Lessons Learned at Lark Camp 2004

Personal notes by Jaya R. Carl taken during classes at the Lark in the Morning World Music & Dance Celebration 2004, July 30 to August 7, 2004, Mendocino, California. Opinions expressed here are my own and do not neccesarily reflect the views of the instructors, Lark Camp or our sponsors. All errors and omissions are my sole responsibility. The words are mine and not neccesarily the instructor's unless quoted.

Guerilla Music Theory ― Chris Caswell

• The Listening Book, by William Allaudin Mathieu. Highly recommended for everyone who uses their ears. Interesting to muscians, composers, banjo players and lay persons alike.

• Harmonic Experience; Tonal harmony from its natural origins to its modern expression, by William Allaudin Mathieu. The nuts and bolts authoratative work by Mathieu on music. Studying with Allaudin is what inspired Chris to put together his Guerilla Music Theory course. The Harmonic Experience is a autodidactic ear-training and sight-singing book that uses singing sargam syllables over a drone in a just intonation system based on perfect fifths and major thirds.

  I like to use sargam notation because it is "key" independant. Now that I am getting into Irish traditional music, which uses modes, it is very convenient. I can learn a tune using sargam and then be able to play it in any key on any pitch whistle.

  The class built on discovering new information about sound through experimentation resulting in the organic experiance of just intonation.

• Celtic Tidings Music CD by Chris Caswell.

• Listening Book by William Allaudin Mathieu. I bought this on Chris's recommendation. It deals with the human sound interplay. Most chapters are one or two pages long about one aspect of listening (great to read when you don't have time to pick up a book). I found the esseys on practicing very useful.

  Listening Book will help you put on "new ears". You may even find yourself rediscoving the wonder of music all over again.

Scottish Trance Music ― Chris Caswell

• Drone

Chris Caswell and Pam Swan at the 2003 Caspar World Folk Festival

Mouth Music Workshop ― Pam Swan

www.PamSwan.com

• Met during lunch so I was always very hungry.

• Learned to get my food before going to class and eating during the lecture parts of class. This made me a much happier camper.

• Everyone in this workshop loved to sing. It was fun and enjoyable to participate. Having never had any vocal training or coaching I have not wanted to joining groups where "real singers" were performing. Not a problem in Pam's workshops. She was very supportive and encouraged us to do what we were capable of at the moment and let the rest slide.

• There was an Irish jig that we sang in the Mouth Music Workshop last year at Lark Camp that Pam, Sharon and I were able to belt out without even remembering what the tune or words were. As Vern Brekke was fond of saying, Never pass up on opportunity to make a fool out of yourself. So I went for it and it sounded like I knew what I was singing (to me anyway;).

• Pam is holding more Mouth Music Workshops in Oakland, California starting a couple of weeks after camp. Check it out if you have the time.

Shakuhachi Class ― Phil Gelb

www.PhilipGelb.com
www.BayAreaShakuhachi.com

Sharon picked up a cheap shakuhachi from the Lark In The Morning music store clearance table; horrible, out of tune (defective), cockeyed aperture but easy for me to play. [Phil tactfully calls this type of bamboo tourist souvenir a hippy flute. Is it because one needs to be stoned to think it is making beautiful music?] My intention is to use the instrument to practice relaxation and breath control, not to learn to play.

The following are thoughts, ideas and lessons that came to me either in class or talking to Phil at other times. He gave another awesome concert on Wednesday night this year.

• Warm up with long long notes. As long as you can make them, pause before inhaling.
• All the notes from last year still apply :).
• Very very light hold on the instrument.
• Balance the flute on the cleft of the chin, the right thumb and middle finger.
• It is all about the breath.
• Only use the finger to move lightly over the holes.
• Holes covered with the distal flange pads.
• The instrument should not move when the holes are covered or uncovered.
• Connect a laser pointer to the barrel of the flute and keep the red dot steady as you play your scales (jaya).

Check out these Shakuhachi recordings on Amazon.com.

Whistle Class ― Grey Larsen

www.GreyLarsen.com

• Relax.
• Same ideas about a light hold on the shakuhachi apply to whistle.
  • Very very light hold on the instrument.
  • Balance the flute on the edge of the lips, the left thumb, the right thumb and little finger.
  • It is all about the breath.
  • Only use the finger to move lightly over the holes.
  • Holes covered with the distal flange pads.
  • The instrument should not move when the holes are covered or uncovered.
  • Connect a laser pointer to the barrel of the flute and keep the red dot steady as you play your scales (jaya).
• This relaxed light touch is required for rapid movement of the fingers, to play lightning fast.
• Barely place the whistle on the lips (as opposed to sticking it in your mouth). This will give you the opportunity to develop an aperture resulting in greater control over the instrument.
• Do not grab the whistle, balance it.
• Practice long breaths to increase the vital capacity and control.
• The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle, by Grey Larsen. Highly recommended.
• The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox, by Grey Larsen. Recommended if you don't want to send the extra $10 for the flute and whistle book.
• When I got home from Lark I downloaded Grey's book The Toolbox Exercises for Finger Coordination. Like the Hanon Exercises for piano, these whistle etudes develop motar muscle memory in your fingers. Immediately I discovered places where my fingering is sloppy. With just a little bit more practice my technique has improved a bit.

Check out these recordings of Grey's on Amazon.com.

To Sharon & Jaya's Lark Camp packing list 2004

To Sharon & Jaya's Lark Camp packing list 2005 (revised the 2004 list on the way home from camp)

To Jaya's Lessons Learned at Lark Camp 2003

To Sharon and Jaya's Session Home Page

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