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Post by bod on Sept 24, 2013 16:38:32 GMT
Ok, cool. So, first off, I'm all booked up (train, hotel and event) and having been at a couple of workshops you have run I have no doubt that it will be good (enjoyable and helpful), so very much looking forward to it quite irrespective of any answers you might be able to give to the following couple of questions: On one level, I'm wondering it is possible (either now or nearer the time) for you to give a bit more info about detail or structure of what is planned (On the other hand, I can fully appreciate that not nailing down too many details too publicly in advance favours flexibility on the day). At another much more specific level, I'm wondering whether standard tuning is likely to feature much - for me, this bears on choice of instrument to bring rather than anything else (as I don't play in standard on my reso... ) If anyone else with experience of Pocklington wants to pitch in on what it's like / what to expect, I'd welcome that (Crikey, it's weeks away yet and I'm getting like a kid in the run up to Xmas - but then I am getting Pocklington for Xmas from my other half, a very good thing she isn;t planning to wrap it up and put it away until the day )
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 25, 2013 9:19:31 GMT
Ok, cool. So, first off, I'm all booked up (train, hotel and event) and having been at a couple of workshops you have run I have no doubt that it will be good (enjoyable and helpful), so very much looking forward to it quite irrespective of any answers you might be able to give to the following couple of questions: On one level, I'm wondering it is possible (either now or nearer the time) for you to give a bit more info about detail or structure of what is planned (On the other hand, I can fully appreciate that not nailing down too many details too publicly in advance favours flexibility on the day). At another much more specific level, I'm wondering whether standard tuning is likely to feature much - for me, this bears on choice of instrument to bring rather than anything else (as I don't play in standard on my reso... ) If anyone else with experience of Pocklington wants to pitch in on what it's like / what to expect, I'd welcome that (Crikey, it's weeks away yet and I'm getting like a kid in the run up to Xmas - but then I am getting Pocklington for Xmas from my other half, a very good thing she isn;t planning to wrap it up and put it away until the day ) Hi Bod, I want to help to make your Christmas present as good as possible. The arts centre is run by the most helpful and hospitable people that you could find. They do everything they can to help make our weekend a good one. Before going into the actual content and structure of lessons, I will tell you about the weekend in general.... -------------------------------------------------------- Friday: we meet at around midday, this is not a strict 12:00 because people travel from all over the country and get there as near as they can to 12. For me it is a four hour journey, that if I hit traffic can slow me up. Once everyone has arrived and had sandwiches and tea (this is an English Blues weekend ) we all get together so I can talk you through the weekend and the classes start at around 1:45...to 2:00 and finish at around 5:00. Then there is a break when everyone can chill out at the Feathers pub and get something to eat. At 8:00 we meet at the arts centre and because it has been a very long day for some, we have a loose student floor spot evening, which is always great fun. I am not sure yet, but I may be able to get someone to come in and do a set for us, which would be great if I can arrange it. Friday evening goes on until we leave, there is no pressure from the venue staff for us to go. Saturday: is a long day... classes start at 10:00 through to 12:00/12:30, and again after lunch from 2:00 through to 5:00..ish. Then there is a couple of hours to eat and chill out before the evening. The evening concert begins at 8:00 and when that is finished there is usually performances by students and then eventually a jam until the wee hours. Sunday: classes start at 10:30 through until lunchtime, and then continue through until 4:00. Lunch on Sunday is usually very kindly provided by the staff at the arts centre. One of the great things about this weekend is that there is enough time, because the classes are quite long, to give everyone what they want and not have to rush through stuff. -------------------------------------------------------- Your question about tunings....standard or not... In my slide class you will not need a guitar in standard tuning, but if you decide to sit in on Ed's non-slide class , then you would need regular tuning. There are students of all levels in each class, but it is never a problem because there is enough time to spend time with everyone, and often more experienced students help out with the beginners. Okay, now I have a question for you. Before I talk about what Ed and I will be teaching, I would like to know what you hope to get from the weekend and if there are any particular things/areas/songs/artists, that you would like me to cover? I am genuinely interested to know what people would like to get from the weekend. Shine On Michael.
