly atmosphere and the helpfulness of everyone”
“The sheer quality of the music and the chance to meet so many wonderful fellow musicians”
Morning course: playing, singing or dancing
Morning classes are a course of six lessons - choose from Instruments (in ensemble groups for three levels of ability), Cerdd Dant/Plygain, Folk Song or Clog-dance. Numbers in each group will be limited to ensure you have the best tuition experience.
Afternoon workshops open to the public
The afternoons include 'freestanding' workshops designed to ensure that you don't miss out on anything. These workshops are free to participants already booked on The Big Experiment, but if that’s not you, then don’t miss out. You’re welcome to join us between 3.00 and 5.00, choose one from each group; cost £10/£7 for the afternoon. No need to book.
Friday 3.00
1 Savour every note
Bob Evans on getting more out of a tune by playing it without haste
2 Caneuon Penfro
Lynne Denman with some local songs gleaned from the St Fagans archives
3 Dwylo ar y Delyn
Your chance to try one of Telynau Teifi’s harps, with Susan Berry
4 Music Biz surgery
Paul Westwell, Folk, Roots and Trad rep for the Musicians Union and Hefin Jones of the Welsh Music Foundation on what the MU and WMF can do for you
Friday 4.10
5 Fiddle special
Christine Cooper (Fernhill and former Welsh Fiddle Champion) with a special workshop for fiddlers
6 Keep your voice happy
Celia Webb of Singplicity on getting the best out of your voice
7 Marketing for your folk
Marketing expert Jim Blythe and Calan’s manager Huw Williams lead a session useful for bands, folk clubs or festivals
8 Social dancing
A chance to dance – Welsh social dances with Eiry Palfrey
Saturday 3.00
9 Playing for dancing
Neil Browning hones the skills you need to play well for dancers
10 Have a go at clogging
Huw Williams with a session for complete beginners
11 Plygain
A chance to sing traditional Welsh Plygain carols in glorious three-part harmony
12 Have a go on the pipes
Complete beginners or improvers welcome. With Antwn Owen-Hicks
Saturday 4.10
13 Lift the music from the page
Bernard KilBride on giving old tunes new life. Suitable for all instruments
14 Dwylo ar y Delyn
Have a go on a harp, with Bethan Nia. Complete beginners welcome
15 Mari Lwyd – songs and more
Angharad Jenkins on trac’s Mari Lwyd project – the songs, the traditions, the flat-pack!
16 Y Delyn Deires
Robin Huw Bowen with a masterclass on Wales’ iconic instrument
Evenings: open to the public
Friday 2 November: Special concert
Feast Your Ears
Stephen Rees (Ar Log, Crasdant) on accordion, fiddle and pibgorn
Lynne Denman & Stacey Blythe (Ffynnon) with songs acompanied by harp and accordion
Neil Browning (Cajuns Denbo, Never Mind The Bocs), melodeon maestro
Christine Cooper (Fernhill), fiddle champion and storyteller
Arfon Gwilym & Sioned Webb: traditional songs and Cerdd Dant
Huw Williams, clog dance champion
Come and be part of Wales' annual celebration of our own traditions!
Listen to the very best of Welsh music in concert at the brand new Stackpole Centre as part of Wales' biggest music making weekend.
Stackpole Centre, Pembroke SA71 5DQ
Tickets on the door, £10/£7.
Concert starts at 8.00
Session afterwards till late - bring your instruments and your voices
The evening is part of the Big Experiment 2012, but all are welcome
Saturday 3 November
Twmpath & Session
Stackpole Centre, Pembroke SA71 5DQ
Tickets on the door, £10/£7.
Dance starts at 8.00
Session afterwards till late - bring your instruments and your voices
Meet the tutors
Stephen Rees - Advanced level instruments
Stephen plays fiddle, accordion and whistles; he’s a founder of both trac and Clera and a member of iconic bands Crasdant and Ar Log. His teaching talents have inspired intermediate level players at past Big Experiments.
This year, as well as the advanced group, Stephen will take the whole course - all instrument levels, singers and cloggers together - for an hour each day. After past years’ Advanced level guest tutors from Scotland, Ireland and England, this time it’s the turn of the home nation.
Neil Browning - Improvers level instruments
BEAM welcomes back multi-instrumentalist Neil Browning. He’s well-known in north Wales for his music teaching, tune-clubs and sessions, and as part of Never Mind The Bocs and Cajuns Denbo.
Christine Cooper - Improvers level instruments
It’s the first time at the Big Experiment for Christine, fiddler, banjo player and storyteller. She’s a past winner of the Welsh Celtic Fiddler award, and regular player with Ceri Rhys Matthews and Fernhill.
Stacey Blythe - Foundation
Stacey charmed her Foundation class at last year’s Big Experiment so she’s back again for more tunes in a simple and straightforward style for newer players. Stacey plays accordion and harp; she’s also a singer-songwriter and composer and plays in Ffynnon with Lynne.
Arfon Gwilym & Sioned Webb - Cerdd Dant / Plygain
Our resident specialist in the song traditions of Wales, Arfon (ably assisted by harpist Sioned) will be exploring Cerdd Dant in more depth. Respected as a singer and teacher, Arfon is also an author, publisher and fiddler.
Lynne Denman - Folk Song
Lynne has one of the most distinctive voices in Welsh folk music today. Another new tutor for BEAM, she sings with Ffynnon and has previously taught workshops in the ‘lost songs of Pembrokeshire’ for trac
Huw Williams - Clog dance
Champion clog-dancer Huw has a teaching style guaranteed to demystify the intricacies of clogging and achieve astonishing results. His mix of humour and experience make his workshops both accessible and great fun.
the venue
After two years in north Wales, BEAM is heading south for 2012, to Pembrokeshire and the newly refurbished Stackpole Centre, owned by the National Trust.
All the single rooms and twin rooms have now gone, but shared rooms are available, for 3, 4 or 6 people.
The residential rate includes your tuition, accommodation, and full board; and the Centre kitchen prides itself on the use of fresh local ingredients.
Concessionary rates are available for anyone in full-time education or receiving benefits or state pension.
A non-residential rate is available if you live locally or wish to take advantage of the area’s guest houses. There are a number of B&Bs nearby. Camper-vans are welcome on site.
shared room (3-6 people) Non-residential
Full price £160 £130
Concession £130 £110
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) £440
Click here to 
download the BEAM2012 booking form.
BEAM2010 on the radio
Radio Wales' Celtic Heartbeat show, hosted by trac's old friend Frank Hennessy, featured extended coverage of The Big Experiment 2010. 
Listen here to interviews and sound-clips recorded during the event by Daniel Jenkins-Jones.
