patsky wrote:The word is going around that the powers that be, at Swannanoah, have been very irritated that some good musicians have come to the campus after the classes are over and dared to play music without signing up for classes. From my own experience I received dirty looks and remarks from management last year even though my wife Cathy was taking lessons.
They also got pissed that Tommy Peoples, Martin Hayes and David
Power, invited me to perform with them at the concert that night even though I was doing it for no fee.
Now the word is that they are going to charge a fee to anyone appearing on campus... it will be $100.00 for a "buddy" pass. This policy will do little but spread bad feelings.
In my opinion this is an injustice and moronic thing to do. Students need to hear good sessions and musicians should be able to play as long as it does not interfere with the programs.
By the way, the pay for teachers at Swannanoah is far from adequate;
downright cheap.
All the best,
Pat Sky
I was a student at this years Celtic week at Swannanoa. I find my experience throughout the week does
not match in any way Pat Sky's assertions.
Swannanoa is not an open Irish festival, its a teaching camp. At the staff concert I wanted to hear the staff, the folks we would be learning from, not outsiders coming in to play with famous players. Staff concerts ran 2 evenings as it was to give all the staff time to perform. Every seat in the auditorium was taken by paying attendees. But the magic of the concert, was these were our teachers, folks that were committed to teaching us how to play. It wasn't a performance, it was an encouragement. An outsider would not have that commitment to sharing the tradition.
I didn't want to "hear good sessions" I wanted to be in good sessions. I came to play until my fingers blead, my wind was spent, my arms lay useless at my side. If an outsider shows up, that's a seat a student can't have. If the outsider came with the true spirit of sharing and teaching the music to others, I would suspect that he or she would be welcome by all, staff and student. If he came to show of his chops, well, I can get that at home in some sessions in DC, or at many Irish Festivals.
I took a week off (The first time in over 10 years) to spend with these excellent musicians. My wife saved for months to give me tuition as an anniversary present and I saved for months to afford the room and board. And I'm supposed to 'appreciate' a local musician filling in who has no commitment to the students, just because he or she plays well?
I did a quick count of costs and I would be suprised if the college made any money on the week. With what they charge, and the services they provide, I am suprised they could get my tuition to stretch that far. Of course an outsider, comming in for just the sessions, wouldn't see those services.
My understanding of the $100 charge was so that non-irish music spouses and family could accompany the student and attend some of the events. The whole concept of the college is about being in residence, staff and students. Again to advance the idea that the music is something folks can share, perhaps finding that this year's "buddy" is next years student, not to make money, but because they got hooked on the music. They were touched, as I was with the genuine spirit of the staff and students to share and build traditions into a new generation. If your wife attended, why couldn't you spare the $100 to support her and freely attend the events?
Pat, your play was not missed, I heard teens and preteens play some fantastic things. I saw old folks, like myself, find that joy in amatuer play. Your comments seem to infer that I missed something because your "Tommy Peoples, Martin Hayes and David Power" caliber of play wasn't there. But it was there, and I saw that confirmed, not in my own judgement; but in the judgement of the staff. I saw a lot of those excelent musician on the staff watch in awe and respect as some of the new players got lost in the music. I didn't see them do this in a class, I saw it in the 1:00 a.m. session on some steps where they were just part of the by standers like me. I also saw the intermediate players who got chances to fill-in on the pick-up sessions, to make the music their own, because those same talented students and staff, asked them to pipe in.
Being a part of the music is not just a commitment to note and beat, its a connection to the players: young and old, beginner and expert, amatuer and professional. The experience isn't only what happens in the classroom, I could have taken classes from world class teachers in DC. Swannanoa is living the music from breakfast until I collapse in bed in the wee hours of the morn. An outsider can't just join in after classes, because the whole experience is the class, there is no after.
Pat, perhaps "dirty looks" and "remarks from management" were because you are a good musician. For you to play and not see the true meaning of the camp, works against the spirit and purpose of the camp, works against what they want to nurture at Swannanoa.
It not good music because of the way it sounds, its good music because of where it comes from.
My week was great, because all the folks were learning to connect to one another and ...