Bodhran Lessons Near Me
Taken bodhran lessons is an excellent way to become proficient with this Irish instrument. Played using a stick known as a tipper or cipin, the bodhran produces beautiful rhythms.
The Bodhran is a frame drum played either by hand or stick, featuring dampenable skin which allows players to control its sound.
Amy Richter
Amy Richter has been teaching the bodhran since 2007. She currently teaches for both Irish Fest School of Music and its summer school, as well as participating in workshops both domestically and abroad, such as at Junior Davey Bodhran Academy in County Sligo and Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling Camp in Boulder Creek, California.
As two-time Midwest Fleadh champion and having participated at All Ireland Fleadhs Cheoil na hEireann events in both Letterkenny and Cavan, she has competed at multiple All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann events in both counties. Additionally, she toured extensively across America with various groups, most notably world-renowned traditional supergroup Danu, whom she joined for their Temple Bar TradFest performance televised performance as well as albums Ten Thousand Miles and An Irish Christmas.
She has collaborated with esteemed fiddler Natalie Haas and drummer Nic Gareiss as well as accompanying Riverdance principle dancer Caterina Coyne, while providing private bodhran lessons to all levels and ages of students.
Colin Harte
Colin Harte has extensive knowledge and experience teaching the Irish bodhran. He has taught it to musicians of all ages from four to ninety-four as part of various summer programs and music camps worldwide, and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama’s MusicWorks program.
He currently teaches world music at NYCDOE and CUNY-Music/Irish Studies as well as leading a 60 student West African/Afro-Latin percussion ensemble, while teaching piano and offering ethnomusicological courses.
His bodhran tutoring begins with basic stick and drum handling before progressing to tone manipulation and accompanying jigs and reels, ultimately moving on to more advanced patterns and “fills.” Harte has published articles in several academic journals such as Ethnomusicology Forum, New Hibernia Review and Journal of Historical Research in Music Education as well as authoring An Bodhran: Experimentation and Innovation which explores traditional Irish frame drum.
Brian Fleming
Brian Fleming has been crafting bodhrans for more than four decades and credits quality goatskin with producing its distinctive haunting tone. Furthermore, Brian claims that making bodhrans is an intoxicating spiritual experience.
The Bodhran is a hand-held frame drum used in Irish music as an accompaniment instrument. It can be played either with one’s hands or using a stick called a Cipin, Tipper or Beater stick. Bodhrans are frequently seen accompanying flutes and other instruments in Irish ensemble music pieces.
Bodhrans are very straightforward instruments to learn, yet each bodhran requires its own special playing technique that only evolved since 1950’s.
The bodhran is an essential percussion instrument used in Irish traditional music. Also referred to as the wren drum, traditionally it was played by groups known as “wrenboys” who went house to house entertaining for food or money in exchange.
The Hal Leonard Bodhran Method
The Hal Leonard Bodhran Method is tailored for anyone starting to learn this traditional Irish drum, whether or not they have previous musical experience. Professional bodhran player and educator Amy Richter provides you with all of the knowledge necessary to play this iconic instrument. This softcover book combines clear notation with online video lessons to take you from first strokes to confident session playing. This book comes complete with access to video lessons that demonstrate the techniques described and guides you through classic tunes that you will want to play at your next session! Colin Harte is an NYCDOE music teacher, an instructor of ethnomusicological courses at CUNY-Music/Irish Studies, a professional jazz, Latin and world percussionist as well as authoring the definitive text on bodhrans – plus, has written its definitive ethnomusicological text!
