Hi! Im a 40 year old who has taken up tinwhistle in the last couple of years. I enjoy it immensely but unfortunately have a little trouble commiting the tunes to memory. Just wondering if anybody out there has any tips for me.
Additionally, I have two daughters who play trad flute. They are anxious to begin playing at sessions and want to ensure that they have at least the top 50 most popular tunes which are played at sessions. I would appreciate if you had any suggestions in this area.
Well...where are you? The top fifty session tunes will be different from one area to the next, plus the settings might be totally different where you are to where I am...
I wouldn't worry too much about any kind of top 50 list. Just learn as many tunes as you can. Not really helpful, I know, but it really is the best way to do it. And remember to emphasize that in Irish music, there's nothing wrong (quite the opposite) with being willing to sit and listen and learn from it.
There are certainly a lot of standard tunes to choose from that every session player would know. However, the favorite tunes generally vary from session to session. A good session standard like 'Harvest Home' would be a welcome tune in some places and very unwelcome in others (I've heard it too many times before, It's a beginners tune, We don't like hornpipes, etc.) Personally, I think it's all bunk, but I've heard it before.
That being said, probably one of the best collections of 'standard' session tunes is made by Tommy Peoples and is called '50 IRISH FIDDLE TUNES'. You can find it here. http://www.elderly.com/books/264.htm#267. It comes with a tape as well.
Some of my personal favorites for 'standard' tunes are "Congress Reel", "Star Of Munster", "Jig Of Slurs", "Connaughtman's Rambles", "Tar Road To Sligo", "Jackie Colemans" and "Kesh Jig".
I'd say, find a local session, go there, and listen, listen, listen. After a bit, you could ask one of the players "what tunes are popular 'round these parts?" If you're really lucky, someone will give you a list or point you towards a good tune book (or just build your own on this site!)
As for memorizing the tunes, get them in your head and under your fingers. Make a tape or burn a CD and llisten to it constantly in your car, on your Walkman or MP3 player, at work if possible. And practice your favorites over and over until your finger muscles know what note is next without you thinking of it. It's work, but that's how it is. If you play any other instrument, you've been through this already, it's the same with your new whistle.
Pesonally, I think learning just a handful of tunes is enough to start you off. If you start frequenting a particular session or sessions, you'll soon pick up the bare bones of some more tunes and in time, be able to fill in the bits you're unsure of.
There is the problem, particularly with the louder instruments, of trying to play along to tunes you don't know without putting the other musicians off. The best solution, I would say, is to take a tape recorder with you, and listen back and learn the tunes at home. I think it is best to force yourself to learn by ear as early on as possible - after all, listening is what the music is about, not dots on paper.
I agree with David. I started learning by ear when I was 30. Started over, that is! My childhood piano teacher would not allow ear playing -- a teaching method that is still standard among US piano teachers -- what a crime that is.
Anyway, listen, listen, listen. Sing along. Even if you think you can't sing. Maybe you already know you can sing. But if you think you can't and don't like for anyone to hear you sing, go ahead and sing anyway "in the privacy of your own home." And "in a plain brown wrapper." LOL This will really set the tunes into your inner self and help you retain them. And the more you sing, the more you listen, the more you learn, the more you will remember.
And don't expect this to be an overnight, or one month process. You will get better month by month, year by year. If you can only remember one tune to start on your own at a session, then just stick with that one "old reliable," until you can rely on another one. Meanwhile, keep on singing and listening and playing along with tapes.
And maybe start a Friendly Irish Music Circle like I did. We had our first event last night. 12 people came and it was very fun and successful.
retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
Hi! Im a 40 year old who has taken up tinwhistle in the last couple of years. I enjoy it immensely but unfortunately have a little trouble commiting the tunes to memory. Just wondering if anybody out there has any tips for me.
Additionally, I have two daughters who play trad flute. They are anxious to begin playing at sessions and want to ensure that they have at least the top 50 most popular tunes which are played at sessions. I would appreciate if you had any suggestions in this area.
thanking you in advance,
BONXIE!
# Posted on September 4th 2001 by Bonxie
Re: retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
Well...where are you? The top fifty session tunes will be different from one area to the next, plus the settings might be totally different where you are to where I am...
I wouldn't worry too much about any kind of top 50 list. Just learn as many tunes as you can. Not really helpful, I know, but it really is the best way to do it. And remember to emphasize that in Irish music, there's nothing wrong (quite the opposite) with being willing to sit and listen and learn from it.
Zina
# Posted on September 4th 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
There are certainly a lot of standard tunes to choose from that every session player would know. However, the favorite tunes generally vary from session to session. A good session standard like 'Harvest Home' would be a welcome tune in some places and very unwelcome in others (I've heard it too many times before, It's a beginners tune, We don't like hornpipes, etc.) Personally, I think it's all bunk, but I've heard it before.
That being said, probably one of the best collections of 'standard' session tunes is made by Tommy Peoples and is called '50 IRISH FIDDLE TUNES'. You can find it here. http://www.elderly.com/books/264.htm#267. It comes with a tape as well.
Some of my personal favorites for 'standard' tunes are "Congress Reel", "Star Of Munster", "Jig Of Slurs", "Connaughtman's Rambles", "Tar Road To Sligo", "Jackie Colemans" and "Kesh Jig".
Good luck
# Posted on September 4th 2001 by Caoimghgin
Re: retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
I'd say, find a local session, go there, and listen, listen, listen. After a bit, you could ask one of the players "what tunes are popular 'round these parts?" If you're really lucky, someone will give you a list or point you towards a good tune book (or just build your own on this site!)
As for memorizing the tunes, get them in your head and under your fingers. Make a tape or burn a CD and llisten to it constantly in your car, on your Walkman or MP3 player, at work if possible. And practice your favorites over and over until your finger muscles know what note is next without you thinking of it. It's work, but that's how it is. If you play any other instrument, you've been through this already, it's the same with your new whistle.
Good Luck & keep at it!'
Jeff
# Posted on September 4th 2001 by JeffK627
Re: retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
Pesonally, I think learning just a handful of tunes is enough to start you off. If you start frequenting a particular session or sessions, you'll soon pick up the bare bones of some more tunes and in time, be able to fill in the bits you're unsure of.
There is the problem, particularly with the louder instruments, of trying to play along to tunes you don't know without putting the other musicians off. The best solution, I would say, is to take a tape recorder with you, and listen back and learn the tunes at home. I think it is best to force yourself to learn by ear as early on as possible - after all, listening is what the music is about, not dots on paper.
# Posted on September 8th 2001 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: retaining tunes + top 50 session tunes
I agree with David. I started learning by ear when I was 30. Started over, that is! My childhood piano teacher would not allow ear playing -- a teaching method that is still standard among US piano teachers -- what a crime that is.
Anyway, listen, listen, listen. Sing along. Even if you think you can't sing. Maybe you already know you can sing. But if you think you can't and don't like for anyone to hear you sing, go ahead and sing anyway "in the privacy of your own home." And "in a plain brown wrapper." LOL This will really set the tunes into your inner self and help you retain them. And the more you sing, the more you listen, the more you learn, the more you will remember.
And don't expect this to be an overnight, or one month process. You will get better month by month, year by year. If you can only remember one tune to start on your own at a session, then just stick with that one "old reliable," until you can rely on another one. Meanwhile, keep on singing and listening and playing along with tapes.
And maybe start a Friendly Irish Music Circle like I did. We had our first event last night. 12 people came and it was very fun and successful.
Marian
# Posted on September 8th 2001 by Marian63