I've been wondering how one goes about being able to play music at a feis? This is somthing I've wanted to do for a number of years now, and I finnally have the time to do it.
I play the flute, I've played for over 13 years, throughout elementary, middle, and highschool.
From what I know, you take an apprenticeship under a musician who plays at the competitoins, and work you rway from there. I cannot seem to find any ways to contact musicians in my area. If it helps, I'm in northeastern (cleveland) ohio area.
Any help would be greaty appreciated!
-schapiro
I've a list of musicians who played at the cleveland feis, but no way to contact any of them. I've searched a few, with no luck.
my aunt is on the feis committee, ill email her and see if she can come up with any help for me.
and i do live on the west side of cleveland, north olmsted to be exact. the west side irish american club used to hold dance music lessons of some sort, but no longer does.
well thanks for the suggestions, i honestly do appreciate them.
rumour has it that feis' aren't the funnest things to play. i played my first in the beginning of the summer. luckily for me, the head of the committee found me, and was only paying me part of the full wage, due to inexperience. it was a scary and harrowing ordeal. granted, your 13 years beats my 8 months, it should go better for you! find zina lee's profile, and talk to her- she waqs a great deal of help to me. remember- feis are about the dancers, not musicians, so only basic tunes are played w/o too much ornementation or variation.
I'm not sure that a flute would be the best instrument for playing at a feis. Usually, the musicians tend to play box or something else loud, where a flute may not cut through the sound of a hundred clattering hard shoes that are all doing different steps (cacophonous, to say the least!)
Also, you have to be able to play slow and steady for hours upon end. In my experience with flute players, they have some trouble after playing for a time without resting because of their mouths drying out, etc.
I've sat in with feis musicians a number of times, and had one weekend of feis playing.
Mike Schaffer (accordion) and Sandy Jones (fiddle) are two I've met who played at feisianna in Arizona, both of whom let me sit in with them on fiddle. Some of the musicians are really welcoming, and some are definitely solo players.
I have only seen a flute used in conjunction with other instruments for a feis, and would tend to agree with the comment that flute might not be ideal, and for the same reasons as Pete suggested. But it's worth a try.
Correction
re Mike Schaffer- that was a website to purchase a cd
But in trying to find some info - I happened to see a message in the archives that was from Mike's brother http://www.thesession.org/members/display/12901
In talking with an excellent whistle player and a fiddler each of whom played for competitions, I get the idea that you have to watch out for jealous/zealous parents (you played that tune differently for my child, that's why they didn't do well!!!) and it's grinding work all round. Can't say first hand, though.
Feis Musicians
Feis Musicians
I've been wondering how one goes about being able to play music at a feis? This is somthing I've wanted to do for a number of years now, and I finnally have the time to do it.
I play the flute, I've played for over 13 years, throughout elementary, middle, and highschool.
From what I know, you take an apprenticeship under a musician who plays at the competitoins, and work you rway from there. I cannot seem to find any ways to contact musicians in my area. If it helps, I'm in northeastern (cleveland) ohio area.
Any help would be greaty appreciated!
-schapiro
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Schapiro
Re: Feis Musicians
I would look on the west side(cleveland)... nicer people...not so whoyty thoytee. good luck.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Feis Musicians
I would suggest contacting the feis committee...any info online about who might be involved?
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: Feis Musicians
I've a list of musicians who played at the cleveland feis, but no way to contact any of them. I've searched a few, with no luck.
my aunt is on the feis committee, ill email her and see if she can come up with any help for me.
and i do live on the west side of cleveland, north olmsted to be exact. the west side irish american club used to hold dance music lessons of some sort, but no longer does.
well thanks for the suggestions, i honestly do appreciate them.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Schapiro
Re: Feis Musicians
rumour has it that feis' aren't the funnest things to play. i played my first in the beginning of the summer. luckily for me, the head of the committee found me, and was only paying me part of the full wage, due to inexperience. it was a scary and harrowing ordeal. granted, your 13 years beats my 8 months, it should go better for you! find zina lee's profile, and talk to her- she waqs a great deal of help to me. remember- feis are about the dancers, not musicians, so only basic tunes are played w/o too much ornementation or variation.
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by rob_handel
Re: Feis Musicians
I'm not sure that a flute would be the best instrument for playing at a feis. Usually, the musicians tend to play box or something else loud, where a flute may not cut through the sound of a hundred clattering hard shoes that are all doing different steps (cacophonous, to say the least!)
Also, you have to be able to play slow and steady for hours upon end. In my experience with flute players, they have some trouble after playing for a time without resting because of their mouths drying out, etc.
Just a thought. Good luck with it!
Pete
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Feis Musicians
I've sat in with feis musicians a number of times, and had one weekend of feis playing.
Mike Schaffer (accordion) and Sandy Jones (fiddle) are two I've met who played at feisianna in Arizona, both of whom let me sit in with them on fiddle. Some of the musicians are really welcoming, and some are definitely solo players.
Here is Mike's website:
http://www.irishrecords.com/mikeshaffer.html
I have only seen a flute used in conjunction with other instruments for a feis, and would tend to agree with the comment that flute might not be ideal, and for the same reasons as Pete suggested. But it's worth a try.
Sharon
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by azfiddle
Re: Feis Musicians
Correction
re Mike Schaffer- that was a website to purchase a cd
But in trying to find some info - I happened to see a message in the archives that was from Mike's brother
http://www.thesession.org/members/display/12901
so maybe that would be helpful
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by azfiddle
Re: Feis Musicians
In talking with an excellent whistle player and a fiddler each of whom played for competitions, I get the idea that you have to watch out for jealous/zealous parents (you played that tune differently for my child, that's why they didn't do well!!!) and it's grinding work all round. Can't say first hand, though.
# Posted on January 14th 2007 by vonnieestes