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No musical experience is necessary!
Lessons offered for all ages, although minimum recommended age is 7.
Lessons available for complete beginners to advanced players, except where
noted.
Lessons available in the Orlando, FL area:
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Tin Whistle |
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The tin whistle (or penny
whistle) is a simple, inexpensive instrument capable of wonderful
expression in the hands of a practiced player. It produces one of
the hallmark sounds of Irish music and is an integral part of the Irish
music tradition. Costing around $10, it is the perfect instrument for
beginners, children and adults alike. A tin whistle in the key of
'D' is the type used for Irish traditional music, although most keys are
available. |
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Flute |
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The Irish wooden flute is simply
the orchestral flute of 18th & 19th century Europe and is usually made
of African blackwood or rosewood. Flutes may have up to 8 keys, but
many of the modern replicas tend to be keyless. Although the Boehm system
silver flute is typically seen in orchestras and
bands today, the wooden six-holed flute has been retained as the
instrument of choice for Irish traditional players. Considerably
more expensive than the tin whistle (beginner instruments start at around
$600), the two instruments share the same fingering and similar
technique. Also pitched in the key of 'D', the wooden flute plays an
octave below the tin whistle. |
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Bodhrán
(bow-rawn) |
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The bodhrán is probably one of the most recognized
instruments used in Irish traditional music. Played with a
double-headed beater or "tipper", the bodhrán is a frame drum
that is used to accompany Irish traditional music. In the hands of a
skilled player, the bodhran can provide lovely rhythmic
accompaniment. However, please BEWARE! An unskilled player is sure
to wreck any Irish session and invite livid irritation and disdain on the
part of the players he or she is attempting to accompany. A decent
beginner's bodhran can be purchased for around $60. |
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Guitar (DADGAD tuning) |
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The guitar has been used to
accompany Irish traditional music since the 1960's. However, many
Irish players prefer DADGAD tuning to the "standard" Spanish
EADGBE tuning. Because Irish music is centered around instruments
that play easily in the key of D, DADGAD tuning provides a more
appropriate sound for accompaniment. DADGAD guitar lessons for
beginners only. |
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Repertoire Building |
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Irish traditional music is
composed mainly of reels (4/4 time), jigs (6/8 time), hornpipes (4/4
time), slip jigs (9/8 time), polkas (2/2 time), slides (12/8 time) and
airs (free time). Unfortunately, no matter how many tunes a player
has in his or her arsenal, there never seem to be enough! Lessons in
repertoire building focus on learning tunes by ear and acquiring a
stockpile of popular session tunes. |
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Irish traditional music has a centuries-old
history and continues to flourish today, both in Ireland and America. Respect for that
tradition is a primary goal for all lessons. Through most of its
history, Irish music has been an aural tradition, passed from generation
to generation by ear. Its transmission by musical notation (notes on
a staff) is a fairly modern phenomenon. Many legends of Irish
traditional music don't even read music! The ability to play Irish
tunes from printed music does not equate with playing Irish traditional music
in an authentic style. The subtleties, nuances, rhythmic variation,
ornamentation and playing styles that make Irish traditional music so
wonderful and vibrant cannot be conveyed through printed music
alone. For this reason, lessons focus on learning tunes "by
ear" and written music is used in a supplementary, though still very
important, capacity. |
Rates:
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single lesson |
pre-pay for 4 lessons
($5 off per lesson) |
| 1/2 hour lesson |
$25 |
$80 |
| 45 minute lesson |
$30 |
$100 |
| 1 hour lesson |
$35 |
$120 |
| 1 hour lesson in your home |
$40 |
$140 |
Paying for a 4 lesson block equates to paying
for monthly lessons.
However, you do not have to take the lessons during successive
weeks.
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