Hey Terri, Great story, how's things keeping up there in Buffaloe? From what I've heard ( and read in the "murder spoons") your friend was quite lucky to end...
Many thanks for all of your thoughtful responses. I've been a musician my whole life, in various styles and capacities, but I've only recently discovered how...
Hi Michael, And welcome to the group! Why do melody musicians cringe at the sight of bones or spoons? Below are two reasons. My explanation is brief, but I...
Hi Scott, Thanks for your reply. Regarding the point that percussionists who don't know what they are doing wreck the image of percussionists everywhere, I can...
Scott, that's a good overview of the problem! I must say that what's worse than a novice making a bad racket, is when a real pro does it (plays REALLY loud,...
... Hi Steve- Did I forget to mention that the girl was VERY attractive? That could go as long way in explaining the tolerance of the Natives I'd think. I...
Hey Michael, Scott, Terresa, Jennifer, Mike and all involved in this lively discussion. Michael you know I recently learned that the session it's self is...
just to clarify! First let me just say that my remarks refer to Ireland, not the US. My image is more like bodhran players hanging over the edge of the cliff...
mmercier@...
Feb 2, 2006 8:39 am
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Hey Mel, thanks so much for clarifying that for us. It's really good to hear your opinion about something many of us western percussionists don't understand,...
Insightful discussion. Thank you all very much. Keep it coming. From Mel: " ...sessions are complex social phenomena. In Ireland they are now the engine room...
Hi I'm a novice bones player and I'm going to Abbeyfeale for the festival and bones competition in May (as an observer only). From the sounds of the...
Hi Gail, As you probably know I've been to Abbeyfeale three times and played at a few sessions there. I have had some exceptional times, and some not so good ...
Hi Gail, You'll get plenty of bones-playing opportunities at Abbeyfeale! Steve Brown is your best source of insider knowledge on the Abbeyfeale bone scene! Mel...
mmercier@...
Feb 3, 2006 10:16 am
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Thanks Mel and Steve for your encouraging words. I'll try to contact some people over there first. Gail...
Hi Gail, It's great to see another new member to the group! I think it's fairly safe to say you are the envy of everyone on this list. Enjoy your stay in...
HI Steve, I do remember Mr. Cremation being in the crowd and being somewhat interested if not perplexed. Possibly because he had never seen really good Bones...
Another thing: People think percussion instruments are easy to play. Does anyone ever grab the fiddle out of the fiddler's arms and yell "I can do that!"?...
Damn, this is good! I will chime in here with a quick personal account: Three months ago I went to Ireland for the first time. I have been a bones player for...
Just wondering what other hand percussion other bones players might be trying along with the bones. For the last year I've been challenged by the "Kashakas" a...
Hi Bob, Great question about the other hand. I've never played anything as exotic as Kashakas, but I do like to mix and match other stuff with bones. Inspired...
... I've tried shaker in the off hand before. I got the idea from George Marshall of Wild Asparagus. He played bones in one hand and a can shaker in the...
Hi Scott An alternative that you might like to try is to use a short tippin (stick)
in one hand and two or three bones grasped nearer the top (like a bundle)...
Greetings Jack, Thank you for your wonderfully descriptive explanation of how to play bones with a stick - in the bodhran style! As luck would have it, I have...
... I've done that myself, and gotten strange looks from people at stoplights. I do try to avoid playing bones while drinking coffee and talking on my cell...
My experience of playing in Irealand is the complete opposite. I've played in Dublin, Cork, Mayo and been made welcome everywhere. My experiences have been...
Where might iI get a good set of bones and info for playing. I play guitar, mostly country blues , some ragtime and so on. I'd like to try my hand/s at bones...
I'm just a two handed bones man. Occasional spoons though I usually play these on their own. ... [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]...
... I remember Percy Danforth always advocated learning to play with both hands right from the start, so there would be no such thing as an "off hand." I only...