I was talking to my friend's dad who teaches classical violin, and he knows someone who is learning folk fiddle and takes exams in it. I've never heard of this before: have you? And what do you think of it? It seems rather bizarre to me. Does a qualification like that mean anything?
Hee. I'm trying to form a mental image of the bodhran class.** (See Disclaimer) I just hope it doesn't meet at 7:30 on Monday mornings.
That said, I think this sounds like a very cool way to spend a few years. When I was in school, all my friends in the folklore program got to do really neat stuff while I was slogging through what seemed like forty years of Organic Chemistry. If I only knew then what I know now.......
**Disclaimer: This is a facetious statement not intended to cause mental anguish and/or feelings of social exclusion among perfectly competent bodhran players and their immediate families. All statements by the Batlady (tm) reflect her smart-alecky attitude that her mother warned her repeatedly would get her into trouble some day.**
i think hayley is referring to graded exams. two organisations offer these in ITM, Comhaltas and the London College of Music and Media. Quite controversial really, i mean, are they necessary, don't you think they undermine the essence of trad music?!!! however, i'm currently very drunk. just got back from me local session and had many drinks bought for me cause i got my A-level required grades. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done Nick, I'm meant to get my brother's GCSE results today cos he's away, went in at 9 to find out I'm not meant to be there till 11. Oh well.
On further thought I don't see why it can't be an academic subject, most things are these days, it beats a surfing degree or a David Beckham degree anyway. That course at UCC looks fascinating. As for the graded exams well I don't know much about them, they may be a great way to learn and be confident that you know how to play in the traditional Irish style or another style, but does it really mean anything when you are sitting with your instrument in a pub?
I don't think they necessarily undermine the essence of trad music but if everyone took them then a standardised form of playing might develop and that would be worrying.
A friend of mine's children - one plays box, one plays fiddle - have now done two grades of the London College of Music and Media exams (their ITM class teacher is keen on putting students in for them) and in her eyes, these exams are unconditionally a "good thing", for the following reasons. 1) It makes the children practise 2) It gives them a sense of making progress and of achievement which is hard to get in the early stages of learning ITM unless one enters the fleadhs each year - and that can be soul-destroying for the ones who are competent and doing well but who don't get the medals 3) The examiner's comments are very helpful - the children have liked getting an opinion from someone other than their class teacher. 4) Getting these exams has been looked on favourably by the children's schools as showing evidence of the children's wide range of musical interests, and as evidence of them being able to apply themselves. This has been good for children who are finding ordinary school work hard.
Apparently a number of adults learners go in for them as well, so it seems age is no barrier.
Folk fiddle exams?
Folk fiddle exams?
I was talking to my friend's dad who teaches classical violin, and he knows someone who is learning folk fiddle and takes exams in it. I've never heard of this before: have you? And what do you think of it? It seems rather bizarre to me. Does a qualification like that mean anything?
# Posted on August 25th 2004 by haylien
Re: Folk fiddle exams?
Sure. The UCC program is supposed to be quite good, for instance. (Joyce is thinking of doing this program.)
http://www.ucc.ie/services/iso/
Click on Academic, then Diploma in Traditional Irish Music.
# Posted on August 25th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Folk fiddle exams?
Hee. I'm trying to form a mental image of the bodhran class.** (See Disclaimer) I just hope it doesn't meet at 7:30 on Monday mornings.
That said, I think this sounds like a very cool way to spend a few years. When I was in school, all my friends in the folklore program got to do really neat stuff while I was slogging through what seemed like forty years of Organic Chemistry. If I only knew then what I know now.......
**Disclaimer: This is a facetious statement not intended to cause mental anguish and/or feelings of social exclusion among perfectly competent bodhran players and their immediate families. All statements by the Batlady (tm) reflect her smart-alecky attitude that her mother warned her repeatedly would get her into trouble some day.**
# Posted on August 25th 2004 by Michele Sims
Re: Folk fiddle exams?
My friend Alyce in Chicago took this program, I think. I believe she said that her favorite part was the ensemble class!
# Posted on August 25th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Folk fiddle exams?
i think hayley is referring to graded exams. two organisations offer these in ITM, Comhaltas and the London College of Music and Media. Quite controversial really, i mean, are they necessary, don't you think they undermine the essence of trad music?!!! however, i'm currently very drunk. just got back from me local session and had many drinks bought for me cause i got my A-level required grades. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by NickPhelan
Re: Folk fiddle exams?
Well done Nick, I'm meant to get my brother's GCSE results today cos he's away, went in at 9 to find out I'm not meant to be there till 11. Oh well.
On further thought I don't see why it can't be an academic subject, most things are these days, it beats a surfing degree or a David Beckham degree anyway. That course at UCC looks fascinating. As for the graded exams well I don't know much about them, they may be a great way to learn and be confident that you know how to play in the traditional Irish style or another style, but does it really mean anything when you are sitting with your instrument in a pub?
I don't think they necessarily undermine the essence of trad music but if everyone took them then a standardised form of playing might develop and that would be worrying.
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by haylien
Re: Folk fiddle exams?
A friend of mine's children - one plays box, one plays fiddle - have now done two grades of the London College of Music and Media exams (their ITM class teacher is keen on putting students in for them) and in her eyes, these exams are unconditionally a "good thing", for the following reasons. 1) It makes the children practise 2) It gives them a sense of making progress and of achievement which is hard to get in the early stages of learning ITM unless one enters the fleadhs each year - and that can be soul-destroying for the ones who are competent and doing well but who don't get the medals 3) The examiner's comments are very helpful - the children have liked getting an opinion from someone other than their class teacher. 4) Getting these exams has been looked on favourably by the children's schools as showing evidence of the children's wide range of musical interests, and as evidence of them being able to apply themselves. This has been good for children who are finding ordinary school work hard.
Apparently a number of adults learners go in for them as well, so it seems age is no barrier.
Jane R
# Posted on August 26th 2004 by LW