Loughries Grant Applications 2013

Well, it it that time of the year again - I used to dread but have gotten used to recent years.

By the end of this month I will have completed 1 festival funding application and 1 Good Relations funding application. Also, I have already submitted a funding application for Loughries 2 x summer schools to be held in July 2013.

Community development grant in April, then some STRIPE (Orange Institution Project) stuff like marshaling courses, good relations project - that said our membership has increased 400% in 7 years so it is working!!

I will post further details in the coming weeks, nevertheless it is time consuming and draining at times, however I am happy as an Orange & Ulster Scots community activist to put in the time as the rewards far out-weigh a few hours at the computer.


HMA

Road to the Twelfth Starts Here!

It may be a very bitter cold, wet and miserable March day, however the road to the 12th of July starts here!

For a few hours today Bobby, Jackie and myself spent time in Ballyrobert pullin a few drum and getting a few heads / skins ready for the upcoming events.

Above are only a few of the drums that we have been working on in recent weeks and months, behind me, where I took this photo - are 2 x more shells and 1 drum in the press ready to be pulled.

Loughries are working to organise a fife and lambeg drumming event in Newtownards on 21st June 2013 as part of our yearly Ulster Scots Festival - funded by Ards Borough Council Festival Funding.

More details to follow!

HMA

Fife Cleaning

I received a call earlier this week from a teacher (Shaz) who works in a school that I had been teaching in a while back - she is very keen to get a fife & lambeg drum project up and running.

 

Anyway, whilst having a chat about the project she enquired into purchasing some fifes, well I had around 20 fifes gathered up, 6 I have kept by for the Lisneal Collage project, so I agreed to sell 4 to Shaz. Sadly I went to get the fifes they looked the rather worse for ware, so I ended up oiling and cleaning 10 fifes, including my own - which got a spring clean! (over 2 hours)

 

They are like new now and looking forward to delivering them to the school, yes they were a bargin at £*&.%$ each !

 

HMA

A Couple of Turkey's

I was out for my daily walk yesterday and came across these two........ it reminded me on a couple of folk, so I had a wee chuckle to myself - little amuses the innocent!

HMA

Bangor Grammar Spring Concert 2013

On Wednesday evening I attended Bangor Grammar spring concert at their impressive new school. My eldest boy Matthew is in year 8 and a member of the training orchestra and year 8 choir - he played a supporting role throughout the night.

 

Having worked in schools for over 5 years now, preparing children for performances - it was great to sit back back, relax and be entertained, and entertained I was!

 

It was a fabulous concert with some particularly talented young musicians, playing a wide range of musical instruments. The programme was also quite varied, from film/tv theme-tunes, pop,, rock, classical, choir/barbershop, orchestral, solo's etc. My favourite piece was Bluebell of Scotland, piano & Trombone it was terrific.

 

All in all a great night out -  with Matthew although quite nervous, performed very well and it was a great experience for him!

 

HMA

Lambeg Drums - Brian Jamison (Artist)



Well, as I was posting regarding the new Lisneal Collage Lambeg Drum I thought I would share with you some of Brian Jamison's previous work.

 

Now, Brian paints many varied items, milk churns, stones, wood, lambeg drums and of course canvasses - so I have kept Brian quite busy over recent years.

 

Here are  few examples of Brian's work:-

 

Blakley's Glorious Traditions

 

 

Ulster's Twin Towers

One of my drums - Prudence

Aul Samuel

Therefore you can be quite certain that the Lisneal drum will be a wonderful painting.


HMA

Lambeg Drum for Lisneal College - Londonderry 2

While others still talk about it..................

 

On Sunday10th March 2013 I posted an article regarding a new Lambeg Drum and associated equipment for Lisneal Collage in Londonderry.

 

Well on Tuesday evening 12th March I took the drum shell to the artist, Brian Jamison of Ballywatticock to begin the process. I spoke at great length to Brian about what was required from the school and I took along with me a print out of what is to be painted on the drum along with a sketch that had been prepared by Darren Gibson (teacher at Lisneal).

 

I can't disclose what is to be painted on the drum as it is a closely guarded secret, however think of Londonderry...... that is all I an divulging!

 

 

So, here you see the drum prepared with primer and ready for the painting.

I don't intend to photograph various stages of the painting process, however I will keep you all regularly updated on its development.

 

Darren and I have further plans for the project - more later!

 

On another matter...............I have been contracted by an organisation to do 2 x similar projects in schools - one from the Catholic Maintained school sector and one from the state school sector, not only to provide the drum and drumming equipment but also to take up to a 20 week tuition course also along with visits to the drum makers and drum painters......... more later !!

HMA