Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 07:28 AM

Yes Al, I sometimes get paid to go away!

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: TheSnail
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 07:46 AM

weelittledrummer

Yes and I think Snail if you read my posts you will find that they aren't actually contradictory.

It must just be me. I expect everybody else can see it.

Traditional music is a good idea - someone should try it. preferably in a style that doesn't insult your intelligence.

When were you last in a traditional club WLD? Come and see us sometime.

And, yes, if you heard Richard sing, you'd drop all this crap instantly.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 08:47 AM

Snail, who are you? PM me - I'm sure no-one ought to put me forward as a singer's singer, and I need all the flattery I can get!

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 09:51 AM

I'm not enjoying the best of health at the moment Snail, but thankyou for your kind invitation to Lewes. I would love to come to your club. And I'm sure I'd appreciate the music there; I usually do most places. Maybe some point down the line.

Just from your posts Richard, I can tell you put more thought and imagination into what you do, than most. That sort of committment is always worth a listen.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 03:22 PM

I am happy to be able to report, having checked, that it wasn't me after all. Grin!

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: TheSnail
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 04:45 PM

After a private exchange, I can confirm that the person pointed out to me as Richard Bridge was, in fact, an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSON. Whoever he is, he is a living demonstration that there are some bloody good "traditional" singers around despite the pathetic image that WLD paints. For the time being I will have to take it on trust that the real Richard Bridge is just as good. I hope to hear you sometime, Richard.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Trainer54
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 03:46 AM

Getting back to point, I'd like to know why Acorn54 asked the original question. If s/he would care to PM me, I'd be interested to know.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: GUEST,The Ballad of The Bold Researcher
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 12:49 PM

"Only three people understood the Schleswig-Holstein Question. The first was Albert, the Prince consort and he is dead; the second is a German professor, and he is in an asylum: and the third was myself - and I have forgotten it." - Lord Palmerston



Happy Guy Fawkes Day! :-)

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: GUEST,Guest Oak
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 04:52 AM

Three students (out of 18 I believe)have now left the first year of the course 2007-2008. It does seem a fairly high attrition rate. How does it compare with other degrees, music degrees etc. Does anyone know?

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 05:30 AM

Since you are not sure how many students are on the course it is a bit hard to tell.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 06:24 AM

The sample is statistically insignificant anyway, so you can't compare.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 06:34 AM

"Does anyone know?"

As a percentage it may seem high, but with such a specific degree there will inevitably be people who find it's not for them. Three students from a single cohort doesn't seem that high - when I was teaching at uni the first years - across all the humanities disciplines - were dropping like flies.

When I was at a uni the first time round, at a theatre conservatoire in the States, we lost 15 out of a cohort of 30 in the first year. Lots of reasons - people decided it wasn't for them, too much pressure, too specialised, and sometimes just sheer bone idleness.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 06:41 AM

Surely the ultimate proof of the value of this degree is the quality of music being produced by the graduates. Have a listen here to two of them and judge for yourselves:
Kathryn Davidson & Dan Walsh

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 07:43 AM

It's not proof as I don't know what they were like before.

I've seen/heard one person before he went on this course and a couple of times (2nd or 3rd year now, I think) since and in the session environment where I've seen him, it's not clear to me by listening what the course has done for him. He was a bloody good player before...

In his case (and I've not had the chance to ask him), the assessment I'd be most interested in is his own. Perhaps some might not regard a student's own assessment, but in terms of what he's gained, I feel it would be more reasonable and accurate than any I'm capable of making by listening.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Banjiman
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 07:49 AM

Guest,Jon See this post for a students own assessment:

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: GUEST,GUEST - folk degree student - PM
Date: 03 Nov 07 - 12:25 PM

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 07:56 AM

Nah, 3 dropouts out of 18 is peanuts.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 08:55 AM

I quite like that Davidson stuff. I don't get English performers doing American material, but the banjo sounds like a musical instrument and that is an improvement on many. I hate pianos but this one is not as bad as many. Nice guitar sound when used. Pleasant vocal quality, could do with a bit more "pressure". Good pitch.

My favourite track would be the unaccompanied one.

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 01:19 PM

'3 dropouts out of 18 is peanuts.'


The 3 (Sam Sweeney, Hazel Askew and Ruth Notman as far as i know) have newly released albums. Their early exits' may owe to this perhaps?

Subject: RE: Newcastle Folk Degree - is it any good?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jan 08 - 01:50 PM

Nothing to do with the course being pants then (which I don't think it is)?