Having failed to track down a local teacher, I'm resigned to starting my fiidle playing with a book or two. Can you recommend
something pretty basic for a beginner on the instrument?
Thanks,Paul
It's not really a basic beginner's introduction though, but if you search the posts here you'll find lots of links for beginning instructional material on the Internet. The Burke videos will serve you well once you get comfortable with playing, and they'll teach you pretty much everything you need to know about playing Irish fiddle.
Kathleen Nesbitt's tutor is a brilliant introduction for anyone new to Irish traditional fiddle playing. It covers all the basics from correct holding of the fiddle and bow, various types of ornamentation and a collection of tunes from easy ones up to the normal session standards such as Lord McDonald and Ballinasloe Fair. I wish it was around when I was starting out aeons ago! More details, including ordering information, are available at http://www.traditional-direct.com/learn_to_play_fiddle.html.
i actually like the Coopr book. has nice bowing arrangements which if you follow then through make subsequent tunes achieveable. some nice tunes too - mazurkas and stuff
hi sorry not a reply just i thanks for this postings i too want to learn the fiddle and am having one for my birthday in june i put a post on another forum and got lots of people telling me dont even try on your own which dishearted me a bit so glad to see someone else who is trying on their own i cant find a local teacher either so will be using books i play the flute already so i am hoping the fiddle will just as fun i am having an electric violin to cut down the practise noise for the neighbours.
One word of awful warning. Some electrics are heavy (or at least mine is). Test before you buy! The only difficulty I could imagine arising might be hitting the strings in the right place, but one gets used to that after plenty of practice and rude remarks from people one had hitherto regarded as friends!
Practice noise depends on where you live. If it's an apartment with neighbors close by, then it could be a concern. I've been practicing in the house with the doors to my room shut (unless someone actually wants to hear me) and so far no one has been bothered. This is a non-electric I'm talking about, and no mute either.
I recommend a mentor or teacher of some kind; currently I'm teaching myself and I am afraid of what I am missing by not having someone there. Fixing intonation on your own is easy enough if you have a good ear, but I'm probably making mistakes with my bowing that I don't see.
But if you can't find a teacher, better to teach yourself than never play at all!
I , agree,
unfortunately there are a lot of knowalls on this forum,who are very vocal in their prejudices be it ,against reading music,bowing in a particular way,learning bowing from a tutor etc etc.
Cranitch is a great book, although people have said his bowing can be peculiar to him. But not really. Do buy the cd to go with it though. I worked through the book and cd and you can learn a lot and, more or less, teach yourself.
Cathal Hayden's cd rom on learning Irish fiddle [mad for trad publish it] is also a good one to have on the journey as well and complements the crantich book/cd quite nicely.
Fiddle Tutor
Fiddle Tutor
Having failed to track down a local teacher, I'm resigned to starting my fiidle playing with a book or two. Can you recommend
something pretty basic for a beginner on the instrument?
Thanks,Paul
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by murphydog
Re: Fiddle Tutor
I highly recommend Kevin Burke's videos:
http://www.homespuntapes.com/shop/product.aspx?ID=750
It's not really a basic beginner's introduction though, but if you search the posts here you'll find lots of links for beginning instructional material on the Internet. The Burke videos will serve you well once you get comfortable with playing, and they'll teach you pretty much everything you need to know about playing Irish fiddle.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Fiddle Tutor
Near the bottom of this thread Lazyhound posted a good link for instructional videos on the Internet:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/17352
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Fiddle Tutor
Kathleen Nesbitt's tutor is a brilliant introduction for anyone new to Irish traditional fiddle playing. It covers all the basics from correct holding of the fiddle and bow, various types of ornamentation and a collection of tunes from easy ones up to the normal session standards such as Lord McDonald and Ballinasloe Fair. I wish it was around when I was starting out aeons ago! More details, including ordering information, are available at http://www.traditional-direct.com/learn_to_play_fiddle.html.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Bannerman
Re: Fiddle Tutor
hi
i disagree , Nesbitt's tutor is rather bad, her bowing is illogical, and she plays out of tune on the CD!!
I'd rather advice to buy Matt Crannitch fiddle tutor with the CD or even Pete Cooper's!
Paul
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by paul95
Re: Fiddle Tutor
Bit surprised you couldn't find an irish fiddle teacher in Cambridge; I know several people who have weekly lessons.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Ceratonia
Re: Fiddle Tutor
There's always "the deal with the devil" thing. I dont think many use that method as much as they used to.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Fiddle Tutor
I would recommend either Paul Mcnevin or MattCranitch,both are good tutors.
I havent seen the Nesbitt tutor. but......
it has had good reviews
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by dickens metrognome
Re: Fiddle Tutor
i actually like the Coopr book. has nice bowing arrangements which if you follow then through make subsequent tunes achieveable. some nice tunes too - mazurkas and stuff
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by geoffmc
Re: Fiddle Tutor
hi sorry not a reply just i thanks for this postings i too want to learn the fiddle and am having one for my birthday in june i put a post on another forum and got lots of people telling me dont even try on your own which dishearted me a bit so glad to see someone else who is trying on their own i cant find a local teacher either so will be using books i play the flute already so i am hoping the fiddle will just as fun i am having an electric violin to cut down the practise noise for the neighbours.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by monkey flute
Re: Fiddle Tutor
One word of awful warning. Some electrics are heavy (or at least mine is). Test before you buy! The only difficulty I could imagine arising might be hitting the strings in the right place, but one gets used to that after plenty of practice and rude remarks from people one had hitherto regarded as friends!
+
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Fiddle Tutor
Practice noise depends on where you live. If it's an apartment with neighbors close by, then it could be a concern. I've been practicing in the house with the doors to my room shut (unless someone actually wants to hear me) and so far no one has been bothered. This is a non-electric I'm talking about, and no mute either.
I recommend a mentor or teacher of some kind; currently I'm teaching myself and I am afraid of what I am missing by not having someone there. Fixing intonation on your own is easy enough if you have a good ear, but I'm probably making mistakes with my bowing that I don't see.
But if you can't find a teacher, better to teach yourself than never play at all!
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by Scott Esch
Re: Fiddle Tutor
I , agree,
unfortunately there are a lot of knowalls on this forum,who are very vocal in their prejudices be it ,against reading music,bowing in a particular way,learning bowing from a tutor etc etc.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by dickens metrognome
Re: Fiddle Tutor
Cranitch is a great book, although people have said his bowing can be peculiar to him. But not really. Do buy the cd to go with it though. I worked through the book and cd and you can learn a lot and, more or less, teach yourself.
Cathal Hayden's cd rom on learning Irish fiddle [mad for trad publish it] is also a good one to have on the journey as well and complements the crantich book/cd quite nicely.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by mtodd