Buying A Bodhran – Part 1 (Bodhran Makers Of The World)

by MichelleStewart on April 8, 2011

Great Bodhrans Are Made From Passion

Whether you are looking to purchase your very first bodhran or planning to upgrade to a better quality one, this section is here to help. This decision is made even more difficult by the fact that there are so many superb makers out there now (See the list below). My husband, Mark, and I are simply too busy with other projects to keep making our Cape Breton Bodhrans, but I can tell you from first hand experience that making an instrument is done out of passion and not for love of the almighty dollar. A great deal of time, effort and care goes into making a bodhran so please keep that in mind when looking to buy one.

I would always suggest you deal directly with a maker, or one of their reps in your country, as most shops that sell instruments get them in at cost price, making more than the actual maker. With the exception of a few really great shops, most music store employees usually don’t know that much about bodhrans. The dead give away is when they have them hanging in the front window, baking in the direct sunlight. In fact, you probably already know more about bodhrans than they do.

Do Your Homework

The more time you spend researching the best maker and drum for you the better you will feel about your final decision.

Don’t be afraid to email makers to ask some questions, but remember to sift through their websites first as many of your questions are most likely already answered there.

The Better The Instrument – The Better YOU Sound,

But It’s Ok To Start Out On The Cheap

If you are just looking for something to get you started and don’t want to pay alot of money I’m sure you already know you will simply get what you pay for. There’s nothing wrong with starting out on an inexpensive drum and then upgrading once you’ve decided to stay with it. My very first drum was a very cheap one made in Pakistan and it served me well in my early stages. Once you try a great drum though you will instantly hear how much better you actually sound.

Why It’s Good To Get A Second, Third And Fourth Opinion

I hesitate to recommend one maker over another as the choice is such an individual one. I’m sure many people would just like for me to say ‘This is the one drum I recommend’ and make the decision for them, but going by only one person’s opinion wouldn’t really be in their best interest. I also don’t think any one person should have that much power.

Leave A Comment To Help One Another

Collecting information from lots of different sources is the best way to find the drum just for you. I know that people like helping people so please leave a comment to exchange information about bodhrans, where you got yours, what size is it, etc. and your overall experiences in the comments section below.  This will help everyone become more educated about bodhrans and makers around the world.

~ Michelle

UNITED STATES

Rob Forkner – Metloef Irish Drums www.metloef.com – Texas

Brent Cuyler – Finnegan Hill Percussion – Columbus, Ohio

http://www.facebook.com/FinneganHillIrishPercussion

Albert Alfonso www.albertalfonso.com – Texas, USA

Mance Grady www.acebodhrans.com – Rhode Island

Cooperman www.cooperman.com – Bellow Falls, Vermont

Mike Quinlan  www.hstrial-mikequinlan.intuitwebsites.com – Chicago

John McPrange www.mcprange.com

 

CANADA

David Settles www.daveydrums.com – Calgary, Alberta

Chip Mulvaney Mulvaney’s Handcrafted Instruments – Winnipeg, Manitoba

Robin Shackleton – Sylvan Temple Drums www.sylvantemple.ca – Vancouver Island, British Columbia

C. J. Dixon http://www.cjdixon.com – Ontario

Fred Graham – Ardglen Bodhrans www.ardglen-bodhrans.com

Neil O’Grady www.celticmusiccrafts.ca – Newfoundland

Shaw Percussion  www.shawpercussion.com – Ontario

Bridget Drums www.bridgetdrums.com – Ontario

 

GERMANY

Christian Hedwitschak – Hedwitschak Drums www.bodhranmaker.de – Bavaria

David Roman Drums www.davidromandrums.com – Berlin

 

WALES

Dragon Drums www.dragondrums.co.uk – North Wales

Mark Harmsworth -DD Percussion www.ddpercussion.com – North Wales

 

IRELAND

Paraic McNeela www.TheBodhranMaker.com – Dublin

Malachy Kearns www.bodhran.com – Co. Galway

Michael Vignoles www.michaelvignoles.com – Galway

Ben March Bodhrans www.benmarchbodhrans.com – Co. Clare

Eamon Maguire http://www.leafpile.com/TravelLog/NorthIreland/Belfast/Eamon/Eamon.htm

Niall Carey – NiCa Percussion www.facebook.com/NiCaPercussion – Tipperary

 

