Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni

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Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni

05 Feb 02 - 02:35 PM (#643218)
Subject: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Jeanie

Forgive me if I'm telling you something you all know about already, but it was news to me: an article in the paper today about England's first BMus degree in Traditional and Folk Music at Newcastle University, which had its first intake of students for 2001-2002.

You can read all about it on their website: www.ncl.ac.uk/music/folk.htm

One of the tutors on the course is Madeleine the Rag Doll from "Bagpuss". Really.

I was wondering if any of you have any connections with this course - it looks very good.

- Jeanie

05 Feb 02 - 02:46 PM (#643225)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: GUEST

And antifolk degrees can be gotten at The Fort @ Sidewalk in NYC.

Long live Lach & the Moldy Peaches!

05 Feb 02 - 02:47 PM (#643226)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: MMario

previous thread

and another

for your perusal.

05 Feb 02 - 02:54 PM (#643236)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: GUEST,Antifolk & Riot Grrl

Well, its not like its the only friggin place in the world to study trad music. Ye can get the courses on-line nowadays besides--U of Wisconsin has a distance ed one. There is Scoiltrad. Deres all sorts of higgledy piggledy places to go runnin around playin to your hearts content, and for gods sake nobody *needs* a bloody degree in folk music!

Though I think the degree in chant from U Limerick would rock, exceptin for the hole of a place that Limerick is, of course.

05 Feb 02 - 04:19 PM (#643308)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: GUEST,The Too Late Baby from the Carole King Web R

ELLISON TO GRADS: DIPLOMAS ARE FOR LOSERS Oracle CEO Urges Students to Drop out, Start up

NEW HAVEN, CONN. (SatireWire.com) — In one of the more controversial commencement addresses in memory, Oracle CEO and college dropout Larry Ellison told Yale's Class of 2000 they were "losers" whose hard-won diplomas would never propel them into the ranks of the super rich.

The evangelical Ellison, noting that college dropouts Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Michael Dell were, like himself, on Forbes' recent top 10 list of billionaires, urged freshmen and sophomores at the ceremony to "drop out and start up," and added that the undereducated Yale security guards who ushered him off stage probably had a better shot at uber-wealth than graduating seniors.

What follows is a transcript of the speech delivered by Ellison at the Yale University last month:

"Graduates of Yale University, I apologize if you have endured this type of prologue before, but I want you to do something for me. Please, take a good look around you. Look at the classmate on your left. Look at the classmate on your right. Now, consider this: five years from now, 10 years from now, even 30 thirty years from now, odds are the person on your left is going to be a loser. The person on your right, meanwhile, will also be a loser. And you, in the middle? What can you expect? Loser. Loserhood. Loser Cum Laude.

"In fact, as I look out before me today, I don't see a thousand hopes for a bright tomorrow. I don't see a thousand future leaders in a thousand industries. I see a thousand losers.

"You're upset. That's understandable. After all, how can I, Lawrence 'Larry' Ellison, college dropout, have the audacity to spout such heresy to the graduating class of one of the nation's most prestigious institutions? I'll tell you why. Because I, Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, second richest man on the planet, am a college dropout, and you are not.

"Because Bill Gates, richest man on the planet -- for now, anyway -- is a college dropout, and you are not.

"Because Paul Allen, the third richest man on the planet, dropped out of college, and you did not.

"And for good measure, because Michael Dell, No. 9 on the list and moving up fast, is a college dropout, and you, yet again, are not.

"Hmm... you're very upset. That's understandable. So let me stroke your egos for a moment by pointing out, quite sincerely, that your diplomas were not attained in vain. Most of you, I imagine, have spent four to five years here, and in many ways what you've learned and endured will serve you well in the years ahead. You've established good work habits. You've established a network of people that will help you down the road. And you've established what will be lifelong relationships with the word 'therapy.' All that of is good. For in truth, you will need that network. You will need those strong work habits. You will need that therapy.

"You will need them because you didn't drop out, and so you will never be among the richest people in the world. Oh sure, you may, perhaps, work your way up to No. 10 or No. 11, like Steve Ballmer. But then, I don't have to tell you who he really works for, do I? And for the record, he dropped out of grad school. Bit of a late bloomer.

"Finally, I realize that many of you, and hopefully by now most of you, are wondering, 'Is there anything I can do? Is there any hope for me at all?' Actually, no. It's too late. You've absorbed too much, think you know too much. You're not 19 anymore. You have a built-in cap, and I'm not referring to the mortar boards on your heads.

"Hmm... you're really very upset. That's understandable. So perhaps this would be a good time to bring up the silver lining. Not for you, Class of '00. You are a write-off, so I'll let you slink off to your pathetic $200,000-a-year jobs, where your checks will be signed by former classmates who dropped out two years ago.

"Instead, I want to give hope to any underclassmen here today. I say to you, and I can't stress this enough: leave. Pack your things and your ideas and don't come back. Drop out. Start up.

"For I can tell you that a cap and gown will keep you down just as suredly as these security guards dragging me off this stage are keeping me dow..."

05 Feb 02 - 06:35 PM (#643379)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: GUEST

Gaelic Music Course: Background Information An Duilleag Seo 'sa Ghàidhlig

Now in the second half of our successful first year, the Diploma in Gaelic Language and Music is ready to begin setting its sights on 2001-2002. We currently have 14 students on our National Certificate (NC) programme from as nearby as the neighbouring island to as far away as Oregon and Boulder, USA. These 'pioneers' have helped us fine-tune our ground-breaking curriculum which takes an integrative, community-based approach to the language and traditional music of the Scottish Gaeltachd. With our first public concert just behind us now, there is no doubt as to their progress as instrumentalists, arrangers, and singers. It was fantastic to see how much they have all developed!

