First question here. Hello to those that know me (I see a few!).
I'm thinking of doing the banjo class at the WCSS this year.
Has anyone done them before? If so...
- What did you think?
- Was everyone playing the banjo? Any mandolin players?
They didn't offer these when I was there in 2003, so I can't say anything on that.
A quiet word of warning, it's quite a trot, 1 1/2 to 2 miles, from the town centre of Miltown Malbay to Spanish point where the classes are held, so be sure to choose your accommodation/transport options with that in mind.
Most everything else about the festival occurs around Miltown Malbay.
Ya- they started last year. 5 teachers and about 4-5 diff levels.
You have to go to the hall in St.joesphs school in spanish point and everybody gathers on the first morning. Then you play a tune in front of John Carty or Kieran Hanrihan( not in the least bit intimidating!!!) and then you are assigned to a class. Great craic has to be said and a good variety of tunes and players. A lot of time wasted talking and taking things down intsead of photocopying the tunes and handing then out. You pick up a lot of advice about picking and how to learn a tune, and just get to chat about the banjo. I thought it was well worth it. There was one girl called Johanne who was a great teacher.. learned lots from her
Few people had mando's but for the most part banjos
It would help if you had some practice and a few tunes first.But there was a few people who had nothing and they got something out of it. Then there was the 12 year old maestros who were briliant who would give ya depression and just feel like chucking the banjo into the atlantic!!!!
Tom
Corcaigh
Yes I attended last year. Good fun. However, I feel when u are paying alot of money for the week in lessons I feel there should be better preparation from some of the tutors regarding having photocopied version of the tunes for those who want them (obviously some folk prefer to learn purely by ear, but I am not yet at that stage). Yes alot of wasted time was spent copying down the tune. A good variety of tunes and techniques. Not many borught mandolins, aprt from a chap from the midlands, UK.. Met some cool people. Definately taking a recording device with you. I found that very helpful.
I camped out and had a nightmare of a time the first night, due to hooligans rampaging through the site, threatening people. I hope the police/garda and festival organsiers are better prepared. I was hoping to bring my young child over but I am thinking again as would book B and B or a hotel next time.
Yes - sadly, camping at Milltown is not as safe as it might be. There is often a certain element there during the festival who come primarily to drink and make trouble. One possible solution is to camp on the 'unofficial' campsite at Spanish Point. But, firstly, there is a chance of being moved on by the Gardai and, secondly, you are completely at the mercy of the fickle ocean weather - on two occasions, I have been caught in raging storms, with my tent being flooded by driving rain and sea spray.
That was the one thing that annoyed me was the time wasted jotting down the ABC's , the lack of peparation kind of reduced the actual time learning. Hopefully they will have improved matters this year.
Heading back this year so must have one tune learned to perfection for that dreaded audition¬¬
When I went to fiddle classes at WCSS a very long time ago, we were not given any option about learning by ear. No dots. No abcs. The teachers, who were BRILLIANT, just had us walking round the room, Suzuki fashion, and they played the tunes for us - VERY close to one's ear - until you got it. And, as I've mentioned on another thread, if you didn't get it, one of them would whack you round the head with his bow.
I learned a huge amount of tunes that week, and picked up many many more from the sessions, because I was forced to learn by ear 'cos ... well, there was no choice. I don't believe for a minute that the teachers showed "lack of preparation".
well at the question and answer session at the end of the week the vast majority of the group complained to the teachers about this. Why would you not believe it benhall. ?
I meant that the teachers *I* had back in the day wouldn't have dreamt of bringing dots, and that *they* were definitely as fully prepared as one could wish for.
I re-read my post, and I'm sorry, it was ambiguous. It could have been taken to mean that I didn't believe *your* teachers were unprepared, which is not what I meant - how could I know as I wasn't there? Hope what I've written now makes more sense.
We weren't allowed dots, or to stop trying to play to write anything down - one or two tried. They forced us to learn what they were doing by ear alone, and a very good thing it was, too.
well one girl johanne thought by ear anfd repitiion and i learned the tune for the first time . i have to agree its the best way to learn it off by heart first time round.
Personally, I would consider it a bit of a waste of time just to spend the time learning tunes because you can do that on your own or anywhere else. I would sooner bleed them dry for technique matters while I had the chance!
Don't agree, triplet. If you learn from the greats in person and by ear, you will automatically pick up lots and lots of technique and other stuff (intonation, style, rhythm etc) which, because you've picked it up while learning the tunes, will stay with you for life.
Learn tunes on your own, and you may find that, in reality, you've learnt nothing new.
Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Hello all,
First question here. Hello to those that know me (I see a few!).
I'm thinking of doing the banjo class at the WCSS this year.
Has anyone done them before? If so...
- What did you think?
- Was everyone playing the banjo? Any mandolin players?
Thanks,
Paul Harrington,
Galway, Ireland.
