I'm interested in getting a bit of tuition on the bouzouki, so was wondering if anyone knew of a good trad teacher in Manchester or the surrounding area?
I got into tremendous trouble here a few years ago, when somebody ( in Manchester ) wrote "I have been playing music for 30 years. Where can I get a bouzouki tutor in the Manchester area ?" and I had the effrontery to suggest that, after 30 years, why did he need a tutor, couldn't he work it out for himself ?
One might ask "In which of the tunings were you interested in learning ?". Also "Did you want to learn about tune accompaniment, song accompaniment, or tune-playing ?".
These are all pertinent.
I don't think Donal Lunny or Andy Irvine or Johnny Moynihan had any tuition, they made it up as they went along.
And very good they turned out too.
@Sugarfoot Jack I might be able to help. I live in Manchester and have been playing Irish bouzouki quite a long time. I'm not a music teacher, and I'm self taught (just as Guernsey Pete suggests). But I have run few workshops at festivals, and I'm happy to share what I know.
Pat
Pete: I've been playing for 10 years or so and although I'm self-taught I just want to chat and talk bouzouki with another (preferably more) experienced bouzouki player; you can always learn from better players. Learn some new chops
I am a zouk player, I lived in Manc for 2 years.
Some GREAT music about if you know where to look.
I never encountered any other zoukists in my time there, would loved to have met up if was still there.
But it's good to be the only accompanist in a sesh ;) you get to develop your own style with more space without some other backer contradicting what ur trying to do.
There was a real nice DADGAD player I enjoyed playing with in Manc a couple times though as we could completement eachother, cant remember his name but am sure ull see him bout.
good luck
The Irish trad scene in Manchester is second to none, and over the years I've played with many of the excellent local players, precious few bouzouki players though. I don't get into town as much as I'd like due to the usual restraints of work and cost so I'm not a regular at the sessions in town and if I do get there I love to listen.
However, we're certainly blessed here where I live just outside south Manchester and I learn a lot from my fellow musicians who are generous and open with their knowledge. However, it would be great to get some ideas from a living person rather than just sit here in isolation - after all, Lunny, Irvine and Monynihan didn't become the great players they are by learning in isolation. Who does?
I've lived and played the bouzouki in Manchester for 22 years and by my calculation now attend, roughly, 8.7% of the Irish sessions over the year. Before the kids came along I probably made 20%. I would have gone to more but the same old 120 tunes(+or- 10% tolernace in a night) can become tedious 5 times a week.
So I did a bit of travelling around the country to sessions and to Miltown (which could also become tedious once you've played and drunk yourself silly for the first four days).
Funnily enough a friend did a gig a few years ago with a fiddle player from Manchester (who I know) who swore there were no bouzouki players in Manchester. Maybe I'm invisble. Here's a link so that you can judge if you've every met me
I don't think I have met you Pt, although I've met Francis a couple of times and played in sessions with her. Like I say, I don't get up to town very much.
Portnasaol - indeed a fine workshop in the use of the capo - I'm just confused what keys you were playing in if you ended up capo'd at the 4th fret ?
I also was addicted to the use of the elastic capo, when I was still playing my restrung Greek bouzouki, as the neck was so deep in section that the ordinairy capos couldn't work on it.
However I would mention that you would be disqualified from my session as being to addicted to the use of the razor and the barber. Grow some hair, man !
I was tuned down to FCGC, because our singer is quite short. So on the 4th fret that would be for Em. I think this was why I got lost with the capo and the fact that the girls didn't change as the nodded they were doing.
In terms of hair - we're a clean living lot in Manchester. Every morning begins with the three Ss.
Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
I'm interested in getting a bit of tuition on the bouzouki, so was wondering if anyone knew of a good trad teacher in Manchester or the surrounding area?
In fact, does anyone know of one anywhere?
# Posted on January 24th 2011 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
None that I know of. Best thing to do is try to find a session with an experienced bouzouki player at it and go regulary to that session.
