Bengal's Corner

Hello All,

It’s hard to believe that our O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp is just a month away. This will be our second year, and we are expecting a great learning experience for our students, and of course, two very fun days. Here are some of the highlights of the Youth Camp and later in this email we’ll address the O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat.

2^nd Annual O’Flaherty Irish Music Youth Camp

Dates: Monday & Tuesday, June 29-30, 2009

Location: the Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson, Texas

Ages: 6-16

Classes: 45-minute classes in fiddle, flute, tinwhistle, guitar, piano, mandolin/tenor banjo/bouzouki, and bodhran. In addition to our core instrument classes, we will introduce a new class called “Fun with Irish Music” that is an interactive introduction to the basic elements of music in general as well as how these relate to traditional Irish music . Children will have fun while learning the basic elements of rhythm, melody and harmony through engaging group activities such as marching, playing instruments, dancing and singing. Children may bring their own instruments and use them to explore the elements taught in the class and learn a simple Irish tune. Traditional Irish music will be used as the basis for the activities where appropriate.

Teaching Staff: Our instructors are some of the top professional players of Irish music in our area.

Other Activities: singing, dancing, games, concerts, sessions, a cookout and more. On the last day of the camp, the campers will participate in a Tune Tussle when they will get to perform musical acts that they prepared during the two days of camp.

Costs: tuition is $75 for two days and $50 for one day. Online registration is underway.

Lodging: There are limited number of dorm beds available at the Center for out of town guests. There are many hotels in the area.

Meals: Lunches must be brought to the camp each day. The cookout on Monday evening is open to campers and their families and is free.

Other Info: Instructor concert will follow cookout. A limited number of scholarships are available. If you’re interested in attending, visit the youth camp’s website or call our Camp Director, Gordon McLeod at 972-530-0757. Please note that we will only have the capacity for about 75 campers so we recommend that you register as soon as possible.