Irish Music School

The Kansas City Star featured a picture of Lucie Goodhart, Doug’s daughter, relaxing in the aftermath of last Sunday’s instructor concert.

Doug Goodhart, Turlach Boylan and Dave Agee perform at the 2010 Instructor showcase in the Irish Museum and Cultural Center.

There will be an Instructor showcase at the Irish Museum in Union Station next Sunday at 2:00 pm featuring instructors Emily Wyatt(harp), Dave Agee(fiddle and bodhran), Doug Goodhart(whistle, bodhran, fiddle) and Turlach Boylan(flute and whistle) followed by a reception.

This event will mark the opening of The Music School Library, funded by a grant from the Kansas City Irish Fest and the resumption of tinwhistle classes at Union Station.

Just two intrepid students represented the Music school at Sheehan’s Open house this past Saturday. Captured here on blurry cellphone photos are Kat Land and Michael Allen making me proud.

The members of Slide (Ireland), winners of Irish Music Magazine’s Best Newcomer award in 2001 and the Young Musicwide Award in 2006, have agreed to teach a series of workshops and private lessons in Tulsa on September 1 and 2 during their U.S. tour (which is sponsored in part by Culture Ireland). This is a don’t miss opportunity for musicians interested in learning more about playing Irish music or perfecting their technique. All the band members have significant teaching experience, have been involved in adjudicating competitions, and have arranged and directed groups of musicians.
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The music school has received a grant from the Kansas City Irish Festival to start a music library. The grant will be used to buy tune books, books about Irish Music and some recordings. We have a verbal agreement that the collection will be kept at The Irish Museum and Cultural Center for use by students and the general public.

Also, resourceful whistle student Connor Spencer received an apprentice grant from the State of Missouri to study with whistle teacher Turlach. We studied the playing and recordings of several influential whistle players, and attempted to describe the unique elements of their music and technique.

After a longer than expected break, a bunch of intrepid students started or continued on their path to whistle mastery at the weekly classes in Unions Station tonight. There are still places available in the classes, so, if you’re a last minute person like me then call or email and we’ll get you fixed up!

Whistle student Rosie Cutrer is a professional storyteller in her real life, touring through the nearby states educating and entertaining as she goes. This spring she produced two storytelling CDs titled Mr. Bun and Other Stories and The Blackthorn Walking Stick and Other Tales. We just got word that both of her CDs were recognized by The Children’s Music Web in their annual awards. Congratulations!

Sheehan’s Irish Imports in Westport had their annual pre-Christmas open house this weekend, and some intrepid students from the Monday night Union Station tinwhistle classes flaunted their new abilities to a small but appreciative audience. Courtesy of Turlach’s photographer wife Katherine, here are the pictures of Randall, Garrett, James, Kat, Erin and Brian leading the way as instructor Turlach marvelled at their courage!

We have some photographs from this past weekend at the Kansas City Irish Festival. Fiddle instructor Dave Agee joined Turlach for a couple of tunes before heading home for some much needed rest after playing several sets in the sun with Mr Stinky Feet, Jim Cosgrove. After Dave left, Turlach finished the workshop, fiercely promoting the school to a worthy audience.