Thanks for the kind words, chantyranger & Mick (the checks are in the mail to both of you). And Rick, drumming with you truly was a great high for me, but dearie, aren't you worried about damaging your credibility by referring to a bodhran player as a "musician"? :o)

Rusty, for what it's worth I'll pass along some great advice I got when I started out. I was taught Kerry style first (which Mick plays very well). It's a hard-driving, very resonant style which can provide a great backbone for certain kinds of tunes. I think players get in trouble when they learn *only* that style, and then try to use it for everything.

The advice I got from Chris Caswell was to play Kerry for a full year without a beater, so you develop flexibility in your wrist and learn to exaggerate the motion (sort of like the "wax-on...wax-off" principle in Karate Kid). Then when your hand, arm and shoulder are so used to the style that you could do it in your sleep, pick up a heavy beater and (here's the important part) hold it *lightly*. Let your shoulder and the weight of the beater do most of the work for you, and muscle memory will do the rest. The beater becomes an extension of the back of your finger, and you won't have to backslap anymore for doubling, you can learn to double over with your beater.

I'm so glad that I started that way, it gave me a sense of energy and swing that is great to mix in with other styles, or to use on it's own when appropriate. After a year or so playing Kerry I started working with another GREAT bodhran player in San Francisco, Cormack Gannon. He has a style that's clean and elegant, but very rhythmic. He asked me to show him how I would play a polka Kerry, and when I did he asked me a pivotal question (in his sweet Irish accent) "Sure, dear, but why would you want to work that hard?"

It was the first step toward learning a much more subtle, delicate and intricate style that works really well for a variety of tunes. Listen to the drumming in Nomos, DeDanann, Orla & the Gasmen, you'll see what I mean.

One last thing, when you get your drum, get yourself a few great CD's and plan regular sesiuns at home for yourself, just you and the music. Pour yourself a pint, put on a group that makes you want to move, and REALLY WORK IT. It's a great way to pick up little riffs, figure out your own style, and make most of your mistakes in private before sitting in on live sesiuns. My favorites in the beginning were Solas, Orla & the Gasmen and Live at Matt Molloy's. It's also great to pick up a CD of single instruments (whistle, bagpipes, fiddle) playing tunes so that you can refine your playing one-on-one.

Best of luck to you Rusty, I hope you have great fun!

PJ