Confused on what class to take

[garyn]

I need some advice from those that know the subject, please.
At the SF Pen Show, Michael Sull is teaching 2 classes, American Penmanship and Spencerian.
I'm totally at a loss on which class to take, or even if I should be looking at Copperplate instead.
I was told that for the Spencerian class, we are to bring our own oblique holder, vs the American Penmanship class where I think we bring any pen.
I'm a novice novice, and all of my dip pen writing has been basically Palmer style, but using a Nikko G in an oblique holder, to get the flex in the downstroke.  So really nothing fancy, I just enjoy writing with a dip pen.

thanks

ps, I can't take both classes, as I have to run the registration table also.

[Blotbot]

Spencerian I know, but what style is American Penmanship?  I wonder if it might be similar to Palmer.  Guess it depends if you want to improve what you already know or learn something new.  I would go with Spencerian!

[AndyT]

I suspect that Ellen's on the right lines, going by Mr Sull's "American Cursive Handwriting" project.  I haven't seen the book, mind you, but did watch an interview in which he explained that the general thrust was along Palmerish lines, and an oblique penholder was definitely not a requirement.  In fact, having watched it again just now, I think it will tell you exactly what to expect. 

[schin]

Hmm my guess is that the Spencerian class would be based on this book of his: http://www.johnnealbooks.com/fullsize/164/s
Where it's got the thick and thins using a nib and more 'calligraphic' like...

The American penmanship class is based off this book of his: http://www.johnnealbooks.com/fullsize/3024/s
You can see it's more handwriting-ish and more linear. That's probably why he says you can bring any pen, cos it doesn't do the thick/thins.

[garyn]

Thanks guys.
I think I will do the Spencerian class.
I "think" I have the normal handwriting part OK.  Well at least it is much more readable than it used to be.