Tonyfurtado - Posted - 03/10/2010:  19:48:01

Hey folks.
So, Im teaching a course at Sore Fingers in the UK in April, just trying to see if I can connect with some of the students who will be attending my class....I have some things layed out to teach but I would like to be OVER prepared and maybe find out what you guys are into focussing on!!!?

TF

dollywannabe - Posted - 03/11/2010:  00:41:50

Hi Tony,

I'll be there, counting down the days already. Since I'm very young in banjo years (just coming up three) I hesitate to make suggestions about the course content, frankly there isn't anything that I wouldn't be happy to work on, but I am particularly interested in your single string style and the very distinctive 'Furtado Sound'. I'm sure the rest of the gang will be along any minute....

Easter just can't come quickly enough.
Sarah

TopCat - Posted - 03/11/2010:  02:01:42

Me too!

I am even less experienced than Sarah, only just over two years playing, so I will probably be the least able player in the class. SF classes tend to have a wide range of intermediate-to-advanced students within the general classes, with only the real beginners/early novices separated off into the beginner classes.

Given my relative inexperience, I don't have that much to recommend, but I will ponder as to whether there is anything I'd particularly like covered and get back to you. I know that Sarah has already put the word out on UK Bluegrass.

Really looking forward to it!

Cheers
Maria

Edited by - TopCat on 03/11/2010 02:03:03

Banjo Island - Posted - 03/11/2010:  02:07:31

"Distinctive Furtado" sounds cool.

The (non-beginners) classes at SFSS mostly seem to consist of SF regulars, so I'd suggest we're all fairly well rehearsed in knowing why we need to slow it down, concentrate on tone, get our rolls solid, and all that usual stuff. I'm not saying that we all practice what gets preached to us (or is that just me who ignores all that?), and that we don't need to have that stuff banged in to our heads just a little bit more each year, but not necessarily for a whole week.

For my own preferences, to stop SF becoming "samey" each year, I like to be stretched as far as possible, at least for some of the week. Thrown stuff that's currently off my radar. Difficult stuff. Stuff to spend the next 12 months getting my head round, sort of thing..

Unfortunately, it being off my radar and all, I can't tell you what that might be...

This probably hasn't helped much!
Jer

Tonyfurtado - Posted - 03/13/2010:  16:14:50

Well, this is good...keep it coming! Kind of what I was planning, touch on the usual "you need to do this to tighten up you playing" kinda stuff but really get to some of the mind widening, finger-stretching stuff!

Keep talking to me, Im going to start prepping this week.

tf