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O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Teaching Traditional Irish Music

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  • Info
    • About Our Retreat
    • Retreat History
    • Enrollment Tips
    • For Newcomers
    • FAQs
    • Schedule of Events
    • Updates
    • Fees
    • Payment Policies
    • Register
    • Scholarships
    • Age Exception Policy
    • Ways to Support
    • O’Flaherty Marketplace
    • Retreat Flyer
    • Blog
  • Learning
    • About Course Levels
    • Core Courses
    • Enrichment Classes
    • Workshops
    • Informances
    • Luthier Clinics
    • Private Lessons
    • Student Resources
  • Staff
    • Core Instructors
    • Enrichment Class Instructors
    • Workshop Presenters
    • Guest Performers
    • Session Leaders
  • Events
    • Instructor Concerts
    • Instructor-Led Sessions
    • Nightly Sessions
    •  Streamed Concerts
    • Ceilis
    • Guest Concerts
  • Lodging & Meals
    • Lodging
    • Lodging Waiting List Request
    • Meals & Refreshments
    • Meal Menu
  • Travel
    • Maps & Directions
    • Site Map
    • Shuttle Bus Services
  • Forms
    • Contact Us
    • Donations
    • Sign Up for Email Updates
    • Age Exception Request
    • Scholarship Application
    • Lodging Waiting List Request
    • Class Waiting List
    • Airport Shuttle Bus Request
    • Special Needs for Lodging Form
    • Workshop Proposal Form
  • Archives
    • Past Instructors
    • Past Enrichment Classes
    • Past Workshops
    • Archive of Past Retreats
    • Videos
    • Irish Artist in America Achievement Award

Herb Taylor Instruments

October 5, 2020 By

Herb Taylor and companion outdoors in a rock landscape

Herb Taylor moved to Colorado in 1973 and plunged into outdoor sports with a passion he still enjoys today; in recent years he has hiked for perhaps 1600 days in the Colorado Plateau. While supporting himself with a varied work career (artist, teacher, computer engineer), Herb also played amateur French horn in the Brico symphony orchestra.

In the 90s, two events changed his life. First, a benign brain tumor left him deaf in one ear, making it impossible to play orchestral music. Second, after retirement he tried his hand at folk music; although folk music didn’t grab him, through building a mountain dulcimer he discovered the fascinating world of lutherie. He was introduced to Ely Karasik, and one thing led to another: Denver Mandolin Orchestra, CMSA. Herb built an Irish Bouzouki which led him to Irish player Pete Strickler, Zoukfest and Roger Landes, a musical polymath who remains a mentor, and to the O’Flaherty Retreat in Texas.

Because of a desire to learn things for himself and not copy others, Herb became a self-taught luthier. The disadvantage: making mistakes that might have been avoided with classes. The advantage: the freedom to evolve new ideas and construction methods. Herb tries to combine structural integrity, maintainability, ergonomics, tone and aesthetics. Among his innovations are steam-bent arched tops, an adjustable neck joint, internal structural braces, super-light lattice braced sound boards and through-stick design.

Herb’s specialty is making instruments that aren’t common in music shops: mandolas, bouzoukis, tenor guitars, mandocellos in various 4- and 5-string configurations. His current challenge is reimagining the “classical” mandolin.

Herb Taylor Instruments

Testimonials

Former Student

Well worth the travel time and money spent - I learned more about why Irish music sounds the way it does in three days than I ever knew before. Now I have a 'gold standard' to use as I develop my own performing skills with that style of music.

Read all our testimonials…

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O’Flaherty Irish Music Retreat

Traditional Irish Music Education Society (TIMES)
1320 Navaho Trail
Richardson, TX 75080
(469) 215-1840
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