I’ve been asked to put together a proposal for a yearlong Irish fiddle class to be taught at a small private middle school. It would be a one-hour class once a week for about 20 kids aged 12 through 14 that have not played fiddle before. Although I’ve taught several absolute beginners it’s been mostly adults and I’ve been able to address the students needs on the fly and adjust lessons and approach accordingly. I haven’t found any Irish fiddle method books that lay things out in a progressive manner that start from scratch so I mostly prepare my own materials.
This works well on a one-on-one basis but seems a little more daunting when faced with the larger group. I’m not quite sure yet if I want to take this on, but thought I’d check to see if anyone had recommendations on a prepared curriculum or method book for this kind of thing.
If they've never played before, go with suzuki method and sub simple Irish tunes for some of the etudes. There is no scholastic 'method' for folk music. Folks just plays it. Good luck with the sound of 20 kids attempting to play Irish music, btw. Your a brave man.
Suzuki is a possibility although if it went that way I'd probably refer it to another teacher.
On the other hand, the school is only a year old and it would be great to get in on the ground floor and help create something unique.
It's interesting, there seems to be a bit of a trend with American fiddle music curricula but not Irish. One thing I've noticed is that there is a larger pool of really simple American tunes than really simple Irish tunes. Agaline the Baker and such...
The Nesbitt looks very interesting. Do you know Paul McNevin's The Irish Fiddle? It's a book a like but I think moves a little too fast to use as a method. I wonder how the Cranitch or Nesbitt would compare?
Matt Cranitch!!! ~ if we're taking votes, and on availability, recordings and price, as well as structure and choice and variety of tunes. Paul McNevin also has a vid/DVD for his course...
I'm currently working on a project looking at the different ways trad music is taught...one of the other options given by the course instructor was to create something such as a method book or curriculum of some sort (it was a general music class, not trad-specific).
So, having also been looking for things such as beginner method books (and also only coming up with titles such as mentioned above by Georgi, and the stuff Amazon comes up with when you search this sort of thing), I'm tempted to change direction slighty and see what might come of a method series...not in time for your proposal, sorry, but thanks for getting ideas rolling and I'll try and post if I do find something.
On a slightly side note, students in primary school here in Ireland usually start learning tin whistle when they are 5 or 6. Many teachers use polkas and simple ITM tunes, but it is quite common to hear other folk music and classical music as well. The curriculum here states ITM *and* other genres are all a part of the required learning...I figure there's little reason for a situation you've found yourself that ITM can be a focus but other pieces can also expand learning as well.
I was first introduced to ITM by playing in a classical ensemble. Letting kids get an idea of other music out there isn't a bad idea. Heaven forbid they find a different type of music that strikes their fancy
Clayton, If you've not worked much with young beginners, be aware the steps they need laid out are *much* smaller than the steps you'd give an adult. This will greatly affect the repertoire you choose...many tunes covering the same concept is definitely okay! Tunes we may think are very easy aren't when you break them into the tiny pieces. Angeline the Baker can be quite difficult if a student has trouble isolating which string to play on - it changes a lot!
I'd love to know what you use for your one-on-one students if you don't mind posting or sending me an email
P.S. to DtM - - Although Sliabh Luachra *is* full of really easy tunes, Rolling in the Ryegrass is not easy if you've never even opened a fiddle case before...the string crossings for the G chord are tricky, not to even mention the left hand finger dexterity involved there, and there are both low and normal position second fingers involved. And that's just at a glance.
Matt Cranitch and Paul Mc Nevin are both good but do move a bit fast for complete beginners. I'd say use one of these but add some other easy tunes, polkas or even song tunes, before going on to jigs and reels. It often helps if you can find tunes they already know by ear.Apart from the ones in these books, try Terry Teahan's, O'connors, Sweeney's, polkas to name a few.
I would start with the very basics one or two scales, first tune
twinkle twinkle. After they've mastered that then move on to
simple marches, Dawning of the Day, Foggy Dew, Sean South, or maybe a few polkas---The Kerry Polka etc.
Only after that would I intro a jig or a slip jig. I've use the Comhaltas book for many of the tunes above but you could just
write the music out yourself. I don't think it's necessary to look to a book either. I would just start out slow (but not too slow) you don't want to lose them. I find with kids (or anyone for that matter) they like to take the instrument home and play it immediately. So I teach them the correct way to hold the instrument and possibly the D scale on the first class. Obviously it takes a lot more time to hold it and bow correctly, but every class for weeks or months if necessary, we adjust the hold until eventually they get it right.
Good Luck with this~! (earplugs?)
Give me a shout if you want to discuss.
Take care
Rose
Amy, your point about younger learners is exactly why I'm a little hesitant about this and wanted to find an established curriculum that moves a little slower.
