A while back I think someone asked on the message board if there existed a “whistle camp.” Or maybe that was me, anyway, I don’t think anyone answered. They have camps for just about anything…such as cheerleading, chess and who knows what else; well why not whistling? i was thinking that it would be a great for whistlers of beginner and intermediate levels to have an intensive week of whistle/irish trad- especially for those like me who do not have any whistle teachers in the area. It would be excellent to have structured classes during the day on whistle, music, ornamentation, irish trad music history etc. At night we could have drinking/jam sessions. Does something like this already exist? If not, dale could organize it because he has so much free time on his hands 
sounds like fun…
i am sure we could get enough people interested, but we have to find experts willing to run it.
Cramer, they do exist! This summer, a group organized an Irish music camp here in Abbotsford, BC, and one of the options was whistle. The name of the whistle instructor was published, but I can’t remember who it was. Check out the link below for contact info and a general description. Hey, if I could make it out to QC this summer to visit you, I’m certain you could come out my way next summer to visit me!
Jef
http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/063102/showtime/063102en1.html
Is the BC camp on for 2003?
I’ve been to innumerable camps for music. Augusta Heritage Arts has always been my favourite. They certainly offer whistle during Irish week. Swannanoa is fun too but I like just having one main class rather than attending several each day. It’s nice to have a whole camp dedicated to one instrument too. The one I’ve been to was a weekend banjo camp.
Steve
do these camps allow you to focus on whistle or a particular instrument? or do you do a little of everything? i would prefer an intensive whistle week, but the other stuff could be a blast too. does anyone know of anything closer to the east coast?
There are two workshop places on the East Coast. One in Boston and one in the Catskills. I can’t remember the names but someone else will. The Augusta (Augusta Heritage Arts) is in West Virgina. Not too far from the East Coast. Jay Unger runs a workshop in New York, not too far from NYC but I’m not sure they have anything specifically Irish. That one is called Ashokan.
Steve
I have spent much time attending and instructing at hammer dulcimer gatherings, in many states up and down the eastern seaboard… They can be wonderful experiences. I find one problem with all of them. While beginning and intermediate players are covered with classes and activities, truly experienced players are ignored. As if experienced players somehow leave their desire to ‘learn’, at the door…On whistle, I am a definite ‘intermediate’, but I would hope experienced players would be included, by providing upper level courses for them. Please allow them to be participants in the formal learning that always takes place at an instrumental festival. Simply my .02…
Best.
Byll
Jay Ungar’s camp has a week of Celtic stuff, I think, but they don’t teach whistle. Perhaps I can do something about that.
Gaelic Roots at Boston College always has a wonderful whistle class (or two or three). I got to be in Joanie Madden’s class and it was wonderful. The next year they had Geraldine Cotter teaching whistle. Very cool.
Jessie
i suppose if i were more “advanced” in whistle-playing my knowledge of irish trade and music as a whole, i could imagine organizing something - but at this point i wouldn’t know where to start.
it would be cool to have a chiff and fipple whistle camp once a year for a week. maybe we could convince mary bergin or joanie madden to stop by.
On 2002-10-22 12:29, JessieK wrote:
Jay Ungar’s camp has a week of Celtic stuff, I think, but they don’t teach whistle. Perhaps I can do something about that. >
I looked up Ashokan. They don’t have a definite schedule for 2003 yet but they have swing, southern and northern weeks. Northern is New England, Quebec, and stuff like that. Also Scandanavian. No Irish or whistle mentioned.
http://www.ashokan.org/ashokan/camp.shtml
Steve
On 2002-10-22 12:24, SteveK wrote:
There are two workshop places on the East Coast. One in Boston and one in the Catskills.
The one in the Catskills is called “Catskills Irish Arts Week” and is held in East Durham.
The one at Boston College is called Gaelic Roots. Here is the link for 2003.
The one in the Catskills has advanced ( intermediate is OK) classes taught by Mary Bergin. You can go for less than a day if you want. I live close enough that I went for one day a few years back. Mary teaches a different type of tune each day: I was there for jig day. Basically, she teaches several tunes over the course of the day, and in the process you learn some ornamentation, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and learned a LOT, even in the short time. Maybe we could organize a small C&F gathering there…
i would love to take a class with mary bergin but alas i am still a beginner! i remember reading that last year and being dissapointed that there was only advanced and intermediate.
On 2002-10-23 08:28, brewerpaul wrote:
You can go for less than a day if you want.
I believe that they changed this policy and now you must sign up for the week. It made too much confusion with people who had signed up for the week dealing with the same questions every day from people just walking in.
Here are some links:
East Durham (Irish Arts)
http://www.east-durham.org/page1.html
Boston College (Irish Roots)
http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/irish/gr.html
Elkins, West Virginia (Augusta)
http://www.augustaheritage.com/
All of them change a bit from year to year as far as levels of classes offered and who teaches what. There seems to almost always be a class suitable for intermediate whistlers. Have fun deciding!
Heather M.
Also, the 2003 CCE annual convention will take place in Boston. Here is a link to some information.
http://www.comhaltasboston.org/CCE2003.html
Not much on there yet, but I would imagine they will continue to update it as more information becomes available- and it does list a couple of contact numbers.
Tom
joanie madden is teaching intermediate and advanced classes at the gaelic roots summer class at BC. and i saw that kevin crawford is teaching flute. i hope i can make it!
I’ve attended the E. Durham, NY week for the past 3 years. It’s mid-July. Mary’s class is great for intermediate to advanced (use your own definitions) who learn well by ear. There are also beginning and intermediate classes taught by such as Frank Claudy, Brendan Dolan, Tom McHale and others.
Also all levels of almost all other IrTrad instruments.
Last year’s faculty included Mary Bergin, Tommy Peoples, Paul McGrattan, John Skelton, John Brennen, Joe McKenna, Antoinette McKenna, Paddy O’Brien, etc. etc.
Concert every evening by the faculty. Afternoon student sessions, evening sessions where some of the faculty participates each night, more sessions to the wee hours. Then you get 4 hours sleep and start again. Terrific fun especially if you enjoy a “total immersion” week into Irish trad music.
Heather gave the link for info.
Can’t comment on the other festivals.
Bruce
Why are they all back East…why? why? 
Susan (crying in her Diet Coke)