I now have more leave than my husband and I'm looking to something entirely selfish with it - preferably that I will, and he wouldn't, enjoy.
I'm looking for a flute/whistle summer school in the UK (although, I could stretch to Ireland). Although I've played both for many years, I'm still not very good - I've never been 'taught' and had little experience of learning from musicians.
So far I've come up with Burwell bash, Winds at Witney and Folkworks.
Can anyone who has been to any of these tell me what they're like, and what they particularly enjoyed. Or, can anyone make other recommendations as to where to go?
Why not try the fleadh in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. there is a whole week of classes and sessions galore every night. You will learn for a full week and have the time of your life. There's nothing like the fleadh for the craic.
But seriously, have you considered the Return To Camden Town festival in London? (http://www.returntocamden.org/, also listed in the Links section of this site). It's not exactly summer, but it has music classes and lots of open sessions. Last year's festival had a 3-day music workshop with Mary Bergin (and Mick O'Connor) described as:
"Over the three days Mary and Mick will focus on tune learning, style, rhythm and musicianship. Participants should not be beginners and should be comfortable with learning by ear. The workshop group, alongside Mary and Mick will perform a short opening spot during the Thursday night concert at the Festival. All instruments welcome."
... or there's the legendary Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, which last year had 16 (!) each of whistle and flute classes. It's a bit of a zoo, incredibly crowded, but you'll definitely bump into people from this site there. Details at http://www.setdancingnews.net/wcss/ or at the bottom of the Live Music links page (http://www.thesession.org/links/display.php/11)
I'll look into all of those. Isuspectif Iend up in ireland, my husbnd will want to come too - still it might give him an incentive to learn more than one mandolin chord!!!
Try Stirling University Summer School. They run Scottish Trad. Music courses at, weekends and also summer school courses. They have courses for most traditional instruments from beginner to advanced level.
Holiday advice
Holiday advice
I now have more leave than my husband and I'm looking to something entirely selfish with it - preferably that I will, and he wouldn't, enjoy.
I'm looking for a flute/whistle summer school in the UK (although, I could stretch to Ireland). Although I've played both for many years, I'm still not very good - I've never been 'taught' and had little experience of learning from musicians.
So far I've come up with Burwell bash, Winds at Witney and Folkworks.
Can anyone who has been to any of these tell me what they're like, and what they particularly enjoyed. Or, can anyone make other recommendations as to where to go?
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by lemming
Re: Holiday advice
Why not try the fleadh in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. there is a whole week of classes and sessions galore every night. You will learn for a full week and have the time of your life. There's nothing like the fleadh for the craic.
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by Bjcomm96
Re: Holiday advice
Stay away from the Cliffs of Moher
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by Just a person
Re: Holiday advice
But seriously, have you considered the Return To Camden Town festival in London? (http://www.returntocamden.org/, also listed in the Links section of this site). It's not exactly summer, but it has music classes and lots of open sessions. Last year's festival had a 3-day music workshop with Mary Bergin (and Mick O'Connor) described as:
"Over the three days Mary and Mick will focus on tune learning, style, rhythm and musicianship. Participants should not be beginners and should be comfortable with learning by ear. The workshop group, alongside Mary and Mick will perform a short opening spot during the Thursday night concert at the Festival. All instruments welcome."
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by Just a person
Re: Holiday advice
... or there's the legendary Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, which last year had 16 (!) each of whistle and flute classes. It's a bit of a zoo, incredibly crowded, but you'll definitely bump into people from this site there. Details at http://www.setdancingnews.net/wcss/ or at the bottom of the Live Music links page (http://www.thesession.org/links/display.php/11)
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by Just a person
Re: Holiday advice
Thank you!
I'll look into all of those. Isuspectif Iend up in ireland, my husbnd will want to come too - still it might give him an incentive to learn more than one mandolin chord!!!
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by lemming
Re: Holiday advice
also there's "Blas 2005" in Limerick.... harry Bradley and Niall Keegan'll be teaching flute... dunno about whistle specifically...
# Posted on January 11th 2005 by bestcraic
Re: Holiday advice
There is the Meitheal Summer School run by Garry Shannon in Limerick, July 18-22nd. You can find out more at their website http://www.tradweek.com/
# Posted on January 12th 2005 by sean o.g
Re: Holiday advice
Try Stirling University Summer School. They run Scottish Trad. Music courses at, weekends and also summer school courses. They have courses for most traditional instruments from beginner to advanced level.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by rod johnston