With adults I generally start with Polkas: Kerry, Mairi's Wedding, and a few others and move on to some single jigs like Road to L and Off She goes. I've only had two students that this was too difficult for. With kids, say, under 15 I refer them to another teacher unless they already play violin and are coming to me for Irish fiddle.
Also looking at Suzuki, everything is in A for the first nine lessons and then things move to D. You don't even see G in book one. Just another point about how things need to move slowly.
As for Rolling in the Ryegrass, I agree with Amy that it's not a simple tune on fiddle. There is that spot where you need to roll your wrist to get both the G and D. Not so easy when your struggling with other aspects of the instrument.
The Cranitch comes on Friday and I'm going to wait on the Nesbitt.
Amy, please keep in touch and let me know if you do end up developing stuff. If I go that route I will be bouncing ideas off you, I'm sure.
Rose, Nice to see you posting. When are you back on Cape Cod? If I take this on, maybe you could come in as a guest teacher.
I like your ideas on scales, twinkle, then marches. I did invest in Allegro recently and write out most of the materials for my private students. It helps a lot to have everything just as I would play it. I give students the option of learning method--aurally or with notation. Most choose a combination of both. Do you teach music reading to your younger students?
I think that's all specifically why I learned it first - my teacher wanted me to be introduced to the ideas of high and low octaves, as well as crossbowing, right away. They'll be a bit stuttery at first, but having the skill right from the get-go will see them improving significantly faster, I think.
Also, polkas are iffy, just because...they require polka bowing and if they don't get it, they're agonizing >_>
Fiddle Curriculum
Fiddle Curriculum
I’ve been asked to put together a proposal for a yearlong Irish fiddle class to be taught at a small private middle school. It would be a one-hour class once a week for about 20 kids aged 12 through 14 that have not played fiddle before. Although I’ve taught several absolute beginners it’s been mostly adults and I’ve been able to address the students needs on the fly and adjust lessons and approach accordingly. I haven’t found any Irish fiddle method books that lay things out in a progressive manner that start from scratch so I mostly prepare my own materials.
This works well on a one-on-one basis but seems a little more daunting when faced with the larger group. I’m not quite sure yet if I want to take this on, but thought I’d check to see if anyone had recommendations on a prepared curriculum or method book for this kind of thing.
Any and all guidance would be appreciated.
Clayton
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by iampeterfonda
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
If they've never played before, go with suzuki method and sub simple Irish tunes for some of the etudes. There is no scholastic 'method' for folk music. Folks just plays it. Good luck with the sound of 20 kids attempting to play Irish music, btw. Your a brave man.
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by Farr
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Hi Clayton,
The closest thing you are likely to find is either Matt Cranitch's Irish Fiddle Book book,
http://www.totalmusicsupply.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=94381
or Kathleen Nesbitt's "Learn to Play Fiddle"
http://www.traditional-direct.com/learn_to_play_fiddle.html
The Cranitch book is more terse, the Nesbitt book is more detailed, I think.
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by Georgi
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Suzuki is a possibility although if it went that way I'd probably refer it to another teacher.
On the other hand, the school is only a year old and it would be great to get in on the ground floor and help create something unique.
It's interesting, there seems to be a bit of a trend with American fiddle music curricula but not Irish. One thing I've noticed is that there is a larger pool of really simple American tunes than really simple Irish tunes. Agaline the Baker and such...
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by iampeterfonda
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Thanks Georgi,
The Nesbitt looks very interesting. Do you know Paul McNevin's The Irish Fiddle? It's a book a like but I think moves a little too fast to use as a method. I wonder how the Cranitch or Nesbitt would compare?
I think I'll order them either way though.
Clayton
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by iampeterfonda
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
There's always the "deal with the devil" option...
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Ouch, the Nesbitt is nearly $60USD!
# Posted on April 9th 2008 by iampeterfonda
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Matt Cranitch!!! ~ if we're taking votes, and on availability, recordings and price, as well as structure and choice and variety of tunes. Paul McNevin also has a vid/DVD for his course...
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
But ~ I'd chase up a copy of the Nesbitt for yourself, to refer to and as additional guidance...
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by ceolachan
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
"One thing I've noticed is that there is a larger pool of really simple American tunes than really simple Irish tunes. Agaline the Baker and such..."
Look harder. Sliabh Luachra is full of really easy tunes - start with Rolling in the Ryegrass, always.
--DtM
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by Dan the Man
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
I'm currently working on a project looking at the different ways trad music is taught...one of the other options given by the course instructor was to create something such as a method book or curriculum of some sort (it was a general music class, not trad-specific).
and I'll try and post if I do find something.