NORTHERN IRELAND

Seamus O’Kane www.tradcentre.com/seamus – Derry

Paul McAuley www.irishbodhrans.com – Ballycastle

 

SCOTLAND

Eoin Leonard – Belgarth Bodhrans www.Belgarth.com – Orkney (Currently only making on hobby basis)

John Wilson – Skye Bodhrans www.skyebodhrans.co.uk – Portree

Doug Lanchbery – Auchencairn

Adam Brown – RandABrown

 

NORWAY

Harold Hougaard www.hougaardguitars.com

 

AUSTRIA

Eckermann Drums www.eckermanndrums.com

 

THE NETHERLANDS

Brendan White www.bodhran.nl – The Netherlands

 

ENGLAND

Renegade Rhythms – Marc ‘Mog’ Moggy www.renegaderhythms.co.uk – Norfolk, England

Diarmaid O’Kane (son of Seamus O’Kane) www.tradcentre.com/diarmaid – Essex

 

AUSTRALIA

Beagan Irish Drums

Clive Quinn

John McKnowall www.mcknowall.com – Kyogle, New South Wales

 

FRANCE

Olaika Bodhran

 

SPAIN

Victor Barral www.victorbarral.com

Mariano La Duela – www.celticdevil.com/bodhrans

 

Currently Taking A Break From Bodhran Making

Ralf Siepmann www.bodhranshop.com

Davy Stuart – New Zealand

Darius Bartlett – France

EastCoast DrumCraft – www.eastcoastdrumcraft.com PEI, Canada

Del Eckels – Dels Drum  www.delsdrums.com – California

 

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Summer Bodhran Courses 2010 – Gaelic College

by MichelleStewart on February 10, 2010

dsc01339 I’m really excited to be heading back home to Cape Breton this summer for five weeks of teaching bodhran at the Gaelic College. It’s ideal for me as my Mum only lives ten minutes over the mountain. My five year old son also gets to spend summer with Nanny and his huge Cape Breton family (I have 42 first cousins . . . not many by Cape Breton standards).

I am only doing five weeks at the Gaelic College this summer as my son, Cameron, starts his second year of Primary in August. I’ll be teaching bodhran from July 5th – August 13th, 2010. Classes run Monday to Friday, but you can also see me perform in concert, along with all the other world class instructors, every Wednesday night through the summer in the Great Hall Of The Clans. Visit the Gaelic College home page or go directly to their Summer School page

Many people who come to the Gaelic College for summer courses make a family holiday of it. Cape Breton is absolutely amazing in the summer. I may be biased, but feel free to check it out for yourself at Destination Cape Breton or Nova Scotia’s Official Tourism Site

dsc01319

Courses offered include: Bagpipes, Bodhran, Weaving, Gaelic Language and Song, Pipe Band Drumming, Cape Breton Fiddle, Cape Breton Stepdancing, Celtic Harp, Highland Dance, Piano Accompaniment and Scottish Small Pipes. Some weeks are just for youths, some for youths and adults combined (great for families) and some just for adults.

Whether you are a beginner or advanced player the bodhran classes cater to all levels. You can take bodhran as an elective or a major. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own drum as I always have extras on hand. I can give you advice about purchasing a drum and you will have a better idea of what you’re looking for after trying different makes.

I’ll be sharing my techniques for playing with dynamic control, loads of new rhythms, changing tones, bodhran etiquette and the art of performance. I will also show many different playing styles and follow the bodhran through its history. I will give you insight on how you can continue to teach yourself after the course.

dsc01053This is a high energy class that will leave a permanent smile on your face. Check out some bodhran class photos from previous years at my Facebook page Feel free to join me there and on my other sites like Twitter and Youtube. I have to admit that I’m a bit slow to reply to comments as I have been completely overwhelmed with amazing feedback from all of you, but please keep the comments and questions coming. I really do appreciate it and it inspires me to share everything I know about bodhran with you.

Email me if you have any questons.and I hope to see you in the summer.

Michelle Stewart

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BBC Virtual Session

by MichelleStewart on October 28, 2009

BBC Radio 2 has a great site for learning and playing along to tunes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions

When you visit this page click on “Welcome to the Virtual Session. Click here to join in:”

The Virtual Session box will then open. Click the flashing red arrow in the bottom right corner. You will then see sets of tunes you can play along with and download music for.

