May as well sneak this query in before the chorus of Auld Lang Syne rings out!!
Have any fiddlers here used book by Kevin Burke 'Learning the Irish Fiddle' Book and 6 CD set. But only seems to cover 18 tunes on 6 CD's??!! http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=791&prodType=
My wife is interested in purchasing and just wondering is it worth it - seems to be about $60? We have the DVD no.1 set by Kevin. She tried to order last year via Amazon from some crowd called Player's Quest but it never arrived and after a bit of hassle and a few months, we got a refund.
Curious thing, I can't find any mention of the title on Kevin's own site and googling it, doesn't turn up much.
I have the book and tapes, and found it easier to use than the DVD. I think it is definitely worth the price. You can get it from Homespun Tapes. Just Google that. Homespun has always been very reliable. I have used them for years. By the way, if they have CDs instead of tapes, get them. Rewinding tapes is a pain when your trying to go through certain passages.
Hope this helps.
I bought the entire Kevin Burke package....the 20 tunes CD, the 6 CD Learning the Irish Fiddle Book and CD AND the DVD's....and I think they are all pitched at slightly different levels.
Because I am an absolute beginner....I've found the instructional DVD the best for me now......you can SEE how he is holding his fiddle, where he is placing his fingers, which fingers he is using, and the bowing direction. He plays the tune, then runs through it phrase by phrase to teach you the melody and any ornaments and techniques you need to know about, then the bowing, and then plays it full speed. I've worked through about 4 tunes on the DVD on my own. In the meantime I've been having fortnightly lessons. The tunes I've learned off the DVD I've now memorised and play confidently, with good intonation, and at session speed.
The 6 CD set is similar. That's why there are so few tunes. He takes you through very slowly, phrase by phrase and talks about the various techniques he's using.
The 20 tunes is structured differently. Tunes are played half speed and then full speed. You have to do the work to decide how and when you are going to stop the CD to learn just that bit.
I think the entire package is BRILLIANT....and my personal preference is the DVD's. Happy New Year.
I have a "homespun" DVD of Kevin Burke teaching fiddle.
I found this use ful but i did find that he was imposing his sligo style on me greatly.
I would recomend it to an absolute beginer but for a capeable fiddler i recomend decent session tunes books/ fiddle solo books along with a cd of all of the tunes listed or to learn tunes of cd's aloneby ear.
in any case you should play every tune you learn in your own style.
Neal - How would you like Kevin Burke to teach? In a style other than his own? Surely he is following your sage advice and "playing every tune he learns in his own (Sligo influenced) style".
I would rather learn from someone whose integrity as a musician I respect, and who has a mature and well developed personal style, than from some averaged out and watered down session book any day. What I then choose to do with what I've learned is, of course, up to me.
Many learners of the Irish language get very caught up in "what dialect" to learn. Cois Fhairrge? Munster? Ulster?
The Irish language "powers that be" developed the caighdeán, or "official standard" Irish.
Now...there are two schools of thought.
1) Learn the caighdeán first and then branch out into the dialects. However, this means you learn a very "bland" form of Irish that is nearly universally disliked throughout the gaeltachtai.
2) Learn a dialect, any dialect, and then at least you'll learn a spoken version of the language and can embellish your vocabulary with terms, phrasings and such from the others.
See the similarity? You can learn to saw away at the tunes and yes...you will have learned an Irish tune. Or...you can learn the Sligo style, or Kerry style or whatever style and then begin to embellish (and better appreciate) the other styles.
Or you can learn in your own style. Which does take a bit of effort - but just pick stuff that you like and add it to your own playing, for example - crunchy triplets or sweet triplets etc. I wouldnt try and emulate someones playing - otherwise you forever be known as 'the one who playes like so and so (insert famous name in here)
Kevin Burke book
Kevin Burke book
May as well sneak this query in before the chorus of Auld Lang Syne rings out!!
Have any fiddlers here used book by Kevin Burke 'Learning the Irish Fiddle' Book and 6 CD set. But only seems to cover 18 tunes on 6 CD's??!! http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=791&prodType=
My wife is interested in purchasing and just wondering is it worth it - seems to be about $60? We have the DVD no.1 set by Kevin. She tried to order last year via Amazon from some crowd called Player's Quest but it never arrived and after a bit of hassle and a few months, we got a refund.
