Bodhrán
Basics - Steáfán Hannigan
32
page softback A5 black & white booklet, comes with audio CD
Purchased
from from Mally.com
£7.95 (€11 / $14 approx)
Published
in 1991 as The bodhrán Book containing
advanced tutorial material, republished
1994 & 2002 with CD (this version)
ISBN: 0 946005877 Ossian Publications Ltd OMB 102
Images
courtesy Ossian Publications
This review
assumes that players are right-handed - left handed players should reverse
any references.
The
Package
A
32 page Black and white booklet-based tutorial containing an audio CD. The
CD has Steáfán reading the book pretty much verbatim and illustrating
the discussed pattern by playing either solo or in mini performance.
The
product is aimed directly at beginning bodhránii, those who need to get
the fundamentals upon which they can build their skills.
Lesson
Delivery Method
The
tutorial can be used either by being read, listened to, or most likely a
combination of both.
The
CD versions of the book chapters are delivered in audio 'chunks' representing
the duration and content of the written chapters. Rhythmic patterns are
not available as separate CD tracks and it is unfortunately difficult for
a beginner to repeat specific passages for practise because of this.
Rhythms
are notated in Steáfán's own manner using a series of up and
down arrows of varying scale to indicate stroke direction / accent. Left
hand actions are illustrated using a circle showing where to strike and
where & how to place move and press with the hand. Hand-drawn illustrations
are used where appropriate.
Using
the tutorial.
The
chapter headings vary in length as can be seen from the chapter and CD track
list below
-
About
bodhráns (CD track 3 - 3:27)
-
The
Cipin or Tipper (CD track 4 - 2:06)
-
Getting
Started (CD track 5 - 3:39)
-
Dynamic
Playing (CD track 6 - 1:17)
-
Skin
Sounds (CD track 7 - 5:37)
-
Reels
1 (CD track 8 - 4:14)
-
Jigs
1 (CD track 9 - 4:35)
-
Reels
2 (CD track 10 - 5:17)
-
Jigs2
(CD track 11 - 5:53)
-
Triplets
(CD track 12 - 2:51)
-
Basics
to remember
-
Care
& maintenance
- Extra tunes
to Play along with (CD track 13 - 2:35)
The tutorial
structure follows the standard path of introduction to the drum and the Kerry
Style of playing viz; the technique; Right hand / left hand duties; reels;
jigs & triplets. As this is a beginner text it stops at triplets. In the
original text it goes on to Rim Playing,
complex reels & jigs, other forms and 15 pages of tunes [?].
The written passages
are brief and illustrated throughout using steafan's notation, Reels are covered
in about 700 words in two sections using the wa-ter-me-lon method and supported
by about 20 images and 8 stroke indicators. Jigs are covered as Pine-ap-ple_Ap-ri-cot,
about 3-400 words and a dozen or so visual panels.
User Friendliness
This
is a beginners text, it has been written as such and does exactly what it
claims to do; it rightly assumes no prior knowledge of the drum or its playing
techniques. The introduction and main body to the reels section is extremely
basic and functional but leaves you in no doubt as to the key elements of
which you need to be aware. Advocating playing into the drum (i.e. hitting
an imaginary spot just below the surface) is excellent advice that I have
not seen often repeated in the other tutorials.
The
accompanying CD although essentially being a re-reading of the chapters,
serves its purpose well and correlates well to the illustrations. The addition
of tunes to play along with is also a useful inclusion as beginning players
may not have examples of music featuring the bodhrán, obviously the main
benefit is in giving them material with which to practise the techniques
in the book as well as experimenting further.
I
find Steafan's personal style of delivery and choice of terminology to be
wholly appropriate to the beginner bodhrán player. I do have to say that
whilst the author's own notation system is functional, I find can see it
as being potentially restrictive in that it only prepares a bodhráni for
use of that particular system, it seems an unnecessary re-invention when
compared to adaptations of the more universal western notation system. WIth
that said it should not stop you from seriously considering this as an introduction
to playing the bodhrán, the end justifies the means.
What
do I think?
Provided
that you are only after basic introductory information I think this is an
excellent wee book that should provide the introduction to the bodhrán that
an absolute beginner would require, the addition of the CD makes this an
extremely useful resource. If you already have the basic skills then you
will find this perhaps a little limited for you although there is always
useful information to be gained from looking at others' approaches.
Given
that the package reviewed includes a 45 minute CD version of the book, it
only serves to widen my smile and to improve its value rating. In my opinion
at this price this represents excellent value for money at the cost of about
10 minutes of tuition.
Am
I Glad I bought it?
Yes
absolutely
Would
I recommend it?
For
an absolute beginner looking for a tutorial to accompany the purchase of
their first drum I recommend it without hesitation.
Paul
Marshall - January 2004
(c)2005-2007
All
Rights Reserved
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