Hello Kevin - I heartily encourage you to come to OTW for the whole festival. In addition to several hours a day of instruction tailored to beginners with Mike Gilpin, Cali and Alden teach hurdy-gurdy maintenance every morning, which is an essential skill to have if you're going to own one of the little darlings. The lack of your own instrument is not an obstacle if you contact the staff?in advance and let them know that you'll need a loaner instrument (contact Joanne at 253-838-2045 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Also, you may find a used instrument for sale that you want to buy, or can discuss a possible new instrument order with Cali and Alden, especially for a Chinook or Orca (which have short turnaround times and pricing that is better suited to beginners). (Alternately, you might want to look into the Phoenix model by Helmut Gotschy, www.gotschy.com, which is another fast turnaround, low price, good quality instrument for a beginning-to-intermediate player).
Besides, the community is great, the food is terrific...a very nice time. Besides, it's the best thing you can do for yourself as a wannabe player itching to get started -- OTW will get you launched. Incidentally, Roz and I will be there again this year. Mitch Gordon Guerneville, California, US p.s. I believe that Early Bird pricing for the festival ends at the end of this week, so if you're going, you might want to register now and save some money. -----Original Message----- From: Kevin M <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 9:03 am Subject: [HG] self-intro hello Hurdy Gurdists! ? as a new HG list subscriber, i thought i should introduce myself.? my name's Kevin Millard, i'm a 39-year-old Seattle musician who has yet to get his hands on a hurdy-gurdy.? (i play mostly bass guitar, and also 2-handed tapping instruments such as the Chapman Stick/Warr Guitar.) ? i've been in love with H-G's - their timbres, the buzzing bridge, the kinds of music they're often used in - for several years now.? i suppose the watershed moment for me was when a friend lent me her CD of Hurdy-Gurdy's "Prototyp."? haven't been the same since.? (i'm not much of a traditionalist, if you haven't guessed by now.) ? i'd like to get to the Over the Water Festival this September - it's really criminal that i haven't made it yet, it's so close - for at least the Saturday night concerts & dance.? i'm considering doing the whole festival, but without an instrument nor any lessons yet, i'm not sure that would be the best way to jump in.? (comments?) ? any Seattle area players, especially teachers, please do give me a shout directly! ? cheers all, ? Kevin. Get more from your digital life. Find out how. =
