Excellent point regarding the gracing etc.
Now, this may be possibly the worst example I could put forward and there's
no subconscious at work here but if we see clowns at a circus falling all
over the place, we tend to forget that they are all highly skilled
performers who have mastered an art (otherwise they would be seriously
injured).
There's a big difference to a master who has added something that's not
quite what was expected and a beginner doing stuff out of ignorance.
We mustn't put them both together, I think.
The academics here will be able to spot the difference easily whilst the
enthusiasts will go more for the sound whilst missing the technical bit.
I'm with the latter. I love listening to the Clough way of playing (as in
Chris O., for example) but I also love Billy's way of playing and it was his
last TV appearance on the Corries TV show in 1968 - whilst Billy was in
hospital - and do excuse my use of first name only, I never knew him but
felt I should have! - that made me aware of the pipes in the first place
(yes, Bill Charlton's Fancy). Alas that VCRs weren't around then but I do
have it on reel-to-reel tape somewhere.
Really must find it and copy to a CD before it's lost forever.
I also like KTs playing when done in the style I'm more used to.
Let's face it, the problem we've been discussing is all down to the fact
that the reporter had probably never heard the pipes played before.
We must get out more! :-)
Colin Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry Say" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 7:38 PM
Subject: [NSP] Kathryn Tickell - Pipes Teacher.
Hi All,
I have been waiting for an opportune moment to write this posting for
several
years. I think this is an appropriate time, before answering some of
Anthony
Robb's points, particularly the points concerning Kathryn
Kathryn was a tutor at the Forkworks Adult Winter Workout held at
Darlington in
I believe, 1995. I attended this weekend course and subsequently she
organized
a series of classes privately, which were carried out in groups of three
or
four. These I attended and paid for.
I cannot fault her skill as a teacher, and if I did not derive maximum
benefit
from the the experience then the failing was mine. However, I learned that
her
playing is based on a very sound basis of clean fingering, all the
gracings are
studied and balanced. I adopted some of the gracings in my own playing.
More importantly, I took away from the series of lessons the a greater
ability
to listen critically to my own playing, and the ability to liten 'faster',
hearing greater detail in music. This I think was actually more important
than
anything I learned about piping technique and I remain grateful.
Barry
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