Well, I think maybe we have all been here before.
I got to thinking this morning on the way into work how the roughly $1300 Im going to spend on a week in Ireland being taught by Kevin Crawford/Niall Keegan and all at Tradweek in Ennis, Clare could also be spent on a nice new flute…or a starter set of pipes.
Tell me not to even think about it, to just go to Ireland and soak it all up. Please hurry though, cause you can see how this could get out of hand…
C’mon, Eric; you can’t take it with you, so you might as well spend it on quality!
Flutes come and go, but a week in Ireland with the right people will last you a lifetime.
I once drove 8 hours roundtrip for a 4-hour workshop with Catherine McEvoy in New York City. That was in 1997, and I’m still learning stuff from the tape I made that day, and those four hours changed my life (well, musically at least!).
If you have money to spend, my philosphy is that it’s usually better spent on experiences than on acquisitions.
I’m with Brad and the rest: If I were in your postion (had the money in the bank), I’d be off to this thing like greased lightning - Experiences like those are priceless indeed.
Safe travels!
Loren
Don`t you dare buy another flute Eric. God, I would give my right arm , er make that my big toe to have a chance like that. I live in a flute void with no teacher, no other flute players, (except David, hows that Hammy comin along?) and no hope of ever attending a gathering like you will experience. Drink it in Eric. You will never regret it.
Tom
Definitely worth it. I agree with all the above.
Finally we have to learn how to
play these instruments. Please tell us
about it when you return.
Well someone has to take the other side! 
No, cancel the trip immediatelly. What you need is a new flute! If you get an Olwell, you will start sounding like Matt Molloy, women will throw themselves at your feet, and men will throw sackfulls of money at you.
(This really should have been a poll!)
Well, now that you put it that way, a new flute doesn’t
sound half bad… Women falling at my feet, eh?
I like that!
Do both! Go to Ireland now, because that opportunity may not happen again. And then while you’re absorbing all the wonderful things you learned…and fascinating women with tales of the time you spent in the “real” Ireland…you can be saving your pennies for a flute to do justice to your newly acquired prowess (not to mention understanding of exactly what you want in a flute).
Or, while your over there try out some flutes
Tom
Yes, yes, both!
Well, my mind’s made up. Although I HAVE been wanted a Bb, and Eb, and another D, the Ormiston is a mighty flute and I love her, but I love my wife even more so I will pass on the woman falling at my feet. Shortly after making my post this afternoon, I was telling a friend at work about the trip, and he said the same: “GO!” and between that and actually describing the event (see www.tradweek.com) I thought to me self,
“self, what in the heck are you thinking? Go to Ennis, Co. Clare! and see the place that Irtrad is made of!”
and so once again I am thinking clearly! Now, I cant wait because I get to take lessons from Mr. John Skelton this weekend, not to mention meet Kieren O’Hare, his wife Liz Knowles, and Mr. Cillian Vallely from Lunasa too over in Gainesville.
Hmm…that experiance alone will get my hyped for Clare!
thanks!
Okay Eric, here’s the skinny:
1.) Go to Ireland. Don’t forget your tape recorder.
2.) While you’re over there, buy a new Hamilton 6-key.
3.) Seeing as how you’re going to be in Clare anyways, head over to Miltown Malbay. Use your powers of mind control to convince Geoff Wooff to make you a narrow-bore full set in B and let you miraculously skip the 14 year waiting list.
3.) Rent a car. Take a ferry over to Brittany and buy a small cottage. I hear there are some pretty good deals over there on old fixer-upper places.
4.) Drive down to Morocco for a bit of sun. I mean, you’ve flown across the Atlantic and everything; you might as well check out Morocco while you’re over there.
This may have something to do with the fact that I’ve got pipes and flutes on the brain and possibly graduate school on the horizon, but the way I see it is if you’re going to do something silly and go into debt, you might as well make the most of it.
Have a good trip!
-CD