Hello Folks,
Scoiltrad have just released a 10 class course for beginners on whistle. The course covers Breathing Patterns, Tonguing, Cuts, Pats, Triplets, Vibrato and an introduction to Rolls as well as a selection of different tune types. For more info check out the site at http://www.scoiltrad.com under Courses.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone on the list a peacefull and happy holiday.
Nollaig Shona Dibh Go Leir
Beir Bua
Conal
[ This Message was edited by: Conal O Grada on 2002-12-18 05:18 ]
It good to see whistle instruction available on the net.
This seems like a lot for a begging music student to cover in 10 lessons. I assume this course is geared toward the Musician wanting to pick up another instrument rather than someone starting out with the whistle as their first instrument.
I think you might want to clarify your approach.
Hello Wizzer
This course is geared at the complete beginner. Each class introduces new techniques and builds on the learning from previous classes. Obviously a certain amount of practice is expected from the student so that they get the most possible from the course. Also the student learns at their own pace and doesn’t move on to the next class until they are ready. The most powerful feature of the course is the feedback element where the student sends us an mp3 of their playing and the tutor responds with personalised guidance on their progress as they work though the course. The aim of the course is that the student, upon comletion, will be able to play a selection of different tune types with basic ornamentation, a solid approach to breathing, tonguing & phrasing and will understand the basics of variation…i.e. the basic building blocks for learning to play traditional music in an authentic style.
Beir Bua
Conal
What a completely wonderful idea. I was fortunate enough to find someone local to teach me the beginnings, but there are so many without access to instruction, who like me, learn best from an interactive style. I bought the individual tune lesson, Sean sa Cheo, a week ago and it’s really laid out well, so you learn pretty quickly. The question for Conal is: When is the advanced course coming?? Soon I hope!
Just can’t say enough good stuff about Scoiltrad! This is a super idea for people who don’t have a teacher available. I’ve had offers from a couple of folks to listen to a tune if I’d send it to them; however, I always decline - while it’s greatly appreciated, I would feel like it’s an imposition and would never dare send more than one. So it’s definitely worth the $ to me to go through the Scoiltrad lessons (hardest I’ve ever worked on a tune and it’s paying off!) and get a very pleasant but also honest assessment. And then get going on the next one!
You and your partners have a great idea, Conal, and it’s very much appreciated.
Susan
I am very excited about your new 10 sessions class. Do you need special equipment to make the recording to send to you? I haven’t looked, but is it listed on your website?
I have a couple of Conal’s lessons and I would call them fabulous. Nicely laid out and a good value. I have 1 flute and 1 whistle lesson - the only reason that I don’t have more is time (oh yeah, and money ).
The beginner courses look like a good thing, Conal. Thanks for letting us know.
Conal, I am sure you are not aware of this so I thought I’d bring it to your attention, when I went to the website I got a pop up ad for a porn site. You might want to have a chat with your hosting service
Ron, I just accesed the Scoiltrad site and got no such pop-up. I suspect that your computer has been somehow infected by ad-software/spyware. Try downloading Ad-aware by lavasoft (do a google search) and have it scan your computer. It’ll clean out any ad/spy junk that’s corrupting your system.
Best,
Chris
Ron,
You’re quite welcome. I visited my grandmother recently and used her computer to check my e-mail. Much to my dismay, every single site I loaded brought up a pop-up, much of it porn. I couldn’t believe what my grandmother had been dealing with. I ran Ad-Aware and it cleaned all that junk out, getting rid of the pop-ups and making her computer run much more smoothly.
Best,
Chris
Anyone have any feedback on the Beginners Whistle Course through Scoiltrad? Sounds like it would be a good class to take to start off with maybe in coordination with the “Clarke Tin Whistle” book by Bill Ochs. When would you recommend starting the Course? After you get comfortable with Bill’s book? I have also started taking lessons from the local Detroit Branch of Comhaltas (www.irishmusic.nu).
I have the greatest respect for Conal, he’s a mighty musicianer and no doubt about it. But I’m afraid my experience with Scoiltrad as a business has been far from satisfactory, and according to PMs I’ve received, I’m not alone. Of course, there are many more folks who’ve had great experiences with Scoiltrad (and I’m happy for them all)… sad to say I’m not one of them.
I think your experience was unusual, Gary…Scoiltrad must have been having technical problems. During the time (and it was months) I was taking lessons from Scoiltrad my emails were answered within a day or two, all questions answered, and I received helpful assessments. There were a couple other people I corresponded with and in the chat room at about that same time who were also taking an occasional lesson who hadn’t had a problem either. (I recall one person who didn’t receive an assessment for about a week, but apparently Conal had other commitments at the time.)
I think every business on the face of the earth has a glitch or two and there are people who have less than stellar experiences with them - it’s a fact of business life. But I think overall Scoiltrad does a really good job and if you have no teacher available, they’re a great alternative.
As I said, Susan, if you’ve had a great experience with them, as others have in the past, I’m happy for you. But this doesn’t help me (or the others in my boat). 5 weeks without a single response to any of my many inquiries can hardly be described as a ‘glitch’.
To get back on subject and answer Justin’s question…
The Scoiltrad course will probably be good for after you do as much as you can with the Bill Och’s book.
Have you downloaded the demo? It’s an intermediate level class but each class works the same. I think the learning curve is a bit higher on Scoiltrad than with most tutor materials. But you set your own pace.
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