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Post by bod on Sept 26, 2013 21:26:55 GMT
... Okay, now I have a question for you. Before I talk about what Ed and I will be teaching, I would like to know what you hope to get from the weekend and if there are any particular things/areas/songs/artists, that you would like me to cover? I am genuinely interested to know what people would like to get from the weekend. Shine On Michael. Michael, many thanks for your response and for your question. I'm tempted to just say that a deal of what I hope to get from the weekend at Pocklington is pretty much built in - or, at least, the opportunities are (up to me to make the most of those opportunities), but since you ask I can and will say a bit more (having spent much of my working life in teaching, I do appreciate that this kind of input from learners can be helpful) Gaining experiencesA major target for me is to have a go at something along the lines of the student floor spots and to find it fun (rather than - or perhaps as well as - terrifying). If I can do that and live to tell the tale I'm pretty sure I'll be able to (finally) take a guitar the the open mic at the perfectly nice pub about two minutes walk from where I live, which will be good Learning something about how to play nicely with others, so to speak, would / will be great. I sometimes try to play / jam with this old pal or that, but none of us have much idea about how to go on, 'the blind leading the blind' is a phrase that comes to mind. Technique-type issuesDon't know how plausible it is to teach / coach damping techniques - never seem to come across anything on that, so I speculate that it may be particular and personal to the point of idiosyncrasy, but if possible some pointers on the subject would be very welcome. I'm also very keen to understand better the aspects of bottleneck slide guitar beyond what the slide is doing - I've worked on my slide technique quite a bit, but the slide part is only a part of what a slide guitarist's contribution to a number (don't know how clearly this is coming across, but I guess you can see what I'm driving at) "Repertoire" As above, I've worked on slide technique a fair bit, probably to the detriment of the rest of it. I can noodle away endlessly having self-indulgent fun with slide (and thumb) but am pretty much useless when it comes to playing whole songs. On a good day, I can play snatches of this and patchy versions of that, but am now trying to get to grips with some whole pieces. Anything that helps with this would be great - artists, pretty much 'the usual suspects' I guess, I'm mighty keen to get some sort of handle on some Muddy Waters, Son House and Fred McDowell (and, p'raps one day, some Charley Patton) - (subsequently added for clarity) so anything that helped along those lines would be right up my street Hope that is helpful ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another 'choice of instrument' related question: Not sure of the "etiquette" - so what's your policy on the bringing of soundhole pickups and a (very) small amp to your acoustic blues weekend - it seems I can maximise my options by bringing my little acoustic, but I know how hard it was for me and for you to hear it in the midst of resos at Slidefest (ampwise I'm talking about my Pignose 7 - 100). If it ain't on, that's absolutely fine with me, just seeking clarification so I don't lug the wrong guitar all that way
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 27, 2013 14:27:01 GMT
Excellent post, Bod. I will answer all your questions when I get some time to go through them properly.
One that I can answer: I really prefer not to have amplifiers at these events. It is better when everyone is acoustic. I am sure that if you just come with your Resonator and needed another guitar for class, that someone would lend you one. A roomful of people playing resonators doesn't have to be loud, in fact I try to keep everyone's volume down so we can still talk above the playing. Resonators are loud machines, but with control can be played quietly, and that is always good for everyone.
Shine On Michael
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Post by obrienp on Sept 28, 2013 10:27:28 GMT
Hi Michael,
You asked for suggestions for things we would want out of the Pocklington weekend. Firstly, I have always found the sessions you teach very helpful and enjoyable, so I would be very content with more of what I have experienced at Blues Week.
