At our session we often get people coming up to us asking where they can get resources for learning Irish music on whatever instrument they play. As a whistle player, I can point them to great whistle resources, but I am at a loss when it comes to fiddle, mandolin, box, etc.
I thought I could just google it, but because I'm not familiar with the intricacies of learning those instruments, I'm having a hard time determining which sites are the best. If anybody can supply me with links to the best place to start learning irish music on the:
* Fiddle
* Mandolin
* Guitar
* Concertina
* Anything else you can think of
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Thanks Batlady, I appreciate your answer, but it's not exactly what I was looking for.
1. Our session is fine for listening, listening and listening, which is really very important, but it's not enough even with free beer (I can't believe I just said that ). Newcomers to our session know the importance of listening, but they need to be able to help themselves as well, and I'm not referring to going through tune books.
2. Taking lessons for Irish music can be rather difficult here in Africa. Even if one is lucky enough to find someone who can not only teach the instrument of your choice but also teach Irish music, it can be rather expensive and is not within everybody's reach. But that's only if you can find somebody, which is unlikely.
3. The tutorials in the link section has many links that are country specific, links that no longer work and links to pay sites. It does not include most sites and has no indication of which are the best sites. It has the same value as a Google search, except with fewer hits.
When I started playing the whistle I tried many sites and after a lot of hard work and effort I can now say with confidence "I tried all these sites and found this one to be the best." I'm looking for someone who can say the same thing about fiddle, mandolin, etc. sites. So I guess what I'm asking is "In your experience, which site did you find to help you the most as a beginner?"
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Shrog ~ you are right. I hadn't realized how incomplete the "Tutorial" section is. There's not much there are all, and there are even several members here on site who have created sites with 'how-to' as the main focus, but I didn't see them listed. I will try to remember the couple I've come across.
Unfortunately I'm like Batlady, I depend mostly on 'live' and recorded sources, or on the better print, audio and video lessons available for students, rather than online sources. If I can remember more I'll add it. The links I've given above are good resources, though one is to a magazine...
I'll see if I can remember those others sources to add later...
That's what dyslexia does to you, as if the title weren't obvious. He has mini-lessons and videos... At least I remembered that much and in less than a few days too. Maybe with dyslexia you improve with age?
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
I've just added that to the "Links" ~ hopefully if folks do have something to offer that isn't here they will also add it in the "Links"... I will try not to take it for granted again and had best check to see if anything else is 'missing' that I assumed was there...
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Yes, I remember Jim Dorans! He dissappeared of the discussions almost a year ago. Whatever happened to him? I remember people finding his site quite usefull.
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Hi Shrog, for fiddle (and I'm definitely still a beginner, so I use them myself), the discussions on this site are incredibly helpful, believe it or not. Just search for things like bowing, rolls, style, anything that comes to mind, and there will be pages of discussions from some very experienced fiddlers. You can also tell people to come and ask questions---I've received some excellent advice here.
The other two sites that have helped me the most are Violin Masterclass (for technique) and YouTube (for specific tunes and watching real Irish fiddlers). One of these days I am also going to buy Kevin Burke's DVDs, I hear they're good.
I guess the best thing to tell people is to make use of every resource they can think of. An mp3 recorder is incredibly helpful. Other people here like the slow-down software---I'm not too keen on it myself because I don't like what it does to the sound, but if you don't have a teacher I guess it would help.
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Shrog-no offense taken. I see what you're asking. As someone who lives in the hinterlands, I understand the issue. Africa would be a genuine hinterland.
My dear husband gave me a set of Kevin Burke DVDs from Homespun a couple of years back. They are a great resource if you play them on your computer and loop some of the segments. Homespun has tutorial DVDs for other instruments (hah! as if there is anything else but the fiddle!!!) Not free, but a good value.
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Another commercial source besides Homespun is the MadforTrad-site. Their CD-s aren't very expensive but can be very valuable - especially for beginners in the hinterlands. They got tutorials for most common instruments used in ITM.
btw, which tin whistle site did you find being the best?
lars
Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Online resources for anything but the whistle...
At our session we often get people coming up to us asking where they can get resources for learning Irish music on whatever instrument they play. As a whistle player, I can point them to great whistle resources, but I am at a loss when it comes to fiddle, mandolin, box, etc.
I thought I could just google it, but because I'm not familiar with the intricacies of learning those instruments, I'm having a hard time determining which sites are the best. If anybody can supply me with links to the best place to start learning irish music on the:
* Fiddle
* Mandolin
* Guitar
* Concertina
* Anything else you can think of
I will greatly appreciate it.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Shrog
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
1. At your session. They are there; they can learn more by listening to you play than by parsing the notes in a tune book. And there is beer.