# Posted on January 24th 2011 by mandolinist
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
i teach the bouzouki, but im in london
# Posted on January 24th 2011 by FastEddie
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
I got into tremendous trouble here a few years ago, when somebody ( in Manchester ) wrote "I have been playing music for 30 years. Where can I get a bouzouki tutor in the Manchester area ?" and I had the effrontery to suggest that, after 30 years, why did he need a tutor, couldn't he work it out for himself ?
One might ask "In which of the tunings were you interested in learning ?". Also "Did you want to learn about tune accompaniment, song accompaniment, or tune-playing ?".
These are all pertinent.
I don't think Donal Lunny or Andy Irvine or Johnny Moynihan had any tuition, they made it up as they went along.
And very good they turned out too.
# Posted on January 24th 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
@Sugarfoot Jack I might be able to help. I live in Manchester and have been playing Irish bouzouki quite a long time. I'm not a music teacher, and I'm self taught (just as Guernsey Pete suggests). But I have run few workshops at festivals, and I'm happy to share what I know.
Pat
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by portnasaol
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
Thanks Pat, look for a PM.
Pete: I've been playing for 10 years or so and although I'm self-taught I just want to chat and talk bouzouki with another (preferably more) experienced bouzouki player; you can always learn from better players. Learn some new chops
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
I am a zouk player, I lived in Manc for 2 years.
Some GREAT music about if you know where to look.
I never encountered any other zoukists in my time there, would loved to have met up if was still there.
But it's good to be the only accompanist in a sesh ;) you get to develop your own style with more space without some other backer contradicting what ur trying to do.
There was a real nice DADGAD player I enjoyed playing with in Manc a couple times though as we could completement eachother, cant remember his name but am sure ull see him bout.
good luck
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by ecidralla
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
The Irish trad scene in Manchester is second to none, and over the years I've played with many of the excellent local players, precious few bouzouki players though. I don't get into town as much as I'd like due to the usual restraints of work and cost so I'm not a regular at the sessions in town and if I do get there I love to listen.
However, we're certainly blessed here where I live just outside south Manchester and I learn a lot from my fellow musicians who are generous and open with their knowledge. However, it would be great to get some ideas from a living person rather than just sit here in isolation - after all, Lunny, Irvine and Monynihan didn't become the great players they are by learning in isolation. Who does?
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
Ah now, see I'll get upset here.
I've lived and played the bouzouki in Manchester for 22 years and by my calculation now attend, roughly, 8.7% of the Irish sessions over the year. Before the kids came along I probably made 20%. I would have gone to more but the same old 120 tunes(+or- 10% tolernace in a night) can become tedious 5 times a week.
So I did a bit of travelling around the country to sessions and to Miltown (which could also become tedious once you've played and drunk yourself silly for the first four days).
Funnily enough a friend did a gig a few years ago with a fiddle player from Manchester (who I know) who swore there were no bouzouki players in Manchester. Maybe I'm invisble. Here's a link so that you can judge if you've every met me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RR8mi0wT9I
Lesson 1: skillful use of the capo, skillful editing.
Pat
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by portnasaol
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
I don't think I have met you Pt, although I've met Francis a couple of times and played in sessions with her. Like I say, I don't get up to town very much.
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
Who's the piper?
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
Portnasaol - indeed a fine workshop in the use of the capo - I'm just confused what keys you were playing in if you ended up capo'd at the 4th fret ?
I also was addicted to the use of the elastic capo, when I was still playing my restrung Greek bouzouki, as the neck was so deep in section that the ordinairy capos couldn't work on it.
However I would mention that you would be disqualified from my session as being to addicted to the use of the razor and the barber. Grow some hair, man !
# Posted on January 25th 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Bouzouki Tutors in Manchester - or anywhere?
@Guernsey Pete
I was tuned down to FCGC, because our singer is quite short. So on the 4th fret that would be for Em. I think this was why I got lost with the capo and the fact that the girls didn't change as the nodded they were doing.
In terms of hair - we're a clean living lot in Manchester. Every morning begins with the three Ss.
@Sugarfoot Jack - the piper is Becky Taylor
# Posted on January 26th 2011 by portnasaol