If you are interested in this kind of course, which provides expert music and language tuition on Uist, a Gaelic-speaking group of islands famous for its bards, pipers, and singers, please read on. Below, you will find a summary of the course and the highlights of each subject area.

Course Brief The Diploma in Gaelic Language and Music is designed to focus on the skills that have played a part in the traditional Hebridean cèilidh—an informal house gathering where friends and family would take part in stories, songs, dance, and music. The cèilidh as a cultural institution is now, sadly, mostly a thing of the past, but the language, folklore and music of the islands continue to live on. The Diploma in Gaelic Language and Music is committed to passing on these traditions through a teaching staff made up of native tradition bearers, expert language teachers, and world-class traditional musicians. This Uist-based core group is complemented by four visiting lecturers throughout the year.

Course Highlights: Music Private tuition by recognised professional musicians on pipes, flute, fiddle, whistle, accordion, and bouzouki Digital recording studio Arranging classes and ensemble work Background and history of traditional music Music theory: how to read music; how to use chords; composition Scottish step dance Marketing and promoting workshops

Gaelic Song Taught by native Uist tradition bearers A wide range of song types including waulking songs, port-a-beul (mouth music), ancient ballads, local songs, and laments Background and history Development of Gaelic proficiency through song Song arrangement and instrumental backing

Gaelic Language Combined instruction by qualified teacher native to Uist and postgraduate linguists Focus on natural, spoken Gaelic as used in the community Language lab facilities Fluent speakers follow individual programme in oral tradition collecting, research and performance Language learning grounded on folklore, oral history and traditions of the Uists Accommodation available in Gaelic-speaking community

Return to Home Page

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05 Feb 02 - 07:04 PM (#643406)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Catherine Jayne

Jez here on frineds cookie!!

Jeanie, I will be doing the folk degree at newcastle uni in a year and a bits time. I'm taking time off at the mo after having done two years of french and spanish at northumbria uni. Can't wait to go back up and take part. Loads of my friends are on the course like Ian Stephenson and Sophie Ball. They're really enjoying it.

05 Feb 02 - 09:16 PM (#643470)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Malcolm Douglas

The point about the Newcastle course is that it is -at present- the only first-degree course available in folk music in England. I think most of us know that such courses have been available elsewhere for rather longer, in countries which take a greater pride in their native traditions; diploma courses are another matter, and far less hard to find. Sheffield University has for some time offered postgraduate degree courses in traditional music (tailored to whatever tradition the student wishes to specialise in) and will, as of this autumn, be offering a first-degree course also. Diploma courses are already available at at least two Yorkshire colleges.

Comments from American singer-songwriters, particularly of the aggressive anti-intellectual kind like "Antifolk" and the invert-snob article copy-and-pasted above (Ellison to Grads) by somebody or other, are probably not relevant to this particular discussion, but I suppose we have to bear in mind that their understanding of folk music is likely to be rather different from ours, being perhaps less involved in continuing tradition and more preoccupied with personal expression and what is or is not fashionable.

10 Feb 02 - 09:08 PM (#646966)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Mr Red

I met a chap who will be on the next course.
If he is representative of the calibre (& I have every confidence)I think we will be in for an upsurge of interest among the next generations.
He sees it as an ideal route to teaching music.

11 Feb 02 - 05:38 AM (#647160)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Sonnet

Jezebel,

You'll have a great time up there. You know my daughter, Rachael (fiddle player: friend of Penny's) who's already on the course. Good luck and enjoy.

11 Feb 02 - 08:35 AM (#647208)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: GUEST,English Jon

Actually, you've been able to Ethnomusicology at Goldsmiths for years.

It's shit though.

11 Feb 02 - 08:35 AM (#647209)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: artbrooks

Malcolm Douglas: I agree with your comments, but please consider that people that you refer to may be our friend ANON.GUEST trying to turn another interesting thread into pure crap.
I believe that any route taken that brings one to an appreciation of folk/traditional music is valuable.

11 Feb 02 - 09:40 AM (#647243)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Ritchie

Living in the North East as I do , it's great for the area and what with the new Music Centre opening up soonish all we've got to do now is convince local radio to play music other than either chart stuff or the likes of Abba and we've cracked it !

power to the people ...love Ritchie.

14 Feb 02 - 08:00 AM (#649841)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: GUEST,Ian Stephenson with no cookie..

Hello all.

Sat in Newcastle uni computer room now. The degree course is fantastic. We're all going to Denmark in April to a conference about traditional arts and education, meeting up with students from similar courses from sweden, norway, ireland and denmark!
ian s.

14 Feb 02 - 02:06 PM (#650093)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: JeZeBeL

Sonnet : hello there. Yes I do know your daughter..can't remember which festival from though...and penny who always sits on her accordion!! Memories!!

Hello Ian!! Going to look for swedish lasses again I take it???? :0)

Emma xxx

14 Feb 02 - 05:08 PM (#650239)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Bearheart

Thanks for posting this, good to see that England's catching up, and on, to the importance of this. Ian, sounds like a blast! Maybe when I retire... Do they plan summer programs for furriners???

15 Feb 02 - 05:00 PM (#651074)
Subject: RE: Folk Music Degree - Newcastle Uni
From: Mr Red

Did any 'catters catch Sandra Kerr on the BBC? I spoke to her at Cheltenham FF about the uni course, it was very encouraging. If only I was at under grad age (or rich), if only I had learned a musical instrument,
Oh well it is the university of Life and School of Hard Knocks for me, and the lecture hall of the Prince Albert, Stroud, any Mon night.