2. Take a few lessons. A human bean in the room is better than one on a DVD.
3. If all else fails, the "Tutorials" in the Links section here.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Batlady
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
You may have already, but check "Links" here on the site, then 'Categories':
Musical Instruments
Tutorials
Most of us have tended to add what we know there, or found it was already listed...
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Here's a few:
http://www.fiddle.com/
http://www.tradartsweb.com/
http://www.irishfiddle.com/
http://www.concertina.net/
http://www.concertina.com/
http://www.woodenflute.com/
http://www.theflow.org.uk/
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Thanks Batlady, I appreciate your answer, but it's not exactly what I was looking for.
1. Our session is fine for listening, listening and listening, which is really very important, but it's not enough even with free beer (I can't believe I just said that
). Newcomers to our session know the importance of listening, but they need to be able to help themselves as well, and I'm not referring to going through tune books.
2. Taking lessons for Irish music can be rather difficult here in Africa. Even if one is lucky enough to find someone who can not only teach the instrument of your choice but also teach Irish music, it can be rather expensive and is not within everybody's reach. But that's only if you can find somebody, which is unlikely.
3. The tutorials in the link section has many links that are country specific, links that no longer work and links to pay sites. It does not include most sites and has no indication of which are the best sites. It has the same value as a Google search, except with fewer hits.
When I started playing the whistle I tried many sites and after a lot of hard work and effort I can now say with confidence "I tried all these sites and found this one to be the best." I'm looking for someone who can say the same thing about fiddle, mandolin, etc. sites. So I guess what I'm asking is "In your experience, which site did you find to help you the most as a beginner?"
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Shrog
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Oh man, I just re-read my previous post and it sounds very rude. I didn't intend for it to sound so ungrateful, I do really appreciate your answer.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Shrog
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Shrog ~ you are right. I hadn't realized how incomplete the "Tutorial" section is. There's not much there are all, and there are even several members here on site who have created sites with 'how-to' as the main focus, but I didn't see them listed. I will try to remember the couple I've come across.
Unfortunately I'm like Batlady, I depend mostly on 'live' and recorded sources, or on the better print, audio and video lessons available for students, rather than online sources. If I can remember more I'll add it. The links I've given above are good resources, though one is to a magazine...
I'll see if I can remember those others sources to add later...
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Jim Doran's site:
http://www.worldfiddlemusic.co.uk/
That's what dyslexia does to you, as if the title weren't obvious. He has mini-lessons and videos... At least I remembered that much and in less than a few days too. Maybe with dyslexia you improve with age?
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
I've just added that to the "Links" ~ hopefully if folks do have something to offer that isn't here they will also add it in the "Links"... I will try not to take it for granted again and had best check to see if anything else is 'missing' that I assumed was there...
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Yes, I remember Jim Dorans! He dissappeared of the discussions almost a year ago. Whatever happened to him? I remember people finding his site quite usefull.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Shrog
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Banjo
http://www.mikekeyes.com
http://banjosessions.com/
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Backer
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Hi Shrog, for fiddle (and I'm definitely still a beginner, so I use them myself), the discussions on this site are incredibly helpful, believe it or not. Just search for things like bowing, rolls, style, anything that comes to mind, and there will be pages of discussions from some very experienced fiddlers. You can also tell people to come and ask questions---I've received some excellent advice here.
The other two sites that have helped me the most are Violin Masterclass (for technique) and YouTube (for specific tunes and watching real Irish fiddlers). One of these days I am also going to buy Kevin Burke's DVDs, I hear they're good.
I guess the best thing to tell people is to make use of every resource they can think of. An mp3 recorder is incredibly helpful. Other people here like the slow-down software---I'm not too keen on it myself because I don't like what it does to the sound, but if you don't have a teacher I guess it would help.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by kennedy
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
http://www.mandolincafe.com/
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Bren
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Shrog-no offense taken. I see what you're asking. As someone who lives in the hinterlands, I understand the issue. Africa would be a genuine hinterland.
My dear husband gave me a set of Kevin Burke DVDs from Homespun a couple of years back. They are a great resource if you play them on your computer and loop some of the segments. Homespun has tutorial DVDs for other instruments (hah! as if there is anything else but the fiddle!!!) Not free, but a good value.
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by Batlady
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
Another commercial source besides Homespun is the MadforTrad-site. Their CD-s aren't very expensive but can be very valuable - especially for beginners in the hinterlands. They got tutorials for most common instruments used in ITM.
btw, which tin whistle site did you find being the best?
lars
# Posted on March 3rd 2007 by lars
Re: Online resources for anything but the whistle...
How about this one for celtic harmonica?
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/trad_irish_harmonica
# Posted on March 4th 2007 by davedrive