Welcome to the 2024 O'Flaherty's Irish Music Retreat!
It is an honor and a privilege to be working with all y'all this weekend! Thank you so much for making the trek out to this year's retreat.
The purpose of this page is to give you a syllabus of sorts for our nine Core Classes. You will see our plans for each course listed below. In addition, we can use this page as a distribution point for any links or resources that we may bring up in our sessions. Should I neglect to drop something here, please feel free to remind me about it at andy@idchsv.com.
And here's the plan...
Friday, October 25, 2024
Core Class #1- 10:45a
Introduction, Fundamentals, Reel Basics
-Introductions
-Goals for the Weekend
-Overview of and goals for each Core Class
-Remarks regarding audio and video recording
-Fundamentals:
-holding the drum
-holding the tipper
-basic hand positions
-basic tones: open, mute
-Reel Fundamentals:
-What is a reel?
-basic sticking patterns
-adding tones to basic sticking patterns
-sequences with basic patterns
Core Class #2- 1:30p
"Playing the Tune," or
Applying Basic Patterns and Sequences to a Reel
-Review of Basic Patterns and Sequences
-What is "form?" Why is it important?
-What does it mean to "play the tune?"
-applying patterns and sequences to a melody
-the "modular" approach to selecting rhythms in a reel
-apply to The Wind That Shakes the Barley
-apply to an OIMR '24 tune: Bird in the Bush, Banshee
(see whole collection at https://oflahertyretreat.org/documents/tune-books/TuneBookArchives/2024OFlahertyRetreatTunes.pdf)
Core Class #3- 2:45p
Jig Fundamentals
-What is a jig?
-jig form
-basic jig sticking patterns- alternating and "double-down"
-adding voicing to basic sticking patterns
-sequences with basic sticking patterns
Saturday, October 26, 2024
Core Class #4- 10:45a
"Playing the Tune," or
Applying Basic Patterns and Sequences to a Jig
-review of basic jig patterns and sequences
-Review- What does it mean to "play the tune?"
-applying patterns and sequences to a melody
-the "modular" approach to selecting rhythms in a jig
-apply to Tobin's Favourite
-apply to an OIMR '24 tune: The Hag at the Churn, Connaughtman's Rambles
Core Class #5- 1:30p
New Sounds and Techniques- "Pops," Heels, and Slurs
REVIEW:
-Introduction to and explanation of new sounds- "pops," heels, and slurs
-But first, how does a drum work? Why are tension and surface area so important?
-a word about tuning...
-getting the sounds in our hands, defining each sound- open, heel, pop, mute
NEW:
-the slur
1. define levels of heels- low, mid, high
2. cycle through in succession- high, mid, low
3. slur through the tones w/ tap strokes
4. slur through tones w/ down and up strokes
5. Put at the end of a sub-phrase
Core Class #6- 2:45p
Putting Our New Sounds Into Our Basic Patterns- Reels
-review of our palate: open, mute, pop, heel, slur
-putting new tones into basic reel patterns
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Core Class #7- 10:45a
Putting Our New Sounds Into Our Basic Patterns- Jigs
-review of our palate: open, mute, pop, heel, slur
-putting new tones into basic jig patterns
Core Class #8- 1:30p
Other Styles- Polkas & Hornpipes
-What is a polka?
-basic patterns and sequences
-What is a hornpipe?
-basic patterns and sequences
OTHER STUFF:
-talk about drum sizes
-photo/cards/sticker
Core Class #9- 2:45p
Open Discussion/Wrap-Up Session w/ All Bodhrán Players
-w/ Robbie Walsh
-to be held in Coffield Conference Center- Longhorn Room
Workshop- 4:00p (Barn Lobby)
LEGO, Polyrhythms, Timing, and Konnakol
-LEGO as a way to work with rhythm- 2s, 3s, & 4s
-counting using syllables- konnakol
-using LEGO to build different rhythmic groupings- 7s, 6s, 3s, & 5s
-Why is this important? Let me show you some Lost Time...
-contemporary trends and expectations
-Polythythms- The LEGO Wall (Stickers!)
-applications to other trad tunes
Links, Etc.
My other website:
https://www.andykruspebodhran.com/
My Craiceann 2024 Lecture
The Latest Developments in Bodhrán Technique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCBmGunyHno
Photos from Dry Erase Boards:
Other Photos:
Goitse (drummer- Colm Phelan)
Flook (drummer- John Joe Kelly)
Drums/Tippers/Gear
Links from The LEGO Konnakol Rhythms Workshop
Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0OAeJNbIBkc5jqJzsWtu6m?si=OMye4okWRAyMSVWuxVFm9Q
Sheet music for Olive for a Kiss: