Ok, I am just starting to get into the Tin Whistle and was wondering if there are any classes taught in the DC area?
Thanks
Liam: I used to live in both Silver Spring and Gaithersburg. While living in Gaithersburg I wanted to take up the tinwhistle, (this was a couple of years ago.) At that time, I couldn’t find anything in Maryland, but I did find lessons at the John Wood Center in Fairfax, VA. They were taught by Betsy O’Malley. She is a wonderful person. Betsy used to teach both a Beginner’s and an intermediate class. I am not certain about the status any longer, but if you go this link, you should be able to find out. http://www.angelfire.com/va/traditionalmusic/index.html
All the best, Tom
I don’t know about classes, but Wendy Morrison gives whistle lessons. You can find her contact info at the House of Musical Traditions, http://www.hmtrad.com . If she’s booked up, they probably have other teachers if you call them.
On 2002-10-07 14:58, chas wrote:
I don’t know about classes, but Wendy Morrison gives whistle lessons. You can find her contact info at the House of Musical Traditions, > http://www.hmtrad.com > . If she’s booked up, they probably have other teachers if you call them.
I just rec’d the following notice of a class/workshop by Wendy at Lady of the Creek.
Dear musician,
I’m pleased to be able to offer a pair of whistle workshops led by Wendy Morrison, a most excellent musician and teacher from the DC area. She will lead two Irish whistle workshops on Oct. 26–a morning one for beginners and one in the afternoon for intermediate to advanced players.
Each workshop is 3 hours long. Cost of $50 for either or $75 for both–a bargain for an instructor of this quality. Your registration includes drinks and snacks.
The workshop will be at Lady of the Creek, my place near Gettysburg. See the web site for more information.
As always, if you have any questions, just ask.
Marguerite Plank
http://www.ladyofthecreek.com
717-334-5392
BTW the LOC workshop is on the MD/PA border about 45 minutes drive north of Silver Spring.
Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to attend the LOCreek workshop. I’m booked to be at the Baltimore Folk Music Society’s - Catoctin Music and Dance Weekend up in the woods of Catoctin park, on the same weekend.
Rob Greenway runs an Irish](http://www.geocities.com/feadanach/%3EIrish) Flute Site. I’ve seen him play whistle and flute at Nanny OBrians and other sesions around DC. I also know that he teaches flute. If he doesn’t teach whistle too, I’m sure he’d let you know who would be available.
If you send me an e-mail at the address below , I could give you some additional source for learning in the DC area.
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-10-07 15:27 ]
Liam: As an added thought, if you are into the Irish dancing at all, if you see that the BogWonders Ceili Band is playing, Betsy would be the person playing the banjo on most tunes, whistle on a few.
Betsy O’Malley is really sweet. I also was once told that Karen Ashbrook teaches whistle. She is well more well known for her dulcimer playing, but also plays flute at sessions at Nanny’s.
Good luck!
Heather M.
Betsey recently sent me this:
After procrastinating for way too long this month I’ve finally firmed up what I’ll
offer at the Wood Center. Starting Oct. 12th I’ll give a basic beginners’ whistle
class at 10AM. (If you know of anyone for this, send them my way!) Then from 11AM to
1PM I’m facilitating a free Repertoire Group in which we’ll focus on collecting
currently used Bogwanderers’ Ceili Band tunes - as well as some others that are handy
at Nanny’s or the Royal Mile sessions.
She’s a nice teacher. I always found a group lesson to be less intimidating than a private lesson, but Betsey will also do private lessons if you’re interested.
Her lessons have the advantage that as you improve you can move over into the Sat. morning session at the Woods Center, and then eventually, to the new Sunday afternoon session in Leesburg. I speak from experience when I say the classes and sessions are very friendly and accomodating towards mediocre musicians 
And as you can see from above, Betsey is going to teach a repetoire class focusing on the Bogwanderer’s tunes, which are now available on the Nova Irish Session home page thanks to Jos & Jo Hindricks, who transcribed some 200 tunes.
– Scott T.
Scott,
Betsey’s beginners’ class sounds exactly what I am looking for. Would it be possible to provide me more info?
–
Bill
P.S. Sorry I meant to use my name in the initial post, but I thought it was in my sig…
[quote]
On 2002-10-07 14:48, TomB wrote:
…At that time, I couldn’t find anything in Maryland, but I did find lessons at the John Wood Center in Fairfax, VA. They were taught by Betsy O’Malley. She is a wonderful person. Betsy used to teach both a Beginner’s and an intermediate class. I am not certain about the status any longer, but if you go this link, you should be able to find out. http://www.angelfire.com/va/traditionalmusic/index.html
All the best, Tom
Liam: If you go to the link listed above, and then click on “musician resources” you will see Betsey’s phone number listed about 2/3’s of the way down the page.
I would definitely call her. She is really a very nice person and a patient teacher.
All the Best, Tom
Thanks Tom and everyone who helped. I am fortunate to live near DC and Baltimore, both of which have fairly active Irish communities so I figured there would be something out there.
–
Bill
Bill: You are most welcome. You’re right, there is a very active community around you. If you are interested in getting into the Irish dance thing, either Step or Set/Ceili, let me know and I can point you in the right direction- although you probably wouldn’t need help finding that around your area, it is pretty much everywhere.
Best of Luck, Tom
On 2002-10-07 17:15, Liam wrote:
Betsey’s beginners’ class sounds exactly what I am looking for. Would it be possible to provide me more info?
Sure, what do you want to know? Also, there’s this:
Irish Music Lessons
Fall Session: Saturdays October 5 - November 2
Back by popular demand, the Baltimore Irish Arts Center is once again
offering small group classes in Traditional Irish Music by some of
the best and most accomplished musicians around. There will be four
1 and ½ hour long classes on Saturday mornings and early
afternoons.Students will also participate in a recital at the November Emerald
Isle Ceili. Classes will be held in a social setting in the Bolton
Hill area of Baltimore.Beginning and Intermediate/advanced classes will be offered in the
following:
Banjo/Mandolin: Peter Fitzgerald
Bodhran: Myron Bretholz
Button Accordion: Billy and Sean McComiskey
Fiddle: Jimmy Egan
Guitar/Bouzouki: Andy Thurston
Piano: Donna Long
TinWhistle/Flute: Laura Byrne
Uilleann Pipes: Eliot GrassoTuition for all 6 hours of classes is $85 if registered by 9/27 ($95
after)For more information or to register call Laura at 410-254-2546 or 410-
340-2490 or email lqbyrne@y…
Scott