Madison Senior Center to learn about Irish Drumming

MADISON – Members of Madison Senior Center can experience some music appreciation in upcoming sessions.

Instructor Andy Kruspe will present “Bodhran — An Introduction to Irish Drumming” on May 17, 24 and 31. The class will meet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the center, 1282 Hughes Road.

Learning QUEST, which presents education and enrichment programs for adults of all ages, has partnered with Huntsville-Madison County Public Library to offer these sessions, according to Levoneia Ayers, Director of Madison Senior Center.

“Are you interested in Irish traditional music? Have you ever wanted to play an Irish ‘trad’ instrument? Now is your chance,” Ayers said.

Over the course of the one-hour classes, Kruspe, a local percussion instructor, will teach participants to play an Irish reel on the traditional frame drum, known as the bodhran.

This course will cover the proper way to hold the drum and tipper, along with various Irish traditional drum rhythms, types of Irish traditional tunes, aspects of Irish culture and resources for further study. Participants do not need any prior experience.

The instructor will provide drums and tippers.

Membership with LearningQUEST is open to adults who are at least 19 years old who are interested in lifelong learning. Membership dues are $20 for the calendar year, January through December.

Examples of LearningQUEST courses include “The British Royals,” “A History of English Poetry,” “Armchair Travel,” “Vietnam Revisited,” “Beginning Portuguese,” “Wines from France,” “Elder Law,” “Tai Chi for Physical Fitness” and “Let’s Go to Trial.”

Trips with LearningQUEST can include “Mystery Day Trip,” Manna House’s Field of Greens, Huntsville Museum of Art, “An Evening of Baseball,” “A Private Tour of the Lewis Garden” and Marshall Space Flight Center Bus Tour.

The LearningQUEST office is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. The office at the Downtown Library is on second floor, left of the Reference Desk at 915 Monroe St. SW in Huntsville.

For more information, call 256-529-8695, email learningquest.email@gmail.com or visit lquest.org.