I done it. I regestered under the new and famous Chiff Group for the week of instruction from Mike Rafferty. I got a copy of his book of tunes from Lesl and need to know which tunes he will be teaching so I can get a head start. So I need some one who knows Mike Rafferty to find out at least a couple tunes he will be using (ones from Lesl’s book). And by the way when yous guys ar going to the Festival, do not stop along the road and play “Dueling Banjos” with strangers.
Nelson
I’m registered as well. I don’t have the book yet, but am planning on ordering one. I’d also like to get a line on what tunes he’ll be working on. Looking forward to seeing you, Nelson.
Well, we’re getting quite the contingent of Chiffers aren’t we.
I’m of two minds on having prior knowledge of the tunes. I also have Lesl’s book and find it to be a great resource ( Thanks Lesl!!!), however I don’t want to miss the opportunity to experience learning some tunes the old way…call and response in the company of a master.
In the end I’ve decided that if a listing is posted I will test my discipline by not studying it.
All the best.
Byron
Amen (just don’t forget the recorder!).
Budget willing, we’ll see you guys there!
cat.
Point (1) You all have to make a maximum effort to find out for me which tunes M.R. will be teaching, even thought you do not look at them. If you do not, what will happen on the second day is, I’ll be playing 2 bars behind and hitting worng notes and you will be too polite to kick me out, probably. So make an effort for me, please. If you find out, I will tell you where Johnny Gallagher lives down the street. You can not find it by your self. You an go down and try all his flutes. Who knows M.R. email address?
Point (2) Kathe, why did you mention the recorder. I have a few, should I bring them.
Point (3)In the evening, when the fog goes over the water,I will go on the Tagert River in a John boat and pipe my Scottish Highland Pipes. When I do that the fish jump around me. I can’t see them for the fog, but I hear them. I grew up on the Tagert.
hey people: where and what is this augusta festival in wv? i’ve lived here since i went to wvu. i can’t invest a week or anything but i’ve only seen one other person play a whistle (that’s who inspired me) and i’ve never seen anyone play the flute. i’d so like to know more about this. mutepointe
You guys learning the recorder also? 
Nelson,
Cathy means recording device (cassette, mini-disk, digital direct…). Apparently anything learned during the day is reluctant to be repeated that night, so the lessons are recorded. On my list of things to do before July is to learn my iHP-120 inside and out.
As for point (1), although I have never been to one of these for Ir-trad I have for guitar and I think you find that help abounds.
Pipes on the waterfront…nice.
Byron
Mutepointe … http://www.augustaheritage.com/
Kathy, I feel so stupid, I thought you ment the wooden kind of recorders that I like to play better than penny-whistles. I hope you make it to Elkins.
Nelson
No, I’m the stupid one! I wrote that rather unclearly. (I do that a lot these days, alas)
Anyway, this does sound like great fun. There’s a whole contingent of fiddlers from Ohio coming down as well and they know LOTS of tunes, so the RECORDING DEVICES (;-)) will also be handy at sessions!
Oh, wow, is that where John G. is??? I knew he was in WVA, but I never put two and two together (I seem to have that problem a lot, too).
Anyway … Oh boy, do I have a flute for him to look at, so it would be great to know where he is and hopefully leave it with him for repairs.
Now, for mutepointe’s point …
www.augustaheritage.com – look for the Irish Week listing. Hopefully you can at least make it over for a day or two!
Did that cover all points? 
Byron, it’ll be good to meet you as well – counting John I think there might be four of us in the state now. Whoo-hoo! I feel a boom coming on!
Cathy,
Yes, I agree. I’ve been meaning to PM you (If I may drag this off topic for a minute) about the Louisville Fest. Any news on that? I’m trying to line up some warm-up events.
Byron
hey folks: thanks for the info. i couldn’t tell from the website if there was a concert or free activities or stuff that didn’t involve registering for a whole week. does anyone know the details?
