Bodhrán
CD Rom Tutorial - Frank Torpey
 One
CD ROM - no accompanying written material
Purchased
from from Mad For Trad
€39 (£27 / $47.50 approx)
Published
2001
MFT007
Mad For Trad Ltd
No
catalogue reference but my version has a backward barcode (?)
This review
assumes that players are right-handed - left handed players should reverse
any references.
The
package
A
single CD-ROM presented in a clear jewel case. The back cover of the case
gives the chapter details plus some details on Frank Torpey and Mad for
Trad. The liner notes consist of technical specs and instructions, the inside
of the liner is blank. The CD is professionally on-body printed in 3 colours.
A neat professional package.
Lesson
delivery method
This
CD-ROM tutorial is HTML based, i.e. it is constructed like a website, the
CD automatically opens to the introduction page and subsequent pages lead
off that. The tutorial is broken into beginners and advanced sections which
in turn are broken down into bite size component parts. Each pattern is
illustrated with an MPEG1 video.
Using
the Tutorial
The
second line of the written introduction reads "If you don't read
music you can learn how to in the ‘Reading Music’ section"
- those words are enough to strike fear into the hearts of budding bodhráni
everywhere. Several years ago before I learned to read even such simple
scores I would have avoided anything which required any kind of reading
skills. Being a little braver and better skilled now, I do have to say that
it is not necessary to read music to learn from this tutorial, however an
ability to do so will greatly enhance your learning experience and the speed
of your progress.
The
tutorial takes the form of a structured path through the basic introduction
to the bodhrán starting with basic jig and reel patterns. The Kerry
style is the only one employed in this tutorial.
Starting with playing simple quarter notes, each pattern or variation is
discussed and displayed in musical notation.
There
is a 'view video' button beside each pattern which will open a new
webpage containing a quick time movie (Still frame left) where Frank demonstrates
the pattern being played. As you move through the sections you will see
a small inset window showing Frank's left hand movements. Being able to
see both hands in sync is an excellent learning feature. At the end of each
page past the basic introduction Frank demonstrates the patterns on that
page while accompanied by his sister Marie on fiddle.
The
CD is split into 4 sections
-
About
-
music
theory- (3 pages) the rhythmic side of the theory is dealt with in
a straightforward and easy to swallow manner but there is a lot of
melodic theory which is not relevant here. I suspect that this section
is standard across the range of Mad For Trad Cds. What is useful is
the definitions of the main rhythm types viz jigs, reels, slip jigs,
double jigs, slide jigs
-
Parts
list - explaining the names of the different bits of the drum
-
How
to hold - short section explaining how to hold the  Tipper and the
drum for playing includes basic left hand positioning
-
How
to hit - short section on the right hand striking motion
- Beginner
- Introduction
to Jigs
- Introduction
to Reels
- Reels
with ornamentation, including introduction to triplets & use of
the left hand (4 pages)
- Jigs with
ornamentation Including triplets and left hand instruction (2 pages)
- Advanced
- Advanced
Reels 1(5 pages) - motor rhythms, triplets, tone shifting, rolls
- Advanced
Jigs 1 - Syncopation
- Advanced
Jigs 2 (3 pages) accents, tone bending and ornamentation
- Advanced
reels 2 (3 pages) accents, tone bending and ornamentation
- Tutor
- Section on Frank Torpey - A selection of 1-2 minute video clips taken
from an interview with Frank. The titles are perhaps a little 'contrived'
and I'd probably have preferred to have watched the whole interview.
- Getting
Started
- Memories
of Learning
- Did it
come naturally?
- Early
influences
- Most important
- Playing
Career
- 1 piece
of advice
- Common
Mistakes
- Performance
- Excellent 3 minute solo by Frank
So, what did
I think?
As a tutorial,
this covers all the bases to get you started and well-down the road to competence
although more advanced players may find it not going far enough. I find Frank's
style of (narrative) tutorial to be very accessible, certainly his introduction
to holding the drum and preparing to play will be very useful for beginning
players and there are also useful wee thoughts in the introductory sections
for those of us with a year or two of playing under our belts.
Coming from the
University College in Cork, the 'Mad For Trad' series was always going to
have an element of formal written notation, I understand that it's impossible
to avoid, however my experience of most beginner players of any instrument
is that they will rarely have experience of reading notation, finding it a
scary barrier rather than an assistance.
If learning from
notation, the act of viewing the score as well as hearing the pattern to me
is a must. At first I found not being able to see the score and the video
at the same time a mild irritation, but I knew what was going on so it wasn't
too much of a pain. As I progressed toward (for me) more advanced patterns
I found this separation very frustrating. AFAIK it is fairly straightforward
to embed Quicktime movies in a webpage and that would make a big difference
for me and I'm sure others, even an MP3 available to play the pattern as the
reader follows the score would be most useful. Perhaps if the patterns could
be reproduced on the blank inner liner. This is offered as constructive feedback
to what I view as my main difficulty with the resource
While Frank prescribes
rhythms for you to follow in the tutorial I would take these really as good
examples and practise demonstrating the myriad voices of the instrument. I
have come away from using the tutorial with many ideas and several clear areas
of my playing that I see as needing attention. For me the CD achieved its
desired aim.
Value for
money
In my opinion
the Cd represents just Ok value for money but is pushing the threshold for
me given that there are only 26 HTML pages, there is no supplementary documentation
and it has the the video-on-a-separate-page annoying thing. I can't help compare
this product to other
recently reviewed media (non-bodhrán, book-based 6 cds) and its
either telling me that this is expensive or the other is cheap. Whilst I understand
about the technological differences between the media and the costs of production
etc I feel that the proper value to me as a consumer would be less than the
price paid. Of course if you compare this to a series of personal lessons
then it is very cheap.
Am I glad
I bought it?
Yes!
Would I recommend
it?
Yes if you are
a beginning or progressing player. If you are already an accomplished player
you may find some useful tips tricks and ideas but I suspect its usefulness
could be limited for you.
I'm obviously
a progressing player then :)
Nice one Frank!
Reviewed by
Paul Marshall (December 2003)
About Frank
Torpey (Copied from the CD ) 
Frank Torpey
began his studies in the Music Department at University College Cork as a
banjo player. He subsequently, on hearing Mel Mercier, became interested in
developments in bodhrán playing and chose the bodhrán as his
first instrument. In 1991 Frank was a founding member of the highly successful
traditional music group Nomos and he co-produced their two acclaimed albums
for Grapevine Records.
Frank's innovative
bodhrán style has gained him widespread recognition throughout the
traditional music world. He has played with Riverdance, Michéal Ó
Súilleabháin, Luka Bloom and the Brendan Power Band. He has
recorded with Alan Stivell and Mel Mercier, with Donal Lunny and Michéal
Ó Súilleabháin on their 'River of Sound' composition
for the T.V. series and CD, and on the T.V. series Sult. Frank co-produced
the debut album by Cork band North Cregg (Best Newcomers of the Year, 2000:
Irish Music Magazine).
Frank became
the Bodhrán tutor at U.C.C. in 1992 and has since taught on the Masters
Degree in Traditional Music Performance at the University of Limerick, and
at the Summer School 'Blas', also held on that campus. Frank has taught bodhrán
across the United States, in Australia, Germany, Austria, France, Scotland,
and England.
|
Reviews 