So, having also been looking for things such as beginner method books (and also only coming up with titles such as mentioned above by Georgi, and the stuff Amazon comes up with when you search this sort of thing), I'm tempted to change direction slighty and see what might come of a method series...not in time for your proposal, sorry, but thanks for getting ideas rolling
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by Amy J
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
On a slightly side note, students in primary school here in Ireland usually start learning tin whistle when they are 5 or 6. Many teachers use polkas and simple ITM tunes, but it is quite common to hear other folk music and classical music as well. The curriculum here states ITM *and* other genres are all a part of the required learning...I figure there's little reason for a situation you've found yourself that ITM can be a focus but other pieces can also expand learning as well.
I was first introduced to ITM by playing in a classical ensemble. Letting kids get an idea of other music out there isn't a bad idea. Heaven forbid they find a different type of music that strikes their fancy
Clayton, If you've not worked much with young beginners, be aware the steps they need laid out are *much* smaller than the steps you'd give an adult. This will greatly affect the repertoire you choose...many tunes covering the same concept is definitely okay! Tunes we may think are very easy aren't when you break them into the tiny pieces. Angeline the Baker can be quite difficult if a student has trouble isolating which string to play on - it changes a lot!
I'd love to know what you use for your one-on-one students if you don't mind posting or sending me an email
P.S. to DtM - - Although Sliabh Luachra *is* full of really easy tunes, Rolling in the Ryegrass is not easy if you've never even opened a fiddle case before...the string crossings for the G chord are tricky, not to even mention the left hand finger dexterity involved there, and there are both low and normal position second fingers involved. And that's just at a glance.
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by Amy J
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Matt Cranitch and Paul Mc Nevin are both good but do move a bit fast for complete beginners. I'd say use one of these but add some other easy tunes, polkas or even song tunes, before going on to jigs and reels. It often helps if you can find tunes they already know by ear.Apart from the ones in these books, try Terry Teahan's, O'connors, Sweeney's, polkas to name a few.
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by cathycook
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Hey Clayton
You're a brave soul! 20 12 -14yr olds?! Yikes!
I would start with the very basics one or two scales, first tune
twinkle twinkle. After they've mastered that then move on to
simple marches, Dawning of the Day, Foggy Dew, Sean South, or maybe a few polkas---The Kerry Polka etc.
Only after that would I intro a jig or a slip jig. I've use the Comhaltas book for many of the tunes above but you could just
write the music out yourself. I don't think it's necessary to look to a book either. I would just start out slow (but not too slow) you don't want to lose them. I find with kids (or anyone for that matter) they like to take the instrument home and play it immediately. So I teach them the correct way to hold the instrument and possibly the D scale on the first class. Obviously it takes a lot more time to hold it and bow correctly, but every class for weeks or months if necessary, we adjust the hold until eventually they get it right.
Good Luck with this~! (earplugs?)
Give me a shout if you want to discuss.
Take care
Rose
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by fiddlefamily
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Thanks everyone for the info...
Amy, your point about younger learners is exactly why I'm a little hesitant about this and wanted to find an established curriculum that moves a little slower.
With adults I generally start with Polkas: Kerry, Mairi's Wedding, and a few others and move on to some single jigs like Road to L and Off She goes. I've only had two students that this was too difficult for. With kids, say, under 15 I refer them to another teacher unless they already play violin and are coming to me for Irish fiddle.
Also looking at Suzuki, everything is in A for the first nine lessons and then things move to D. You don't even see G in book one. Just another point about how things need to move slowly.
As for Rolling in the Ryegrass, I agree with Amy that it's not a simple tune on fiddle. There is that spot where you need to roll your wrist to get both the G and D. Not so easy when your struggling with other aspects of the instrument.
The Cranitch comes on Friday and I'm going to wait on the Nesbitt.
Amy, please keep in touch and let me know if you do end up developing stuff. If I go that route I will be bouncing ideas off you, I'm sure.
Clayton
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by iampeterfonda
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
Rose, Nice to see you posting. When are you back on Cape Cod? If I take this on, maybe you could come in as a guest teacher.
I like your ideas on scales, twinkle, then marches. I did invest in Allegro recently and write out most of the materials for my private students. It helps a lot to have everything just as I would play it. I give students the option of learning method--aurally or with notation. Most choose a combination of both. Do you teach music reading to your younger students?
Clayton
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by iampeterfonda
Re: Fiddle Curriculum
I think that's all specifically why I learned it first - my teacher wanted me to be introduced to the ideas of high and low octaves, as well as crossbowing, right away. They'll be a bit stuttery at first, but having the skill right from the get-go will see them improving significantly faster, I think.
Also, polkas are iffy, just because...they require polka bowing and if they don't get it, they're agonizing >_>
--DtM
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by Dan the Man