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by pharring
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
They didn't offer these when I was there in 2003, so I can't say anything on that.
A quiet word of warning, it's quite a trot, 1 1/2 to 2 miles, from the town centre of Miltown Malbay to Spanish point where the classes are held, so be sure to choose your accommodation/transport options with that in mind.
Most everything else about the festival occurs around Miltown Malbay.
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by Martin Milner
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Ya- they started last year. 5 teachers and about 4-5 diff levels.
You have to go to the hall in St.joesphs school in spanish point and everybody gathers on the first morning. Then you play a tune in front of John Carty or Kieran Hanrihan( not in the least bit intimidating!!!) and then you are assigned to a class. Great craic has to be said and a good variety of tunes and players. A lot of time wasted talking and taking things down intsead of photocopying the tunes and handing then out. You pick up a lot of advice about picking and how to learn a tune, and just get to chat about the banjo. I thought it was well worth it. There was one girl called Johanne who was a great teacher.. learned lots from her
Few people had mando's but for the most part banjos
It would help if you had some practice and a few tunes first.But there was a few people who had nothing and they got something out of it. Then there was the 12 year old maestros who were briliant who would give ya depression and just feel like chucking the banjo into the atlantic!!!!
Tom
Corcaigh
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Yes I attended last year. Good fun. However, I feel when u are paying alot of money for the week in lessons I feel there should be better preparation from some of the tutors regarding having photocopied version of the tunes for those who want them (obviously some folk prefer to learn purely by ear, but I am not yet at that stage). Yes alot of wasted time was spent copying down the tune. A good variety of tunes and techniques. Not many borught mandolins, aprt from a chap from the midlands, UK.. Met some cool people. Definately taking a recording device with you. I found that very helpful.
I camped out and had a nightmare of a time the first night, due to hooligans rampaging through the site, threatening people. I hope the police/garda and festival organsiers are better prepared. I was hoping to bring my young child over but I am thinking again as would book B and B or a hotel next time.
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by jamiebanjo
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Yes - sadly, camping at Milltown is not as safe as it might be. There is often a certain element there during the festival who come primarily to drink and make trouble. One possible solution is to camp on the 'unofficial' campsite at Spanish Point. But, firstly, there is a chance of being moved on by the Gardai and, secondly, you are completely at the mercy of the fickle ocean weather - on two occasions, I have been caught in raging storms, with my tent being flooded by driving rain and sea spray.
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by ragaman
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Do these classes(not just banjo) give you ABC's or sheetmusic?
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by dinn2
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
That was the one thing that annoyed me was the time wasted jotting down the ABC's , the lack of peparation kind of reduced the actual time learning. Hopefully they will have improved matters this year.
Heading back this year so must have one tune learned to perfection for that dreaded audition¬¬
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Interesting ...
When I went to fiddle classes at WCSS a very long time ago, we were not given any option about learning by ear. No dots. No abcs. The teachers, who were BRILLIANT, just had us walking round the room, Suzuki fashion, and they played the tunes for us - VERY close to one's ear - until you got it. And, as I've mentioned on another thread, if you didn't get it, one of them would whack you round the head with his bow.
I learned a huge amount of tunes that week, and picked up many many more from the sessions, because I was forced to learn by ear 'cos ... well, there was no choice. I don't believe for a minute that the teachers showed "lack of preparation".
# Posted on April 24th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Better to go to The South Sligo Summer School its not a drink fest or Drumshambo or better still both!
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
well at the question and answer session at the end of the week the vast majority of the group complained to the teachers about this. Why would you not believe it benhall. ?
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
I meant that the teachers *I* had back in the day wouldn't have dreamt of bringing dots, and that *they* were definitely as fully prepared as one could wish for.
I re-read my post, and I'm sorry, it was ambiguous. It could have been taken to mean that I didn't believe *your* teachers were unprepared, which is not what I meant - how could I know as I wasn't there? Hope what I've written now makes more sense.
We weren't allowed dots, or to stop trying to play to write anything down - one or two tried. They forced us to learn what they were doing by ear alone, and a very good thing it was, too.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
well one girl johanne thought by ear anfd repitiion and i learned the tune for the first time . i have to agree its the best way to learn it off by heart first time round.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by TOMMYB
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Personally, I would consider it a bit of a waste of time just to spend the time learning tunes because you can do that on your own or anywhere else. I would sooner bleed them dry for technique matters while I had the chance!
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by triplet
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Don't agree, triplet. If you learn from the greats in person and by ear, you will automatically pick up lots and lots of technique and other stuff (intonation, style, rhythm etc) which, because you've picked it up while learning the tunes, will stay with you for life.
Learn tunes on your own, and you may find that, in reality, you've learnt nothing new.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by benhall.1
Re: Banjo classes at Willie Clancy Summer School
Thanks for all the answers ... most helpful.
# Posted on April 25th 2007 by pharring