Saving Traditional Instruments

Subject: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: s&r
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 12:18 PM

Just reading about Youth Music's scheme for funding traditional instruments. How exciting I thought. Concertina? Melodeon? etc..
No, bassoon, trombone , double bass .....

So I emailed them at their website to ask about Young Folkies. The email would only be accepted with a (valid) date of birth.

Mind your own bloody business didn't work.

Stu

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: PennyBlack
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 12:47 PM

Stu - come on what date was it on the Julian calendar?

;-)

PB

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 01:53 PM

s&r:
tell us more, sounds intriguing. Can you give a link/reference or something? I'd like to folow this up.

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: PennyBlack
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 02:23 PM

Youth Music Website

there u go

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: s&r
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 02:30 PM

Thanks Pete.

It was August** / **** (prewar dating)

Stu

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: s&r
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 02:41 PM

In all seriousness Youth Music do tremendous work, but in common with much of the music world they are unaware of folk tradions and instruments.

The leaflet I came across was headed "Endangered and protected species" and referred to the falling number of pupils taking up Bassoon Oboe French Horn Trombone Tuba/Euphonium and Double Bass. They are seeking donations/making funding available for these "Endangered Species"

In addition "Protected species" makes cool gigbags available for traditional instruments (I suspect trumpets etc) because the instruments are in poor condition due to the condition of the cases and youngsters are losing street cred by carrying traditional Western instrument cases

Stu

PS I still don't know why they need my age on an email (even though I don't quite qualify for funding from Youth Music

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: sian, west wales
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 04:32 PM

I'll have to look into that.

I understand that somewhere has had funds from Lottery to buy concertinas and re-establish a tradition of playing in the area. Northern England somewhere?

Wales has a traditional instrument society - Clera - which runs workshops 3 or 4 times a year. The last one, in May, had classes in fiddle, harp, triple harp, 'wind', and free reed. The Cerdd Dant Society has a harp 'bank' for kids who can't afford to buy, and I've heard that Gwynedd/Anglesey county music services are buying 20 triple harps for a similar project.

sian

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 04:47 PM

I looked it up but I couldnt find any references to "traditional instruments"; but my cable tv internet access is none too clever. Have I missed something? I found something about endangered species, but not a lot else.

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 05:01 PM

These instruments are considered endangered species because few children/families are willing to invest the time and money they require. As a matter of fact, our local middle school music teacher(grades 5-6) which is where most of our students begin an instrument, refuses to ALLOW anyone to play oboe, bassoon, french horn or tuba. I have two children who play oboe and french horn. I realize these are not folk instruments but they are considered endangered.

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 06:39 PM

Does anyone have any idea whether there are more people playing concertinas and such, than, say, oboes, or the other way round?

Why don't censuses ask interesting questions that would allow answers to queries like that?

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: s&r
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:25 PM

I'm all for financing all aspects of youth music - I'm involved with schools regional music, and folk. I just sometimes feel that folk gets forgotten, or ignored.

We have in our circle of (young) friends many performers; the orchestral ones play in established orchestras (nothing wrong with that). The rock and folk players form bands.

I would extend Kevin's question and ask how many young people are exposed to folk instruments as part of their education. Given the choice and the information it might be that the concertina gets chosen over the oboe

Stu

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: Jen M
Date: 02 Jun 04 - 07:42 PM

We do use folk instruments in elementary music -- largely percussion--and from different cultures. Concertinas and the like are not offered because they aren't found in a marching band, a concert band or an orchestra. Even kids who play guitar are out of the main stream music ed fields--except an occasional electric guitar or bass that can play jazz. Our school just cut funding for the marching band so the parents are left to figure out how to raise 30,000$ -- at least they didn't cut band, chorus, or strings. Unfortunately the budget does not allow for replacement instruments etc. that are needed so again it's back to the parents.

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 03:19 AM

As far as I know, harmonica, accordions, & concertinas were grouped into band in the past: not too sure about how many of those were 'marching bands'...

Robin
I'm very musical: I've got a band around my hat and my feet hum.

Subject: RE: Saving Traditional Instruments
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 03:30 AM

Hey, that's not Rolf Harris, is it? Where's his accordion?