Does NPU atcually train you how to teach? Teaching pipes is something I want to do down the line. Would love to look into that when I've finished my other degrees (and by then I should be nearly good enough ).
That's very cool, if it is indeed the case. Certainly you can pick up a lot of stuff by watching or listening to someone really good play. But if you're in a class, I think you should have a little more focus than just watching a dude play tunes. If that guy can also teach, the class will be infinitely better. In my experience, the best tionol teachers I've had aren't even too bothered or overwhelmed by having people of widely varying abilities in the class and can make it work for everyone.
TheSilverSpear wrote: In my experience, the best tionol teachers I've had aren't even too bothered or overwhelmed by having people of widely varying abilities in the class and can make it work for everyone.
Agreed. An important thing to remember (especially for newcomers) is that you're likely not going to retain everything you'll be taught in any class (the exceptions being recorded classes and phonographic memories). If you come away from a class with one or two "new" ideas about your piping, then you have covered a great distance toward bettering your playing. Sometimes just listening to the wisdom, anecdotes and thoughts of each instructor can be more educational than actually learning a tune, note for note.
I was listening to the Pogues album "Rum , Sodomy and the Lash" today and heard some Uilleann Pipe accompanyment in there (dirty old town).
Turns out Tommy Keane was the piper on the album- adds an interesting dimension to the Tionol this year as he is one of the instructors.
I'll bet he has a story or two to tell about that!
Personnel
Shane MacGowan – vocals
Spider Stacy – tin whistle
James Fearnley – accordion
Jem Finer – banjo
Cait O'Riordan – bass
Andrew Ranken – drums
Philip Chevron – guitar
[edit]
Additional personnel
Henry Benagh – fiddle
Dick Cuthell – horn
Tommy Keane – uilleann pipes
Kerryman wrote:I was listening to the Pogues album "Rum , Sodomy and the Lash" today and heard some Uilleann Pipe accompanyment in there (dirty old town).
Turns out Tommy Keane was the piper on the album- adds an interesting dimension to the Tionol this year as he is one of the instructors.
I'll bet he has a story or two to tell about that!
Personnel
Shane MacGowan – vocals
Spider Stacy – tin whistle
James Fearnley – accordion
Jem Finer – banjo
Cait O'Riordan – bass
Andrew Ranken – drums
Philip Chevron – guitar
[edit]
Additional personnel
Henry Benagh – fiddle
Dick Cuthell – horn
Tommy Keane – uilleann pipes
Tommy did stage work with them too. I'm not sure that extended beyond London gigs but ask him about that. It's a different world from traditional Irish music venues/pubs!
I'll be here in Chicago this weekend but may venture out to Detroit for Paddy Keenan. We'll definitely be organizing something for the spring - pipes, workshop, etc.
Yep...fleet day/week for sure. Those carriers are big but smaller than you'd thnk they should be. Blue Angels were a bit of a bore this year. Tionol may have been a better event!
Great job opportunity at UCSF. Negotiations to begin soon.
). 