This great resource has everything from reels, jigs, slip jigs, hornpipes, polkas, waltzes and even a barndance.

I really like this site and hope you do too.

Michelle

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bonusmodule6jigfanfarearrows

I have just uploaded the rest of the 6/8 Jig Section of the bodhran solo covered in the video below and thought you might like the visual aid.

Just click on the link above to get the pdf and print off  the THREE PAGES to play along with the video.

Here’s a quick guide to using the notation.

Down Arrow = Down Stroke

Up Arrow = Up Stroke

Larger Arrow = Accent (Heavier Beat)

Dash (-) = Rest

Higher the arrows on the lines = the higher the pitch.

H = High Pitch – Push In / Shorten Distance Between Back Hand And Tipper / Roll Thumb Over
M = Medium Pitch – Gentle Hand Pressure In Middle / Medium Distance Between Back Hand / Tipper
L  = Low Pitch – Hand Just Touching But Without Pressure / Furthest Distance From Back Hand / Tipper

When you see a part surrounded by double bars and double dots ll:          :ll   these are repeat signs so play that part twice.

Foot would tap on first beat after each bar line     l   and first beat after each comma.  The commas don’t have any note value.

This should all make sense once you print off the pdf.

Enoy.

Michelle

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Free Online Metronomes

by MichelleStewart on March 30, 2009

I’ve checked out some free online metronomes and added a few links for you below. They didn’t seem to be able to subdivide the note like I show you in my video, but it depends on whether you want that function or not. This is VERY useful for beginners though.
Some also give the option of various time signatures, but the choice is quite limited.

http://www.metronomeonline.com/
http://webmetronome.com/
http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/metronome.php
http://www.8notes.com/metronome/
http://www.studybass.com/tools/online-metronome/
http://bestmetronome.com/

I guess when it comes down to it you get what you pay for and when you don’t pay for it .. . well.

With that said it is very handy to have sites like these at your fingertips.

Would like to know what you think of these and if they are helpful. Leave a comment here to share your thoughts with others.

I like my hand held Korg MA-30 very much and think it’s really good for drummers.
Check out the Korg Site for all the features

http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=129

It’s great value for money and if you don’t find the online ones useful I would go ahead and treat yourself to a real one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.ebay.co.uk
http://www.ebay.com

Just type Korg Ma-30 into Google to find more sites. Better yet contact your local music shop and if they don’t have it in stock I’m sure they can order it in for you.

Hope this has been of some help.
Michelle

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Using A Metronome As A Practice Tool

by MichelleStewart on January 29, 2009

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Join Me At The Gaelic College This Summer

by MichelleStewart on January 12, 2009

• Find yourself stuck in a bodhran rut?

• Use the same rhythms over and over?

• At a plateau and reached the point where you feel you have taught yourself all you can?

Well why not take a summer holiday like no other, on the beautiful island of Cape Breton at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts & Crafts. http://www.gaeliccollege.edu

I’m honoured to again to be running the Bodhran Program at the Gaelic College this summer.  Whether you are a beginner or advanced player this course caters to all levels.  You can take bodhran as an elective or a major. 

I’ll be sharing my techniques for playing with dynamic control, loads of new rhythms, changing tones, bodhran etiquette and the art of performance.   I will also show the many different playing styles and follow the bodhran through its history.  I will give you insight on how you can continue to teach yourself after the course .

Whether you are a seasoned musician hoping to fine tune your bodhran skills or have never even seen or picked up a bodhran before there is a class for you.  I keep a bunch of  “workshop” drums in Cape Breton so you don’t even have  to own a drum to take the course.  You can use one of mine.  I can then give you advice about purchasing drums and you will have a better idea of what you’re looking for after trying different makes.

This is a high energy class that will leave a permanent smile on your face.    Learning should be fun, right?  

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Bodhran Lesson: Secret To Playing With Dynamics Part 1

by MichelleStewart on January 11, 2009

This video explains the Basic Strokes required to play with control.  A must see for those wanting to learn how to play softly

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Hello world!

by MichelleStewart on January 10, 2009

Welcome to BodhranExpert.  I am so excited to give you lots of great bodhran tips and advice. Please be patient while I build my new site and be sure to check back soon.

Michelle Stewart

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