Celtic Percussion with Matthew Bell(Interview)

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Matthew Bell

Attention drummers. It’s time to play Celtic Percussion with Matthew Bell! 

As we move into our drum-centric posts in the coming weeks, this interview with Matthew Bell is a good opener. I subscribed to his Contemporary Bodhran YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/mattbellmusic) several months ago and enjoy every update. He brings something different to the world of Celtic percussion. His teaching method has that Zen approach and he talks in that easy, friendly way. So it is really an honor to feature him in this site and to get insights regarding music and theory in general.

1. You must be enjoying your project Celtic Percussion Collective as I am seeing new video tutorials coming out.

Yes, indeed I am enjoying what we have going at the CPC at the moment. We’ve had a really positive response to our educational and performance projects so far and we have a bunch of new things in the works for the coming year!

2. Where do you get your ideas for your video shoots?

Great question! My ideas come from my teaching and performing experiences as well as having a music school background. I approach the teaching of the bodhran in exactly the same way as I teach pipe band drumming, or any other percussion instrument for that matter. I have found over the years that technique and a musical approach are often glazed over or not really taught at all to beginning students. Learning of the bodhran is just as fun, and playing the instrument is just as addictive if you learn proper technique from the start.

3. Can you tell us more about your other projects?

Sure! I have more free videos in the works for my Contemporary Bodhran YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/mattbellmusic). I’m also working on a subscription-based bodhran educational website called the Contemporary Bodhran. The site will feature over 150 video tutorials, a chat room, bodhran-related merchandise for sale, and a host of other things. I’m also working on a signature bodhran tipper with the legendary tipper maker, Stevie Moises (www.tippermaker.eu). At the CPC, we’re expanding our clinic offerings to more universities, and we’re also working on a course for pipe band drumming.

4. Can you tell us about this new book you have and what can readers benefit from getting this book.

The Contemporary Bodhran book is a great supplement to my online bodhran videos, and is a good reference for new players of the instrument or people looking to expand their style and technique who have been playing for a while.

5. What’s your advice to those who are just starting to pick up their bodhran in terms of improvement?

Work on your fundamental technique as much as possible. Don’t be in a rush to get out playing sessions too quickly. If you really get the fundamentals down the first time, you’ll have a really solid base to then expand from. Practice a little bit every day- spaced repetition is key.

6. You play other kinds of drums. Why percussion?

Why not percussion!?!?! 🙂 Drums are cool, everyone knows that! Seriously though, I was drawn to percussion from a really young age. I love the sound of the instruments, I love what it feels like to play, and I love accompanying other musicians!

7. Where can people get in touch with you for tutorials?

The CPC website: www.celticpercussion.com

The Contemporary Bodhran YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/mattbellmusic

The CPC YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/celticpercussion

The CPC is also on Facebook and Twitter! www.facebook.com/celticpercussioncollective, @celtpercussion

8. Your message to music enthusiasts and lovers of Celtic percussion?

It’s never too late to get started playing Celtic music or Celtic percussion! My life is what it is because I was lucky enough to grow up in the Celtic music community, and I feel privileged to be able to pass on what I’ve learned to students from all over the world!

Have you heard of Tom Acton?

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If you haven’t picked up Down The Irish Gravel Road by Dublin based singer/songwriter Tom Acton yet, then you better. Mr Acton has a wonderful voice and he loves recording happy tunes. I heard three full tracks so far: Sligo Fair (very catchy), The Great Johnny Doran and The Water Song. The latter is very close to my heart because of its beautiful, poignant and somber atmosphere.

I made friends with Tom Acton when I signed up with Live Ireland. I remember him as a friendly and jolly fella. It is great to discover that his talent has a timeless appeal. He has a voice that catches you right away. As if he is meant to be heard on the radio. There are people who are born that way I guess. They are so natural onstage and off stage.

His songs are wrapped up with beautiful instrumental arrangements. These are things that would make you compare the tracks to the likes of Planxty and The Dubliners. But Acton has an original sound. It is a confident style that transcends time. You should hear his album and listen to the lyrics. He has a lot to say. He has a lot to sing about!

Samples and artist info can be found here:

http://www.fullspiral.nl/?MUSIC

 

Cillian King is going to release some mighty music!

