Just curious if anyone has any feedback on these CD-ROMS yet.
The only place I’ve seen them offered so far is http://www.madfortrad.com
Loren
Loren,
Are you thinking of giving this Madfortrad stuff a try? They have a CD for the bouzouki coming out in October that I have been considering. I think I am going to stick with my Step One, and L.L Mac books/C D’s for the whistle. They are pretty good, and I am learning from them. But there almost nothing out yet for someone just getting into the bouzluki. But I am wondering about how good their system is. They do have some top notch people doing their lessons.
Blaine
“To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand.” Jose Ortega y Gasset
[ This Message was edited by: Blaine McArthur on 2001-08-22 23:28 ]
Blaine,
Based on the promo, these CD-Rom’s look very high quality, but I’m not ready to spend the money without at least a review or two. Still it’s hard for me to imagine Seamus Egan or Brian Finnegan participating in anything they didn’t think was going to be very well done.
Also, I guess I’m more of a visual (and kinetic) learner, so regular books and CD’s don’t work as well for me - Video type stuff usually helps me more.
Loren
Loren and Blaine
I checked out the tutorial CD-roms and they do look inviting, but it didn’t say what systems they could run on–PC’s or Macs or both.
Do either of you know what system they can play on. Like you Loren, I am visual kind of person.
Mark
[ This Message was edited by: MarkB on 2001-08-23 00:52 ]
I have been using the whistle CD rom for about 4 weeks. It’s excellent!! He basically teaches five aires, five jigs, and five reels. After learning the notes and the basic rythyms he adds ornamentation to each song (tune). There are high quality MPEGs (or AVIS) of him playing each tune and each type of ornament. It is a very solid product and I would highly recommend it to students that have no access to personal instructors. BTW, it runs on both Macs and PCs.
Jim
Is there a US distributor for the CD’s?
MADFORTRAD seems to be located in Ireland (the web site doesn’t explicitly say where they are located)
Mad For Trad are located in Cork City, Ireland.
I ordered the whistle tutorial and was impressed by the process, which is secure.
A confirmation email was received minutes after ordering. The transaction is handled by the Bank of Ireland, and the listed prices are in US dollars.
Jim,
Thanks for the info. I’m a little confused though: You say he basically teaches 15 tunes, but the info on the website lists the total number of songs taught at more than 35…Can you clarify?
Loren
Another nice thing to mention, I ordered the CDROM this morning. Just now, I received a user-id and password to access a members only section, which allows me to download some of the lessons and videos. The downloadable videos are of lesser quality than the CD itself, but are still very very good. I am looking forward to receiving what looks like a very professional and useful product.
Does the CD case specify minimum system requirements?
How many CDs are included?
I’m sorry I wasn’t very clear when I wrote the last note. I was doing a night shift and was in a hurry. What I meant to say was there are about 15 tunes in the beginner section. Here is a break down of the tune. In the beginner aire section: Baidin Fheilimi, Dawning of the Day, Slieve Gallon Braes, South Wind, Fanny Power, Julia Cliffords, The New Roundabout, Britches Full of Stiches, Buachaill on Eirne. In the beginner jigs: The Lilting Banshee, Tell her I am, Out in the Ocean, Humours of Drinaugh, Morrison’s jig. In the beginner reel section: Concertina Reel, Dunmore Lasses, Morning Star, Rolling in the Ryegrass, Famous Ballymoate. In the advanced jig section:Sleive Russell, Morning Sunshine, Willie Colemans, Mug of Brown Ale, Connachtman’s Rambles, Whelan’s Jig, Scottsman over the Border, Hardiman the Fidler. In the Advance reel section: The Green Fields of Rosbeigh, The Moyosta, The Old Bush, The Laurel Tree, The Flowering Bowl, Last Nights Fun, The Blacksmiths’s Daughter. Polkas/Slides: Teahan’s Favorites,The Rolling Waves, Going to the Well for Water, Fine Toast to Hewlett. Hornpipes: Cronin’s Hornpipe, The Blackbird, and the Fairies.
If I counted right that’s 40+ tunes. Most are broke apart into sections to aid learning. He also has comments about his training and how to get started yourself. There are extensive sections on ornamentation with video. The system requirements or listed at the bottem of MadTrad’s page that lists the various courses. It took 3 weeks to ship from Ireland. Like I mentioned before I think this is a great product. Sorry for the length of the post.
Jim
Cool Jim,
Thanks for all the details! I find it interesting that he chose not to cover songs that he’s known for. I wonder why…
Anyway, sounds good except for the 3 week delivery time. Hope we can find someone stateside who’s selling these things.
Cheers,
loren
Don’t be sorry Jim for the long reply, it only means I will have to get a second job. I have visited the site and it reads well and seems more than useful and your information makes it just that more so.
Thanks again for your input.
Mark
Loren, the interesting thing is that he does cover triplets tongued and slurred as well as some of his other personal techniques. If you are a fan of Brian’s, you will love this presentation. I figure for a rank beginner, such as myself there may be over a year’s worth of practice material here.
Jim
I’m at serious risk of spending my grocery money on this thing… 
I just received the CD-ROM. It took exactly 1 week to travel from Ireland to Montreal. I must say that I am very impressed with the product. It is very professionaly done. The video clips are plentiful and well filmed. You must buy one…
Thanks for the feedback everyone, guess I’m going to have to breakdown and both the flute and whistle versions
Loren
I’m placing my CD order as soon as my laughing whistle arrives =) Gotta love that “members only” immediate download section, what a great idea!
One week delivery from Ireland to Maryland!
I ordered last Thursday, the CD arrived today.
The day after I ordered, they emailed a confirmation of my order along with a password to the members area, so I could download enough lessons to keep me happy til the CD arrived.
I had some questions on the lessons, so I asked them via email, which they promptly answered quickly and in some detail.
Now I have the CD - I’ve browsed some of the lessons. The biggest thing I like is the clear and simple explanation (and visual demo) of how to do ornamentation.
I think this sets a new standard for quality of service and quality of tutorials!
This should keep me busy for a while!
I was looking at the website for this tutorial thingy, and now I really want to get it I wonder if I can talk my mum into buying it for me? Hmm…probabley not, considering she brought me a pair of Oakley sunglasses today, because I spent the last 3 days of my summer break working for her as her teacher’s aide anyone have any suggestions of how to convince her to buy me the CD, without selling my Oakley’s to pay for it? :?)
Caryn