Personally, I would like to come away from Pocklington with a new song. I have become stuck in a rut of Can't Be Satisfied, Walking Blues, Rollin and Tumblin, etc, so something new and challenging would be good. However, I can see the obvious problem with this is chosing a tune that nobody in the class already plays and everybody wants to learn (because in my view, if you don't like it, it's really difficult to learn it). I guess everybody could come armed with a few suggestions and the class could settle on one through a process of elemination but that could be time consuming. Anyway, I have put the idea out there: let's see what other people think.
Slide on, Pat
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 6, 2013 9:38:19 GMT
Pat & Bod, I do apologise! I just realised that I have not answered your questions. I will sit down and write answers when I get a few minutes in the next couple of days.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by stevie2sticks on Oct 6, 2013 16:50:49 GMT
Hi Michael. As a beginners beginner it is all brand new to me. I am happy to work with anyone at all - as well as watch/listen and learn stuff from the more experienced.
For me it's starting off on a "Blues Journey" which, although I am nervous about the weekend I am also looking forward to it.
After reading the thread on "What do you listen to" I bought a Muddy Waters CD at my garden centre. The first time I have ever listened to him. Brilliant stuff for the car.
Kind regards Steve
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Post by bod on Oct 6, 2013 22:27:38 GMT
Pat & Bod, I do apologise! I just realised that I have not answered your questions. I will sit down and write answers when I get a few minutes in the next couple of days. Shine On Michael. Hi Michael, please don't apologise 1) I'm regularly struck by the time, energy and effort you are able to find for putting into this forum / community & 2) Pocklington is over a month off, so plenty of time yet. Very much looking forward to it.
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Post by obrienp on Oct 7, 2013 13:56:22 GMT
Michael, I second what Bod said. No hurry and I am always amazed that you find the time to be so active on the forum given everything else you do.
Slide on, Pat
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Post by pete1951 on Oct 7, 2013 15:03:27 GMT
Though I won`t be coming to Pockfest `13 I do have fond memories of the 4 or 5 I went to. I think an amp for a non-reso guitar is a good idea IF it has a headphone socket, this way you make all the noise you want (with a dozen or so resos thundering away it can be hard to hear yourself) and not get in the way! What do you think? Pete T
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 7, 2013 17:17:56 GMT
Hi Pete, thanks for your suggestion, but I really don't want any amps in the classes! Everyone has to play so that we can all hear each other. I really do believe this is the way to do it. You can't have one person with headphones on, it just won't work, well for me it won't. I have never allowed electrics at any BluesWeek or Pocklington classes since way back at the first one in 2000 when we did allow it and it was just impossible. This is an 'acoustic' blues weekend.
Don't worry if you don't have a resonator, it will be fine....I promise!
Shine On Michael.
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Post by pete1951 on Oct 7, 2013 18:20:41 GMT
I know what you mean Michael, but a Martin with a sound hole pick-up would still be heard by the class IF they were quiet enough. I`m deaf in one ear , and even with a reso. its hard sometimes to hear what I`m playing in a `class`. My guitar, amped up, in my good ear would be a great help. PT
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 16, 2013 11:18:05 GMT
Hi everyone, Just a note to say that we have a few spaces left for the weekend course, so if anyone is planning to come, it would be advisable to book up as soon as possible. We also have a few tickets left for the Saturday night concert. For course bookings and concert tickets, contact the box office at Pocklington Arts Centre. (I will make sure I answer the questions that have been asked on this thread. Apologies for the delay) Thanks for all your support! Shine On Michael.
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Post by waffle on Oct 16, 2013 17:17:01 GMT
Hi Michael, Reading your last post is it advisable to book for the Saturday night concert now via the venue then? Also would you know if Mark will be there with is books,or and if i could obtain a copy of the book that night? Thanks.
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Post by Michael Messer on Oct 16, 2013 21:11:44 GMT
Hi Waffle,
This not a sales pitch, to be sure of a ticket you should get one soon from the Pocklington Arts Centre website, or via the box office. The concert is heading towards being a sell-out and there is quite a bit of publicity happening in North Yorkshire over the next couple of weeks.
I am not sure if Mark will be there. I will let you know.
Thanks,
Shine On Michael
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