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Thanks to Rolf Wagels for this exciting story!

The buzz is that Cillian King is releasing new music soon. What music could this be? Are you excited? I know I am. I have heard his tunes with other groups and this man is truly amazing. I am sharing his soundcloud page because I am sure he will post all his new tunes on this page so keep a close watch ok?

In the mean time I wish you all a great week ahead. Good coffee and awesome tunes!

James Law’s Neknomination (Fiddle Version)

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As the extraordinary fiddler of the Canadian Celtic trio NUA, his projects don’t go unnoticed. As in the case of this Neknomination, where he shows his amazing instrumental excellence through guitar and fiddle. I did a brief message exchange with him and came up with interesting facts, including a forthcoming new album from NUA!

1. Can you tell us more about this project?

This isn’t so much my project as it is an interpretation or a reinvention of the original Facebook game called neknominate. Neknominations was originally when people consumed an alcoholic beverage in one gulp and posted the video of them drinking on facebook. You then nominated two other people to do the same within the next 24 hours and post it. More detail at this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neknominate

2. What is this tune you are playing?

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James M Law

The tune I am playing is one that I wrote in the last week or so as I was working on new material for an upcoming NUA album. It doesn’t have a name yet but I’m sure one will soon enough. Graeme McGillivray (guitar player from NUA) also assisted on composing this composition.

3. This is a musical side of you I haven’t seen before and I am impressed . Is there a solo project you are working on as of the moment?

I am not working on a solo project at the moment. This video came about because Kerry and Julie Fitzgerald nominated me to play a fiddle tune. The reason I picked the tune was because it was something new that I had just written and was inspired to try and put some chords to it and work on some of my DADGAD guitar playing. Before this video, I have never done a solo video of this nature with me playing all the parts. I enjoyed the new experience and think there might be a few more videos to come in the future.

4. What are the things you want to accomplish this year?

I am looking forward to the summer this year as I have a lot of exciting gigs coming up. I will be teaching the Trad Band at the Sunshine Coast School of Celtic Music during the first week of July. NUA is playing at Mill Race Festival for our second year in a row this August. We are also playing at Goderich Celtic Roots Festival this August which is very exciting. NUA is expecting a new album to be released early 2015. The other big project I am a part of is The Marwills. The Marwills have a tour coming up in late July out to the East Coast in Halifax. The Marwills are planing gigs in Barrie ON, Toronto ON, Ottawa ON, Montreal QC, Fredericton NB, Halifax NS and Tay Creek NB where they will be playing at the Tay Creek Music Festival. Other than that I am concentrating on my music / instruments as well as my production skills as I record other artists.

5. Thanks for the time James!

Thanks Baxter, let let me know if you want more info. Here are some links to things I talked about in the questions. I will upload the video to youtube just now and send you the link when its done uploading.

http://www.millracefolksociety.com/Festival.html

http://www.celticfestival.ca

http://www.themarwills.ca

http://www.trionua.com

 

Siúil a Rún by Belfast Royal Academy

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I was listening to  Siúil a Run, a fresh version by Royal Academy early in the morning. That was before doing laundry. Now it’s after laundry and I am writing about them. Nothing like a beautiful track to sooth tired muscles. It’s taken from the upcoming album Native. I love that album cover featuring a cow. I have a feeling it will reflect the pastoral bless of the Northern Irish countryside. It’s under the management of Stubborn Ass Music  so I am really sure it’s going to be amazing!

A little info about this project from Dermot McIlroy:

It was certainly an exciting brief, to produce an album of traditional music in just three weeks or so but we got there. The interesting cover art is a stamp of a Moiled cow (a Moilie), a native cow that our client breeds and hopes to promote through this CD. Thanks to The Bruces Hill Cattle company, Lofbergs coffee and the musicians and staff of Belfast Royal Academy for their help in producing this album. A few snippets of the tracks to follow soon.
Ok that sounds exciting. I have no details yet but I will surely update you about this group. I love the instruments that compliment the fantastic female vocals. “Siúil a Rún” is a traditional Irish song, sung from the point of view of a woman lamenting a lover who has embarked on a military career, and indicating her willingness to support him.