looking for an woodworking school...

[Dongil Kim]

My own dream is to build a copy, or reproduction of Duncan Phype and/or John Seymour furniture, somewhere between Sheraton and Federal furniture.

I'd like to register for an woodworking program in my sabbatical year, like a nine-month program offered by College of the Redwoods or by Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. One-on-one instruction would be also fine as well.

Would you recommend an woodworking program which suit best for my purpose, please?

[Peter Quinn]

Take a look at Philip Lowe"s school as well. He is a master of the kind of reproductions that interest you. North Bennet Street School may have something as well, though I don"t see that either has a one year intensive available. Maybe they can customize a program to your needs?

http://www.furnituremakingclasses.com/

[Stephen Cherry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-sp3xR-vt8

Books, video, get some chisels, planes, etc, and practice basic skills. For example, if you could learn to cut mortise and tenon, dovetail, etc with basic hand tools before you started school, you would be way ahead. Even just learning to use a chisel to flatten a surface would put you way ahead. That way, when you get to the school, you could focus on refining your techniques, rather than the basics.

It's great to have the opportunity to go to a school (although I don't have any idea which one would be good), but it seems to me that it would be even better to know as much as possible before you start to put you further along when you finish.

[Steven Hsieh]

Cerritos College

http://cms.cerritos.edu/woodworking (http://cms.cerritos.edu/woodworking)

[Dongil Kim]

Peter, I know Philip Lowe's school. He is the right person I may learn from but but it seems that he does not offer the courses I want. Thank you for helpful suggestions.

Stephen, I have some basic skills and experiences. Thank you for kind advices.

Steven, I am studying the programs and courses that Cerritos College offers. Do you have any experience in that by yourself?

[Ellen Benkin]

Where are you and how far do you want to go?

If you want to do reproductions of the classics, North Bennett St is probably the place to go. The other schools that I know stress design (meaning your own design) not reproductions. I also suggest you find someone who does reproductions and find out if you can apprentice with him.

[Vijay Kumar]

Chuck Bender runs the acanthus school. He is located in PA. No personal experience, but he does the kind of work that you are looking for and is reputed to be a great teacher.
I have taken a class at the Homestead Heritage school (in Waco Texas). Besides the regular classes they also offer one on one instruction on an as needed basis. They are all hand tool guys. pm me if you want some information on them.

Vijay

[Greg Wease]

If you are looking at programs in CA, don't overlook Palomar College. Take a look at the programs (especially CFT 110/111) at this site:

http://www.palomar.edu/woodworking/

I'd be happy to answer any particular questions about the program by PM.

[Steven Hsieh]

Steven, I am studying the programs and courses that Cerritos College offers. Do you have any experience in that by yourself?

No I do not
But I am planning to take Falls classes.

How do you like the programs they have?

[Dongil Kim]

Greg, Palomar College does provide fine programs. However their main purpose is to train young students for employment in modern woodworking business, which I do not want.

Steven, Cerritos College's programs also place more emphasis on training students for employment in modern woodworking business, which I do not want.

Vijay, Chuck Bender's Acanthus Workshop is more like a Philip Lowe's school, providing a series of individual workshops. I'd rather take an intensive program.

Ellen, I have another look at the North Bennett St School program. You are right, it may be the right program. I'll contact the school. I like the apprenticeship idea as well. I just cannot find one, though.
Where am I? I am currently in Hampton, NH, making a Windsor chair in Mike Dunbar's class. I'll return home in Seoul, Korea after the class, with the chair. ;-)

Thank all of you for kind advices and suggestions.
Any other idea and opinion is always well come.