I’m with you Byron. I’ve been practicing ear learning as a new learning style for me after a lifetime of classical training. I’m having fun with it and it comes easily for me. But I surely would not deny the possibility of advance study to anyone who wants it! (Case in point: I’m dusting off the geometry textbooks this summer before my daughter takes the course, so I’ll be better prepared to help her.)
However, I wonder whether Mike is a teacher who has a concrete plan before the week starts. For me, although I certainly have lesson plans, some of my best classes are the ones when I follow a sudden inspiration and the class takes a direction I didn’t expect. So while pressuring him to tell us exactly what he’ll be up to, let’s also allow him the freedom to pull a tune out of the air that seems to fit our particular group.
Maybe some of each?
Jennie
The new information on this year’s classes hasn’t yet been posted. But you can contact Judy Knorr, who’s been helpful with my questions:
She’ll surely respond with more information if you ask her specifics.
Jennie
I don’t know how much help it’ll be, but here’s the page from last year:
http://www.augustaheritage.com/irish.html
HTH.
New product from Lesl Harker!
The-300-tunes-from-Mike-Rafferty-Ouija Board.
This parlour game is not only entertaining but also useful. It is perfect for the workshop attendee who absolutely cannot wait until the event to find out what tunes Mike will teach.
It consists of a laminated sheet upon which are miniaturised copies of the tunes in two arcs of 150 tunes each, and one triangular Ouija Paddle.
Instructions for use:
1- Gather together as many workshop hopefuls as you can find.
2- All join hands around the board with the most Advanced Student’s hands on the Paddle.
3- While chanting the name of the workshop you wish to attend (or your favorite reel (not too fast or Mike will be displeased)), the Advanced Student will pass the paddle over the arc of the tunes noting where it sticks while attempting to channel Mike.
4.- Accumulate as many tunes as you can practice (or until you get a migraine).
Guaranteed fun for the whole fluting family!
(My Dear Husband wrote this.)
ROTL!!!
Quite possibly the funniest thing I’ve read in years! Please forward pricing info to Nelson 
Good for you - you are gonna have fun.
Based on past experience, I would say that Mike is working on a list of “suspects” for teaching. He will accumulate tunes he considers worthy over the next few months by playing them onto a tape that he will bring with him. He will review the tape as the day draws near and boil down a selection in his mind. The tunes will rarely have names, and will not be written down, as Mike does not read music. So, the likelyhood of getting any advance useful info is pretty slim.
And speaking of reading music, please don’t bring Lesl’s book into class and wave it in Mike’s face for any purpose other than collecting an autograph. As I mentioned, Mike does not read music, and I think sometimes he is embarrased by this.
Mike is very fond of Lesl, very happy about the book (his daughter Mary does read music and probably has vouched for the quality of Lesl’s transcriptions - I know I can) but cannot read a note himself. Please be sensitive to that.
Have a great time,
Tom
Seriously though I know the feeling of wanting a head start on the tunes. He’s told me he knows its harder when you have never heard the tune before. I too have been in classes where I needed more “repeats” than the other students.
I’ve never been told the details of how Mike comes up with the tunes for the summer classes, other than that about a week before the event I’ve heard “must decide on which tunes to bring on tape”. And rarely will you have a tune title to go on ahead of time - he doesn’t pay much heed to the names. I did mention this situation last week, if that is any consolation.
One thing I’ve noticed is that the more tunes you play the more “words” your fingers learn - note combinations. These note combinations tend to resurface in other tunes. So if you can manage to listen to a lot of Mike-tunes on his cds and try out the fingerings, it will improve your learning ability.
As for the book, if you sight-read, play the tunes in the book onto a tape, and then learn them by ear off your tape. You want to get the sound of the notes to connect with what finger goes where, rather than the long road, which is to connect your eye to seeing a symbol which then goes to your fingers. This is not meant to go to the ear vs dots discussion - it’s just a way you can prepare for Mike classes.
Last resort, use ouiji board..
Also, anyone can write to Mike via the Rafferty website at www.raffertymusic.com.
We should all strive to be so functionally illiterate!