HELP!!! New to the Uilleann

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hey folks,

For a few years I have made a few vain attempts to learn the Uilleann pipes. I started learning the Highland pipes in hope to change to Uilleann once I got the hang of it. Then someone stopped me and told me that was the wrong way to go. Last year I had the pleasure of speaking to Bill Ochs, who recommended me to pick up the tin whistle (D) and then once through the fingering and such, cross over to the Uilleann. Well, I purchased a whistle, and proceded to get very sidetracked. Before I dive in at a new attempt of getting the ball rolling, I have a few questions:

  1. Is there anyone in the Connecticut area that can help me out (teach, advise, talk) on either the whistle and/or the Uilleann?

  2. Are there any instructors in the Connecticut area who has a moment in their schedule for me?

  3. Is there anything I can do for myself, by myself without learning any bad habits, usual mistakes.

  4. Is there anyone playing Uilleann locally to revive my motivation?

  5. Is there anything I am missing?

ANY HELP would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Michael
BruRmMike@beer.com

PS. Yes, I brew beer for Bru Rm @ BAR, New Haven.

2

David Power is located in Rumson, NJ. He’s doing a variety of instruction. You might be able to plug into one of his teaching weekends - home or away. 732-291-5217

3

How far from NY are you in CT?

Jerry O’Sullivan (and Isaac Aldersen maybe as well) are in Yonkers which is relatively close to south-west CT. Also, there are occaisonal Uilleann piping workshops in the Irish Arts center and in fact the next one is on May 2nd. There is usually a beginner class. Also, in East Durham in July there is a week long set of classes during Irish Week. One final note, the Long Island Uilleann piper’s club occaisionally has a workshop in Nassau county that may be reasonble driving distance, and if you are in eastern CT, and don’t mind paying for the ferry from Bridgport, we have monthly lessons with Ivan Goff a bit south and east of Port jeff, but I would imagine that Yonkers would be more economical.

Neil

4

http://www.shamrockirishmusic.org/id111.htm
This is the Milford Connecticut Comhaltas site

http://blarneystone.com/comhaltas/
This is the website for the Connecticut/W. Mass. Comhaltas chapter.

http://www.comhaltasboston.org/ is the Boston Chapter.


They Should be able to help you find a teacher.

5

fan-freakin’-tastic! thank you so very much! maybe i wasn’t using the right search terms, but i couldn’t find any pipering connections on L.I. when i looked.

walt

6

Dude, you have a picture of my C set as your avatar. It’s, like, freakin’ me out. As if the set is sneaking off to New York while I’m away at work. :stuck_out_tongue:

7

heehee! :smiley: must confess: i “borrowed” that photo from Seth Gallagher’s site. i just think it’s a dead lovely photo (and as many know now, i have no such set yet to take pictures of myself)…

i envy you your C set. :slight_smile: