I think I saw here that Bruce W and Mark J are going anyone else?
John
At the risk of letting my ignorance show… where is East Durham???
It’s in upstate NY, near Albany.
John,
I was there for the first time last year (I was the one with the English accent, from Winnipeg, Canada)and I am very sad to not be going again this year! We have just bought a new house and will be spending the summer packing and moving, still in Winnipeg but to a different area here!! I remember well sitting in the sun, on the grass amid the bird calls and the smell of wild thyme, listening to Mary Bergin play and teach. I felt like I was in whistle-heaven! Give my regards to everyone there and have a roaring great time!!!
Sue H
Hello all!
I’ll be in East Durham next week also, and look forward to meeting some of you. This is my first event of this nature, and I’ve never heard Mary Bergin play yet either, so I’m delighted to be able to go. See you all there.
Karen Roach
It appears that so far, at least 4 of us C&Fers are going. How about getting together to get acquainted or reacquainted on Sunday afternoon before registration?
Who could make it to the Shamrock House at 3 pm? Seems a good opportunity to admire Mark’s O’Riordans and say hello.
If you’re interested, email me directly and we’ll set it up.
Bruce White
That sounds good. Erin’s Melody might be a better location IF we want a little more privacy. It is located across from the Weldon House. The Shamrock House will probably have a band going by then. It would be easier to play and HEAR the whistles at Erin’s Melody. 3 pm Sunday sounds like a good time. Just a suggestion and reflection of the get together from last summer at the Shamrock House.
Might I suggest another C&F Social event. My suggestion is to plan having Thursday lunch at Hans and Gretel’s (across from the Shamrock House, next to Lawyers General Store and the Fire House). It has some decent German food and good weizen & bock style beers. It is a good break from the other faire in town and THURSDAY would be a good day to discuss the classes and other events with each other.
By the way. CTL tickets are only $10 each! I’m already committed to going. I hope it starts after the evening concert.
OK, Erin’s Melody at 3 PM on Sunday. I think I can make that. Thursday lunch sounds good also.
Everyone, you can get tickets for CTL at Gavin’s by phone with your credit card. Phone is: 518-634-2582
John R
[ This Message was edited by: jgrogers on 2001-07-10 15:37 ]
i called today and they said that they are considering letting people sign up for just a few classes and not just the entire week. i am only a beginner, but i would love to have mary bergin for a class
Cramer, I would recommend you take the beginner’s class with Brendan Dolan, at the start of the week, if you can. You’ll get much more out of it that you can use. You can hear Mary play at one of the evening concerts or dances if you’re there on the right day. Maybe you can ask when she’ll be performing.
John R
I would say Brendan Dolan would be an excellent choice. He is a VERY tallented multinstrumentalist, and very personable to boot.
Let me share with you, my trial by error story.
Three years ago, I took Mary’s class at the beginning of the week. I was told by a whistle instructor, that just happened to be in Mary’s Class the two previous years, that I should take her class. Mary was great. By Tuesday, however, I realized that I should be in a beginners class, and dropped out of Mary’s class. My limited ability was a big let down and a real shock to my pride. I am not ready for Mary’s class now(maybe next year). If you want to hear what not ready sounds like, check out my versions of the Jigs, Lilting Banshee and Sliabh Russell, on clips and snips (see the forum index for details).
Take (or not) the following suggestions with a grain of salt. If you try to take a class, try Monday and Maybe Tuesday. After that, the classes really move. Unless you can learn 2-4 tunes in 2 hours, by ear (which is what intermediate and advanced classes are doing by wednesday); you really want to take the beginners class.
The Irish Arts Week bulletin suggested that Intermediate students should have played for 5 years, should know about fifty tunes (at least be able to name them when you hear them) and have had some classes before.
The bulletin suggested that Advanced class students know how to play about 100 tunes, cold from memory, play in a band or lead sessions and have their own students.
I think those descriptions are somewhat demanding for what the instructors expect. I have heard students complain about beginners taking instructor time in advanced classes. One friend of mine was in an advanced class and wanted to learn some of the finer points of regional styles from James Kelly, but had much of their time taken away by the students that liked James Kelly, owned fiddles, but still needed help doing scales. He was angry at those students for taking that time away, and I think he had every right to be mad. Spending $200 to learn scales is not cool.
FYI, the night life is great. Concerts, Ceilis every night. Other spontaneous sessions sprout up all over town and they often last until the sun comes up. McGrath’s often has some of the better “unofficial” sessions.
The Saturday concert is also worth a visit.