Alison's Bodhran Practice CD

Subject: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:24 AM

this came up in another thread but I thought I'd mention it in a new one...

a bit of shameless self promotion coming up........you've been warned... *grin*

many students at my workshops asked if I could recommend CDs to practice with..... but most Irish CDs are too fast for beginners, so
I have done a CD of slow sets, specifically aimed at bodhran players but any melody instrument could play along.

the CD covers the basics of how to play Irish rhythms, and then gives a few tunes sets for each style.....

you can find out more at my site

so if you know of anyone starting out on bodhran........

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:39 AM

Tried 3 times, couldn't get in. Maybe too busy??

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 10:48 AM

bugger


try going in through the main page sorcha

look for workshops

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Alice
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 12:19 PM

Very Cool, alison! Thanks for the link. By the way, from your workshop CD page the link to "home" doesn't work. I added a link to your page to the Tutorials links at www.thesession.org.

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: artbrooks
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 07:49 PM

Took me forever to load your page...I guess electrons take a while to get from here to there and back again. The price for your CD is listed as $20...I assume that's $20 Australian? That seems to convert to about $11 US...what would shipping be? Or am I totally confused (wouldn't be the first time.)

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Áine
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 07:56 PM

Hey girl -- that's fantastic!! Be looking for my nickels & dimes to be showin' up in the post ;-)

Maith thú a stór!!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 08:56 PM

thanks everyone

just checked up on Australia post,

postage (air mail) & packaging, to the UK or US is $10 (Australian)

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: artbrooks
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 08:57 PM

So $30 AUS would be right?

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 11:48 PM

Alison, cool website! Way to go, ye girl ye!
If I find any beginning bodhranistas on my travels, I'll direct 'em your way.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 12:23 AM

yep that'd be right Art (inside Oz it works out at $24).... thanks Seamus

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 11:39 PM

Oh, thank goodness! When I saw the title, I thought it was an entire CD of alison practicing the bodhran...Not that there would be anything wrong with that, of course, it's just...um....well...

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: GUEST,tipper gore
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 08:21 AM

Neat stuff Alison. I have in the past prepared something similar for my classes, but more based on recordings of players to give hints about different styles and idiosyncracies. I have used perhaps 16 different players including John-Joe Kelly (Flook), Ringo MacDonagh (De Danann), Kevin Conneff (Chieftains) to name a few. Seems to be a crop of fine players in Scotland particularly. Have you heard of Mark Maguire (Deaf Shepherd), Marc Duff (Capercailie), Mark Dunlop (Malinky), Martin O'Neill (Brolum), James Bremner (Daimh)? Scotland's the place to be for bodhranistas, although Ireland seems to be where they make the best drums. Good luck, Tipper.

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: artbrooks
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 03:33 PM

I have had no luck in finding some way to send $AUS off to OZ. My bank offered to get me a certified check, but wanted to charge $25 US for it. Alison, do you have a way to cash/exchange a payment made in $US?

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 04:11 PM

What a neat idea, Alison! I'll have to make sure my sister sees this as she took a class in tin whistle last year and I'll bet she and her teacher would both find this useful.

I have about 3 other CD's on my list, so will have to work my way to it, but I definitely will be sending for this one, too.

Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 04:24 PM

Can you quote me a quantity discount in US dollars for a package to send me? I am starting some beginners on fiddle tunes and this sounds like a MUST for them. Thinking about a dozen.

~S~

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Alice
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 04:46 PM

Alison, what is the best way to pay in US? Personal check, money order...? Can you set up a free account at PAY PAL that we can use? www.paypal.com
I've used Pay pal to buy and to sell and find it works well.

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 11:13 PM

I'll look into paypal and see how it works....... I could say send me a cheque in US dollars but then they hit me with the exchange at this end....... I'll look into it

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 02:40 AM

OK I have set up a paypal account, you can now order online here

that should make it a bit easier....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Alice
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 07:13 AM

US $18 through Pay Pal, thanks, Alison, that does make it easier.

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: artbrooks
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 08:39 AM

Paypal on the way. Thanks Alison!!

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: GUEST,Jiggers
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 02:44 PM

Thats a good way to do it - makes it very easy.

I think I will buy.

Jiggers

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Cappuccino
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 02:54 PM

Mmm. Nice site!

- Ian B

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: jimmyt
Date: 14 Oct 02 - 03:07 PM

Alison, sent my paypal, and am waiting by the post box, Bodhran poised! Jimmyt

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: Alice
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 11:27 AM

I received my copy of Alison's CD for bodhran practice last week, put it in the CD drive to just have a quick listen, and found that I had to get the drum out because it was so compelling to play along. I listened to the end, delighted with the easy and uncomplicated way Alison introduced each rhythm pattern with her own sense of fun and humor. I've watched instruction videos for the bodhran that were much less helpful than this simple CD of rhythm mnemonics and tunes. The pace of the tunes is slow enough for any beginner to follow on the drum or other instrument, but fast enough to be fun. Hornpipes are particularly fun to play with, I think, and now I will smile and always hear Alison's voice saying six times "juicy mango" then "big ice cream". A fun and very practical CD, thanks Alison.

Alice Flynn

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 08:53 PM

thanks for the kind words Alice, I wanted it to be fun..... have any of the rest of you got yours yet?


slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: jimmyt
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 03:45 PM

Alison, I just got mine over the weekend, and did the same as Alice! I went straight home from the Poast oddice and got the Borhran out! We were supposed to be somewhere, and I was almost late because I wanted to get some of the various forms in my head! Could you expound a bit on the proper way of holding the instrument as well as the tipper? Hate to be dumb, but it's not like I can run down to the pub and see one of these being played! In fact,I have told about 10 people about the disc and every single one said "instructional CD for WHAT?" Thanks, Jim   PS The CD is terrific!

Subject: RE: Alison's Bodhran Practice CD
From: alison
Date: 21 Oct 02 - 11:14 PM

OK Jimmy, I'll send you a workshop flyer,

there are many different ways to hold the tipper and play, this is how I teach it.....


assuming you are right handed (if not reverse the next bit)

HOW TO HOLD THE BODHRAN

1.        Sit up straight.
2.        Relax arms and shoulders and let wrist go floppy.
3.        Hold bodhran vertically, (left hand under one of the crosspieces(if you have any) and resting on skin at top of drum.)
4.        Put drum under armpit, resting on left thigh and use forearm to hold against ribcage.
5.        Turn left hand so only side of thumb is touching the top of the skin.

HOW TO HOLD THE STICK

1.        Hold as if you were holding a pencil, but about 1/2 way along, with the point facing you. It is sometimes helpful to put an elastic band around the tipper. (so it doesn't slip out of your hand)
2.        Imagine the skin is a clock face.
3.        Starting with stick horizontal. Use point of stick to hit the skin going down between 7 & 8 o'clock. Stick should finish at 6 o'clock. (movemnt is like shaking an old mercury thermometer)
4.        Starting with stick vertical. Reverse the movement bringing the stick upwards to end at 9 o'clock.
5.        Keep stick parallel to the skin.

once you get the hang of it, you can move the tipper about all over the skin.

slainte

alison