Curious thing, I can't find any mention of the title on Kevin's own site and googling it, doesn't turn up much.
# Posted on December 31st 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Kevin Burke book
I have the book and tapes, and found it easier to use than the DVD. I think it is definitely worth the price. You can get it from Homespun Tapes. Just Google that. Homespun has always been very reliable. I have used them for years. By the way, if they have CDs instead of tapes, get them. Rewinding tapes is a pain when your trying to go through certain passages.
Hope this helps.
# Posted on December 31st 2006 by pearse
Re: Kevin Burke book
I bought the entire Kevin Burke package....the 20 tunes CD, the 6 CD Learning the Irish Fiddle Book and CD AND the DVD's....and I think they are all pitched at slightly different levels.
Because I am an absolute beginner....I've found the instructional DVD the best for me now......you can SEE how he is holding his fiddle, where he is placing his fingers, which fingers he is using, and the bowing direction. He plays the tune, then runs through it phrase by phrase to teach you the melody and any ornaments and techniques you need to know about, then the bowing, and then plays it full speed. I've worked through about 4 tunes on the DVD on my own. In the meantime I've been having fortnightly lessons. The tunes I've learned off the DVD I've now memorised and play confidently, with good intonation, and at session speed.
The 6 CD set is similar. That's why there are so few tunes. He takes you through very slowly, phrase by phrase and talks about the various techniques he's using.
The 20 tunes is structured differently. Tunes are played half speed and then full speed. You have to do the work to decide how and when you are going to stop the CD to learn just that bit.
I think the entire package is BRILLIANT....and my personal preference is the DVD's. Happy New Year.
# Posted on January 1st 2007 by FiddleFancy
Re: Kevin Burke book
I have a "homespun" DVD of Kevin Burke teaching fiddle.
I found this use ful but i did find that he was imposing his sligo style on me greatly.
I would recomend it to an absolute beginer but for a capeable fiddler i recomend decent session tunes books/ fiddle solo books along with a cd of all of the tunes listed or to learn tunes of cd's aloneby ear.
in any case you should play every tune you learn in your own style.
# Posted on January 1st 2007 by N.P.
Re: Kevin Burke book
Thanks folks for your replies and a happy new musical y'ear' to ye all.
# Posted on January 1st 2007 by the wounded hussar
Re: Kevin Burke book
Neal - How would you like Kevin Burke to teach? In a style other than his own? Surely he is following your sage advice and "playing every tune he learns in his own (Sligo influenced) style".
I would rather learn from someone whose integrity as a musician I respect, and who has a mature and well developed personal style, than from some averaged out and watered down session book any day. What I then choose to do with what I've learned is, of course, up to me.
# Posted on January 2nd 2007 by kris
Re: Kevin Burke book
An analogy for you:
Many learners of the Irish language get very caught up in "what dialect" to learn. Cois Fhairrge? Munster? Ulster?
The Irish language "powers that be" developed the caighdeán, or "official standard" Irish.
Now...there are two schools of thought.
1) Learn the caighdeán first and then branch out into the dialects. However, this means you learn a very "bland" form of Irish that is nearly universally disliked throughout the gaeltachtai.
2) Learn a dialect, any dialect, and then at least you'll learn a spoken version of the language and can embellish your vocabulary with terms, phrasings and such from the others.
See the similarity? You can learn to saw away at the tunes and yes...you will have learned an Irish tune. Or...you can learn the Sligo style, or Kerry style or whatever style and then begin to embellish (and better appreciate) the other styles.
Is mise,
James
# Posted on January 6th 2007 by ceolgaelach
Re: Kevin Burke book
Or you can learn in your own style. Which does take a bit of effort - but just pick stuff that you like and add it to your own playing, for example - crunchy triplets or sweet triplets etc. I wouldnt try and emulate someones playing - otherwise you forever be known as 'the one who playes like so and so (insert famous name in here)
# Posted on January 6th 2007 by bb