--- In clairseach@..., bigjoe d <bigjoe@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Geri
>
> Let me know how you progress on your Wire-strung Harp :)
>
> Did you see the article about metal strings in the issure of Folk Harp
> Journal that came out last week?
>
> Joe
>
> Hello Joe,

Good to hear from you. I did have my first Skype lesson with Ann Heymann last
Wednesday. I had hooked up external speakers to my laptop and we made the
connection without any problem, but she could barely hear me. Apparently the
internal computer speakers are not adequate, so I will be using a microphone for
our next lesson. She was able to help me with hand position and we talked about
the problem that I'm having with string breakage in the upper octave of the
Triplett. It is strung entirely in phosphor bronze and she believes that this
may be the problem and suggested that I replace those upper strings with
historical iron and use toggles. I will be ordering a couple of small spools
tomorrow. The Triplett bronze strings have small discs on the wires and are
strung from holes in the back. Wish I had known when I bought this harp what I
know now. Another lesson learned.

I did get my copy of the Folk Harp Journal the next day and read Cynthia's
article on strings. The Student Trinity that I have on order has 20 brass
strings and 9 silver in the bass. Ann was pleased that I am using the
left-shoulder technique with right hand for bass and left for treble. I
actually find it quite comfortable. I am treating this as a different
instrument than my lever harp, so I am very much a beginner, but the sound of
even one string makes it worth the effort.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Best wishes,
Geri
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 6:39 PM, bayharper<bayharper@...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > --- In clairseach@..., "Alasdair Codona" <calumcille@>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Dear Geri,
> >>
> >> Co. Galway and Co. Donegal apparently have the greatest numbers of
> >> professedly fluent Irish speakers in the Irish Gaeltacht so this will be
> >> what you're most likely to encounter even in the States.
> >>
> >> Munster Irish has something of an elevated place in literary history
> >> though. In certain respects, it relates to the other forms of Gaelic as
> >> would Spanish to French. It has kept more of the synthetic verbal forms
than
> >> other forms of Gaelic which tend more to split the person off from the
verb.
> >> This is like having Spanish penso, pensas, pensa instead of French je
pense,
> >> tu penses, il pense.
> >>
> >> It also has structural differences in word stress compared to other forms
> >> of Gaelic: elsewhere the first syllable of a word is stressed but in
> >> Munster, the stress can be moved onto other syllables. This has important
> >> implications when it comes to relating words to musical rhythm. This would
> >> like having Spanish word stress (any of the last three syllables) instead
of
> >> French word stress (generally on the last syllable); compare libro/livre,
> >> comprendes/comprends, memoria/memoire stressing the same syllables but
> >> música/musique, próximo/prochaine, magnífico/magnifique stressing different
> >> syllables.
> >>
> >> Learners of any form of Gaelic are going to encounter different ways of
> >> talking wherever they are. The media, whether the web, newspapers, radio or
> >> television, will inevitably bring you into contact with different dialects
> >> of Gaelic, either in written or in spoken form. The important thing is to
> >> start off with one dialect and to graft knowledge about other dialects onto
> >> your own core language.
> >>
> >> Pairings of monolingual Anglophones and bilingual native Irish speakers on
> >> Live Mocha of course offer nothing to Irish speakers so that's out. Rosetta
> >> Stone would cost far too much unless you can agree to share the cost and
the
> >> use with a group of trustworthy, like-minded individuals. Byki is free but
> >> it is only a learning tool for memorising by drilling phrases (spoken in
> >> Connaught Irish) with flashcards (althought it does have the impressive
> >> option to press the tortoise and slow down the speech of the native
speakers
> >> so you can really listen to them). It will not explicitly teach you either
> >> the connection between spelling and pronunciation or grammar.
> >>
> >> BBC Northern Ireland's Radio Ulster has a short beginners course which
> >> displays the language points online. These are short aural lessons in
Ulster
> >> Irish and don't offer the exercise that the Byki cards would but they are
> >> downloadable for free.
> >>
> >> Most people will need a full course, either by buying a book and tapes or
> >> by doing an online course. Gaeltalk does a reasonably priced online
> >> beginner's course which will teach you Munster Irish and offer you Skype
> >> sessions online with native speakers. Have a look at the following
webpages.
> >>
> >> http://www.gaeltalk.net/shop/
> >> http://www.learn4good.com/distance_learn/ireland_online_irish_courses2.htm
> >>
> >> Congratulations on the progress so far!
> >>
> >> Beannachdan,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Alasdair
> >>
> >> --- In clairseach@..., "bayharper" <bayharper@> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > First, I wanted to share the news that I have placed the deposit on my
> >> > Student Trinity Harp. I am really excited. The Triplett wire harp has all
of
> >> > its strings now and is beginning to hold its pitch. Actually, it is
sounding
> >> > pretty good. I just have to add some satellite speakers to my laptop for
the
> >> > Skype lessons with Ann and make arrangements with her to get started.
> >> >
> >> > Second, I have joined a forum called "Learning Irish". I asked for
> >> > opinions on software and a program called "Transparent Language" BYKI was
> >> > recommended. My concern is that the reason I want to learn Irish is to
use
> >> > it as an aide in learning the ancient music. Is there any special dialect
I
> >> > should be looking for? Or will a program like BYKI be sufficient for
these
> >> > needs? I appreciate any opinions.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks,
> >> > Geri
> >> >
> >
> > Dear Alasdair,
> >
> > Since your last post that provided me with much good information and
> > direction, I have tried the free sample of Gaeltalk. While I like the
> > format, the speakers talk so fast that I cannot quite catch the proper
> > pronunciation of the words. I did buy their suggested book "Progress in
> > Irish", but it is more a dictionary without pronunciation keys. I still
> > think that Gaeltalk would be the best choice for me, but is there a book
> > that you can recommend that would help me with pronunciation?
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Geri
> >>
> >
> >
>