Hi,
Has anyone gone to Grey Larson’s class on ornimentation? He will be in Portland OR. this Saturday. How is it?
I’m signed up for it. I’ll let you know on Sunday.
BTW I purchased one of your creations from Doc Jones today.
A Pratten in Bocote. After much discussion the decision came to bear on quality of workmanship and your flute apparently really delivers the goods in that dept. I’m sure I’ll have a question or two once I receive it later this week.
Oh, I should probably say that I’ve never even touched a flute before, hence, the Grey Larsen workshop. Masochism at it’s finest.
Tim
I dunno about masochism, Tim, but going to an ornamentation workshop when you’ve never played a flute before seems to me a somewhat ballsy thing to do. 
OTOH,
If one is quiet and respectful of the other students, what’s the harm?
It’s never too early to be exposed to the right way to do something
Also . . . the original poster might be a whistler or proficient on another trad instrument, and could therefore derive real benefit from going.
Just speculation on my part.
I took it in ST. Louis a few years ago. Excellent.
Learned a whole lot about ornamentation.
Grey has thought things through pretty deeply.
Bring a whistle too, Smitty; it works for whistle
too and later you can transfer to flute.
I agree with Jim.
No harm, Wormdiet. I just think it’s a ballsy thing to do.
Speaking entirely for myself, I’d prefer to have at least the basics solid before going to a workshop dealing with advanced techniques.
True enough.
Won’t make a single peep.
Except for my elephant balls.
Tim
P.S. I spoke with the person that is hosting the workshop and according to her it would be perfectly fine to bring a whistle. I have touched one or two of those in the past.
Phew, only elephant balls. I was afraid you were going to bring a shakey egg.
re: Larsen’s class
awesome stuff. I sat in several years ago in St. Louis (jim, were you there?? c. 1994-95?), just to see how Grey did it. Wonderful work, very intricate yet accessible. Anyone who wants to know how Molloy and Bergin are doing what they do needs to hear Grey break it down and explain it.
re: Ballsy
seems to me that before anyone learns how to do the fancy shit, they should know how to blow into a flute first, and get good sustainable tone. If I were teaching, I’d be annoyed and insulted. Sorry, but that’s my take.
Far too many people spend far too much time worrying about what their fingers are doing before they can do the most basic thing: get good tone. Way too many flabby lips out there!
My 2cents. I don’t discourage your enthusiasm; just your putting the cart way-way-way before the horse.
Please excuse my crankiness this afternoon; I’ve been up for nearing 60 hrs working on a deadline. I’ll try to keep this short and sweet seeing how it’s only my 3rd post to the board.
All I can say is WOW. So much positive stuff in here. I’m pretty sure that none of you know me and consequently know nothing of my musical background. To those that seem to think that I might ruin the party: your assumptions are pathetic. I certainly wouldn’t want to learn anything by going to the workshop. Wreaking havoc, that’s honestly the only reason I signed up for it; you found me out! After all, everyone knows that the newbs are ALWAYS the inconsiderate ones. Why in the world would I want to go see Grey when there’s so much encouragement and knowledge here; and after only three posts. Hmmmm (scratches head).
I still think I’ll go.
Edit: removed snarkiness.
Unfortunately, you’d be surprised. Some beginners have signed
up for a Novice class and expect to be brought up to speed, thus
annoying the novices. Glad to know you’re not one of those.
Did Avery get a new username? You know that’s against the rules… (just kidding)
Unfortunately, smitty, you have entered the forum after a know-it-all-newbie holocaust so the atmosphere is a little tense and tempers are short with a tendency to overreact. There are more than a few newbs around here who think they know a thing or two because they can waggle their fingers fast and make funky noises that vaguely resemble rolls and crans but with unfocused tone and erratic rhythm.
But you seem humble enough and are just taking advantage of a unique opportunity. Like Wormdiet’s post, at least you’ll get exposed to the right way of doing things.
So don’t trip ony any dismembered pieces of blasted newbies and hopefully you didn’t get sprayed with shrapnel.
Welcome to Chiff & Fipple, Tim
Hmmm… 60 hours is a long time. Still, being cranky is a choice, not a requirement of sleep deprivation.
I’m pretty sure that none of you know me and consequently know nothing of my musical background.
You’re probably right. We most likely know nothing of you or your musical background, which is exactly the point of the previous posts and concerns about a beginner (such as myself) attending an advanced class on ornamentation. Better to get the basics down, at least for me.
To those that seem to think that I might ruin the party: your assumptions are pathetic. I certainly wouldn’t want to learn anything by going to the workshop. Wreaking havoc, that’s honestly the only reason I signed up for it; you found me out! After all, everyone knows that the newbs are ALWAYS the inconsiderate ones. Why in the world would I want to go see Grey when there’s so much encouragement and knowledge here; and after only three posts. Hmmmm (scratches head).
Sounds like more sleep deprivation (at least I hope you’re not like this all the time.) Sarcasm has it’s place, but I’m not sure that it’s here. Especially if you’re planning on asking for help in the future. My experience here (and in most places and circumstances) is that if you’re nice others will be nice too.
I still think I’ll go.
Certainly admirable. I’d go if I were anywhere in the area, but Portland is a loooooong way from San Antonio. I’m not sure that I can make the commute. However, back to the meat of your post. Please go take a nap. Things will likely look better then.
Well, I’m off to don my asbestos undergarments. I’m fairly certain that my remarks won’t go.. er.. unremarked. 
The way Grey approaches and explains ornamentation wouldn’t be a bad thing (IMHO) for a novice to hear and be exposed to.
-brett
Hi,
Just woke up… 
missed all the action! (these pain pills…)
Grey said in his description of the workshop thatt ALL are welcome. He said that you could bring a recorder and use it later on when you are more proficient.
This beating of chests is getting a little tiresome, maybe I will go back to bed…
Tim, look forward to seeing you there, and I will answer all your questions!
chow,
(HANDS ON HIPS, IN HER BEST SOUTHERN MAMA VOICE) Now, y’all … smitty’s a grown-up, let smitty spend smitty’s money the way smitty pleases. However it turns out, it’s part of smitty’s journey in the wonderful world of flute-dom.
Howevvaahh … If smitty returns from said workshop and begins instructing everyone on how to perform the ornamentation in question, then we can enthusiastically overreact all we want.
cat.
P.S. Welcome, Smitty. And the Shakey Egg reference was a carryover joke from earlier threads, BTW. But don’t you dare take one to that workshop. That’s MY instrument. 
Involuntary eye closure is setting in. Little lapses in time. I’m hitting the wall.
My torch is out. No need for fire protection.
I’ve been to bare knuckle fights that were more friendly than some sessions that I’ve had the misfortune to stumble into. Seems they were chocked full of great players. Consideration and respect take many forms and should reside at both ends of the spectrum. Glad to hear about all that have “paid the dues”, but all must’ve been new at one time though.
I wouldn’t dare brag about my musical abilities. Nope, I am too modest for that. But I am very proud of the fact that I was raised to be courteous, respectful and very considerate. Rare things these days, I suppose.
Nonetheless, I’m feeling good here on my fourth post. Many thanks to the encouragers and p**s off to the detractors.
Tim
P.S. He who angers me may control me, but he still angers me