Hi, I'm looking for some suggestions of worthwhile flute workshops either in Ireland, Germany or Scotland this summer (2007). I've found a lot of links to past workshops which aren't a lot of use. Basically anything from April onwards.
I'm thinking of treating myself to a workshop or two this year as a prezzie. Boxwood would be great, but Canada is a bit further than I want to go this year. Maybe another year...
It might also be nice if the workshops are attached to larger festivals too? I don't know - I've not been to a lot of festivals.
On a similar note, does anyone have information on the Shetland Fiddle Frenzy 2007 - is it going to happen? What are the dates? does anyone have a link? All I could find was info on past years. This would be for my SO, not for me.
Well in Ireland there is Willie Clancy, The World Fleadh, Drumshambo, Scoil Eigse, Meitheal Week and a good few others that I'm sure you will be told soon, good luck!
I'm looking for a bit more specific information on what's good, what comes personally recommended from experience as a participant, where the Craic tends to be good, et.c.
The larger festivals like the Willie Clancy and Joe Mooney summer schools have multiple workshops/ classes in flute going on for the week, so you should have more chance of being grouped with a bunch of people of similar standard which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Smaller festivals like the Phil Murphy in Wexford might only have 1 or 2 flute groups at most, more personal perhaps? I reckon there's a bit of luck with these things depending on whose workshop you end up in.
Hammy Hamilton & others ran a specific flute festival last year down in Cork but I haven't seen anything about it this year: you could try emailing him at Hamilton Flutes.
Ive been to the scoil eigse mentioned above, oooo 3 times now? Its run the week before the All-Ireland fleadh (Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann if you're searching on the internet) run by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Its usually pretty good. Went to the flute on this last year (2006) and that was really helpful. Had a few teachers over the week and they all did really different stuff. Mostly we had June McCormack who taught sligo style which was good coz i love that and other teachers ive had have taught that style too. But the others did really different stuff- had a class where we did lots of modern, fun tunes and another where he went through the nasty top (over high B) end of the register so that was useful. The good thing about the scoil eigse is that because it is run by comhaltas they get some of the best musicians in Ireland there, since most of them trained through comhaltas themselves. ALSO, the best thing bout Scoil Eigse is youre there the week before the Fleadh which means that there are loads of really good musicians in the town, hence good sessions where you can actually get into the pub (you'll understand why this is so important if you stay for the weekend festival!!) The fleadh weekends usually massively crowded but good craic if you dont mind fighting your way through the crowds, waving a flute hopefully till some non-musician gets the hint and gives you a seat, or else sitting on beer crates which i ended up doing in a couple of sessions last year. Brilliant sessions though, you should definitely stick around for the fleadh!!
Another workshop Ive heard of is the Queen Maeve school run by Carmel Gunning in Sligo city. Not been myself but worth investigating maybe?
Ok thats a VERY long posting. Any questions, dont hesitate!
The South Sligo Summer School at Tubbercurry is lovely. It goes during the 2nd week in July, so Sligo weather is perhaps bearable! I have attended and found it to be exactly what I needed. They separate the classes according to ability, so you have to play something in front of the whole crew at the beginning. There are about 4 flute teachers there. Last year they had Michael Hurley, Seamus O'Donnell and others...I was taught by Colm O'Donnell and a young fella named Richard Murray, who is also a talented piper.
I loved it. I found Tubber to be a lovely venue, great Craic. Not a lot of American flute players when I went. There were a couple of Japanese girls...so word about Tubber is getting out! Go if you can.
Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
Hi, I'm looking for some suggestions of worthwhile flute workshops either in Ireland, Germany or Scotland this summer (2007). I've found a lot of links to past workshops which aren't a lot of use. Basically anything from April onwards.
I'm thinking of treating myself to a workshop or two this year as a prezzie. Boxwood would be great, but Canada is a bit further than I want to go this year. Maybe another year...
It might also be nice if the workshops are attached to larger festivals too? I don't know - I've not been to a lot of festivals.
On a similar note, does anyone have information on the Shetland Fiddle Frenzy 2007 - is it going to happen? What are the dates? does anyone have a link? All I could find was info on past years. This would be for my SO, not for me.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Crackpot
Re: Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
Well in Ireland there is Willie Clancy, The World Fleadh, Drumshambo, Scoil Eigse, Meitheal Week and a good few others that I'm sure you will be told soon, good luck!
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by tnoumarap
Re: Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
I'm looking for a bit more specific information on what's good, what comes personally recommended from experience as a participant, where the Craic tends to be good, et.c.
# Posted on February 14th 2007 by Crackpot
Re: Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
The larger festivals like the Willie Clancy and Joe Mooney summer schools have multiple workshops/ classes in flute going on for the week, so you should have more chance of being grouped with a bunch of people of similar standard which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Smaller festivals like the Phil Murphy in Wexford might only have 1 or 2 flute groups at most, more personal perhaps? I reckon there's a bit of luck with these things depending on whose workshop you end up in.
Hammy Hamilton & others ran a specific flute festival last year down in Cork but I haven't seen anything about it this year: you could try emailing him at Hamilton Flutes.
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
Ive been to the scoil eigse mentioned above, oooo 3 times now? Its run the week before the All-Ireland fleadh (Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann if you're searching on the internet) run by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Its usually pretty good. Went to the flute on this last year (2006) and that was really helpful. Had a few teachers over the week and they all did really different stuff. Mostly we had June McCormack who taught sligo style which was good coz i love that and other teachers ive had have taught that style too. But the others did really different stuff- had a class where we did lots of modern, fun tunes and another where he went through the nasty top (over high B) end of the register so that was useful. The good thing about the scoil eigse is that because it is run by comhaltas they get some of the best musicians in Ireland there, since most of them trained through comhaltas themselves. ALSO, the best thing bout Scoil Eigse is youre there the week before the Fleadh which means that there are loads of really good musicians in the town, hence good sessions where you can actually get into the pub (you'll understand why this is so important if you stay for the weekend festival!!) The fleadh weekends usually massively crowded but good craic if you dont mind fighting your way through the crowds, waving a flute hopefully till some non-musician gets the hint and gives you a seat, or else sitting on beer crates which i ended up doing in a couple of sessions last year. Brilliant sessions though, you should definitely stick around for the fleadh!!
Another workshop Ive heard of is the Queen Maeve school run by Carmel Gunning in Sligo city. Not been myself but worth investigating maybe?
Ok thats a VERY long posting. Any questions, dont hesitate!
# Posted on February 15th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
The South Sligo Summer School at Tubbercurry is lovely. It goes during the 2nd week in July, so Sligo weather is perhaps bearable! I have attended and found it to be exactly what I needed. They separate the classes according to ability, so you have to play something in front of the whole crew at the beginning. There are about 4 flute teachers there. Last year they had Michael Hurley, Seamus O'Donnell and others...I was taught by Colm O'Donnell and a young fella named Richard Murray, who is also a talented piper.
I loved it. I found Tubber to be a lovely venue, great Craic. Not a lot of American flute players when I went. There were a couple of Japanese girls...so word about Tubber is getting out! Go if you can.
# Posted on February 16th 2007 by yekdeli
Re: Suggestions for Summer Flute workshops?
Here is a link to the South Sligo Summer School.
http://www.sssschool.org/classes.htm
Last year the tutors were Bernard Flaherty, Michael Hurley, Seamus O'Donnell and Christine Dowling.
# Posted on February 26th 2007 by An nota fada