Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn the bodhrán
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The bodhrán is the Irish frame drum, played with a small stick called a tipper to accompany jigs and reels. Beginners' courses start with how to hold the drum and the stick, then the rhythms you need to join in with traditional tunes.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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Drums, tippers and tuning
The Online Academy of Irish Music's Bodhrán Basics course, for absolute beginners, has 13 lessons covering how to hold the drum and the stick, rhythms for jigs and reels, tone, rim shots and session etiquette. Its tutor notes that bodhráns used to be 18 inches (46 cm) but the trend now is for smaller ones, and a 14-inch (36 cm) drum may be more convenient. A heavier stick gives a richer sound but tires a beginner faster.
The skin changes with the weather. Heat, such as a hairdryer, raises the pitch and tension; a couple of spoonfuls of water soften a skin that is too tight. A cheap drum with no tuners can be adjusted this way each time you play.
In a session, ask the players first whether they mind you joining in. The convention is one bodhrán at a time, so if another bodhrán player is there, ask them too.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London | Saturdays, beginners 9.30am; terms of about 10 weeks (26 September to 5 December 2026 run); bring your own drum | £150 a term, £425 a year (£420 in the general fees list) |
| Comhaltas branches in Britain | Branches and regions run activities and lessons weekly and monthly; ask your nearest branch about bodhrán | Not listed |
| Online Academy of Irish Music (online, from Doolin) | Bodhrán Basics, 13 lessons (2 to 3 videos each) for absolute beginners; free trial | From €16 a month on a six-month plan |
| Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School | Beginning bodhrán, three evenings, 10 to 12 August 2026; or a 90-minute Friday sampler | $150; sampler $50 |
| Common Ground on the Hill (US) | Beginners' bodhrán in Traditions Weeks, 4 to 9 July 2027 week; bring your own drum and tipper | Not listed |
| Craiceann, Inis Oírr, Aran Islands | Bodhrán summer school with four levels and a stream for complete beginners | Not listed |
The Irish Cultural Centre says it cannot provide instruments, and Common Ground asks students to bring their own drums and tippers, so sort out a drum before the first class.
How to start
- Find a class at an Irish cultural centre or a Comhaltas branch, or try an online beginners' course.
- Check whether drums are provided. Many classes expect you to bring your own drum and tipper.
- If you buy a drum, a smaller one of about 14 inches (36 cm) may be more convenient for a beginner, and a lighter stick is easier on the arm.
Where to go
- Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith: music classes including bodhrán UK
- Comhaltas in Britain: find a branch UK
- Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School: bodhrán classes US
- Common Ground on the Hill: bodhrán for beginners US
- Online Academy of Irish Music: Bodhrán Basics
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What size bodhrán should a beginner buy?
The Online Academy of Irish Music's tutor says bodhráns used to be 18 inches (46 cm) but are now usually smaller, and a 14-inch (36 cm) drum may be more convenient for a beginner.
How do you tune a bodhrán?
If your drum has no tuners, you can use heat, such as a hairdryer, to raise the pitch, or a couple of spoonfuls of water to soften a skin that is too tight.
Do bodhrán classes provide drums?
Often not. The Irish Cultural Centre in London cannot provide instruments, and Common Ground on the Hill asks beginners to bring their own drum and tipper.
Can I play the bodhrán in an Irish session?
Ask the players first. The usual convention is one bodhrán at a time, so if another bodhrán player is there, ask them as well.
Where this comes from: Irish Cultural Centre, Music school; Comhaltas in Britain, Branches; Online Academy of Irish Music, Bodhrán Basics; Online Academy of Irish Music, home page (membership price); Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, Bodhrán classes; Common Ground on the Hill, Bodhrán (Irish frame drum) for beginners; Craiceann, Classes and teachers 2026. Opened 12 November 2026.
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