Bodhrán for Beginners
Bodhrán for Beginners will focus on the way traditional music has been learned for millennia. That is, we’ll study the instrument by ear more than by text.
A great way to begin is to view History of the Bodhran by percussionist, composer and filmmaker Ruairi Glasheen
This four-part series will inspire you and introduce many players, builders, and the history of the bodhran. The nearly two-hour series is beautifully filmed. Well worth your time.
A great way to begin is to view History of the Bodhran by percussionist, composer and filmmaker Ruairi Glasheen
This four-part series will inspire you and introduce many players, builders, and the history of the bodhran. The nearly two-hour series is beautifully filmed. Well worth your time.
Here's an inspirational, 14-minute film about the bodhran maker Christian Hedwischak. His bodhrans are widely respected. It's an interesting look at how bodhrans are made and a close look at a master builder.
To augment and support class time I’ve posted a series of short videos describing how to play the bodhrán. Watch these and then practice. And . . . . . absolutely sign the 20-Hour Pledge.
Use these links to begin mastering the bodhrán
Use these links to begin mastering the bodhrán
- Noteworthy Performances - NOT fancy - just excellent work!
Rules of the Bodhrán for Beginners Class
1. Practice
2. Patience
3. Persistence
4. Forgiveness
You're going to make a lot of mistakes. A LOT!
That's a necessary part of learning.
Go all in for the 20-Hour Pledge before you even think about quitting!!!
2. Patience
3. Persistence
4. Forgiveness
You're going to make a lot of mistakes. A LOT!
That's a necessary part of learning.
Go all in for the 20-Hour Pledge before you even think about quitting!!!
How To Practice
Whispher
Concertina master Jack Talty has a helpful approach to practice. He calls it "whisper". Here's how it works
Warm up
Play any tune that comes to mind. Just get your muscles warmed up and the brain thinking about music.
Have a goal
It's great fun to just play music. However, all of us have limited time for practice. So, set a modest goal to address during the practice session. Don't set out to learn a tune during a single practice session. Learn a phrase of the tune or perhaps a part of a tune. Keep the goal modest.
Identify problems
All of us stumble over a passage or a technique or a few awkward notes. Identify those trouble spots and concentrate the practice session on improving your performance in those parts.
Slow Down
ALWAYS practice at a slow tempo until you have mastered a tune or a passage. Then gradually increase the tempo to reach a performance speed. Don't rush to play fast. Learn a tune correctly. If you push the tempo too soon you'll just learn mistakes. Time taken slow will be rewarded with precise performance at fast tempos.
Patience
Focus on the process of mastering a tune. Getting your hands and mind to internalize a tune or technique requires time and repetition. Give yourself the time to learn. That's where patience comes in. Set MODEST goals for a practice session. Go slowly toward meeting those goals.
Enjoy
Structure your practice session with a modest goal, a realistic goal. If you feel you've made progress toward the goal, your confidence will increase and you will enjoy the work of learning a tune or technique. Set yourself up for success. It can be helpful to end a practice session by playing a tune you known well. Think of it as the "cool down" part of the practice session. Doing this reminds you how much you love the music and enjoy playing your instrument.
Record Yourself
It's very difficult to hear your own performance in real time. Recording your practice performance is key to identifying and addressing problems. Record with the metronome playing so that you can verify that your rhythm is synchronized with the beat.
Warm up
Play any tune that comes to mind. Just get your muscles warmed up and the brain thinking about music.
Have a goal
It's great fun to just play music. However, all of us have limited time for practice. So, set a modest goal to address during the practice session. Don't set out to learn a tune during a single practice session. Learn a phrase of the tune or perhaps a part of a tune. Keep the goal modest.
Identify problems
All of us stumble over a passage or a technique or a few awkward notes. Identify those trouble spots and concentrate the practice session on improving your performance in those parts.
Slow Down
ALWAYS practice at a slow tempo until you have mastered a tune or a passage. Then gradually increase the tempo to reach a performance speed. Don't rush to play fast. Learn a tune correctly. If you push the tempo too soon you'll just learn mistakes. Time taken slow will be rewarded with precise performance at fast tempos.
Patience
Focus on the process of mastering a tune. Getting your hands and mind to internalize a tune or technique requires time and repetition. Give yourself the time to learn. That's where patience comes in. Set MODEST goals for a practice session. Go slowly toward meeting those goals.
Enjoy
Structure your practice session with a modest goal, a realistic goal. If you feel you've made progress toward the goal, your confidence will increase and you will enjoy the work of learning a tune or technique. Set yourself up for success. It can be helpful to end a practice session by playing a tune you known well. Think of it as the "cool down" part of the practice session. Doing this reminds you how much you love the music and enjoy playing your instrument.
Record Yourself
It's very difficult to hear your own performance in real time. Recording your practice performance is key to identifying and addressing problems. Record with the metronome playing so that you can verify that your rhythm is synchronized with the beat.