Open Day at the Sch. of Musical Instrument Crafts in Newark
Jul 2, 2016 22:04:41 GMT
ocarolan, Akquarius, and 4 more like this
Post by R the F on Jul 2, 2016 22:04:41 GMT
mel was kind enough to whisk me off to the open day this morning and it was a morning well spent. Upon arrival at the converted police-station, we were ushered upstairs to see the students' work which was displayed to be seen but understandably not to be touched on a long table down the middle of the hall:
Here we rubbed shoulders with students, parents, tutors and a number of old blokes none of whom seemed to be fatfingerjohn though we inspected a lot of digits. Amongst others, we chatted to one or two of the student-luthiers, to someone studying on an evening course at the college and to ajlucas (of this parish) who is a tutor and seemed to be the main college representative at the open day. The guitars on show were, at least to my eyes, of an extraordinarily high standard overall and I have no idea how students can produce to such a high level after just one or two years, though I gather they have to pass a woodworking test before they are accepted on the course. Apparently, the first-year students are presented with their materials and basic design but, even so, there was enormous variety in detailing and a lot of very fine guitars. (Makes you want to give up.)
I believe they were predominantly of the nylon-string variety but there was still plenty of interest for steel-stringers like me and Mel.
A lot of close inspection went on but few faults were found:
After a while we were asked to descend to "The Courtroom" - a small auditorium - where sentence would be passed on the steel-string instruments by Judge Steve Hicks, who I was disappointed to see was not wearing a wig. He inspected and then played one or two pieces on each student's guitar in turn. Sentences were quite rightly not harsh, mainly opening with, "Wow...!"
Here students await their turn in the dock:
And this is how it feels to have your tuning adjusted by Steve Hicks:
But all turned out well and we were treated to a marvellously varied concert for the best part of an hour - from ragtime to classical via jazz and all on different guitars.
I'm afraid we left at that point since we weren't so interested in the classical session which was to follow in the afternoon. (Not meant to sound dismissive of half the forum but that's just us.)
Well done to the college and to Adrian Lucas for arranging the occasion and well done to Mel for getting me there (and back).
Rob
Here we rubbed shoulders with students, parents, tutors and a number of old blokes none of whom seemed to be fatfingerjohn though we inspected a lot of digits. Amongst others, we chatted to one or two of the student-luthiers, to someone studying on an evening course at the college and to ajlucas (of this parish) who is a tutor and seemed to be the main college representative at the open day. The guitars on show were, at least to my eyes, of an extraordinarily high standard overall and I have no idea how students can produce to such a high level after just one or two years, though I gather they have to pass a woodworking test before they are accepted on the course. Apparently, the first-year students are presented with their materials and basic design but, even so, there was enormous variety in detailing and a lot of very fine guitars. (Makes you want to give up.)
I believe they were predominantly of the nylon-string variety but there was still plenty of interest for steel-stringers like me and Mel.
A lot of close inspection went on but few faults were found:
After a while we were asked to descend to "The Courtroom" - a small auditorium - where sentence would be passed on the steel-string instruments by Judge Steve Hicks, who I was disappointed to see was not wearing a wig. He inspected and then played one or two pieces on each student's guitar in turn. Sentences were quite rightly not harsh, mainly opening with, "Wow...!"
Here students await their turn in the dock:
And this is how it feels to have your tuning adjusted by Steve Hicks:
But all turned out well and we were treated to a marvellously varied concert for the best part of an hour - from ragtime to classical via jazz and all on different guitars.
I'm afraid we left at that point since we weren't so interested in the classical session which was to follow in the afternoon. (Not meant to sound dismissive of half the forum but that's just us.)
Well done to the college and to Adrian Lucas for arranging the occasion and well done to Mel for getting me there (and back).
Rob
Jo whoever he is.
