I'm a public school orchestra director in CT, USA and I teach lots of fiddle tunes to intermediate level violinists (First three years of study). I can't help but think that there may be others out there who may help me source out some new tunes that don't require any great facility to sound good. I've got some of my own to share, too. Can somebody point me in the right direction?
Sorry - I have to chip in with this drop of pathological pedantry: Give Me Your Hand is not an O'Carolan tune. It was composed a century (all right, this is where my pedantry breaks down - I don't know the actual dates) before O'Carolan was born, by Ruari Dall O Cathain.
I just checked out a tune recommended by "Deidre" called Britches Full Of Stitches that seems to be right up my alley for use with the kids. (She sent an email). Thank you all for the ideas. I'll be looking up these suggestions. Anybody else with any ideas is encouraged to send them my way. This is very exciting to me! Maybe my beginners can actually play some different tunes this year. I've been putting together these dances for about 15 years now and they're terrific for generating interest in our grade 4-8 fiddlers. My trouble has been that there are thousands of difficult tunes out there but I need more stuff that doesn't require much facility to get to a danceable tempo. Thanks again everybody. Keep 'em comin'
Try The Tenpenny Bit (jig) - it's one of the first ones I ever learned and it's pretty simple and easy to commit to memory. The Goat's Horns is easy too, if you've a copy of O'Neill's lying around. And give the Carraroe a try
-C.
Tunes for young fiddlers
Tunes for young fiddlers
I'm a public school orchestra director in CT, USA and I teach lots of fiddle tunes to intermediate level violinists (First three years of study). I can't help but think that there may be others out there who may help me source out some new tunes that don't require any great facility to sound good. I've got some of my own to share, too. Can somebody point me in the right direction?
# Posted on January 25th 2004 by MickyMan
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
Here are a few ideas culled from times I've taught youngsters:
Most polkas are easy enough to get the notes. It takes a bit more work to make them danceable. The same is true of lots of jigs and some reels.
Reels
Silver Spear
Johnny McIljohn's
The Morning Star
Wind that Shakes the Barley
Jigs
My Darling Asleep
Swallowtail Jig
Connaughtman's Rambles
Tripping Upstairs
Lilting Banshee
Stan Chapman's
Good luck!
# Posted on January 25th 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
Carolan Tunes my be overused but they would serve your purpose:
Planxty Irvin
Give me your hand
Si beag si mhor
Try also:
the Battle of Aughrim
Delahunty's
Merry Blacksmith
# Posted on January 25th 2004 by kuec
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
Sorry - I have to chip in with this drop of pathological pedantry: Give Me Your Hand is not an O'Carolan tune. It was composed a century (all right, this is where my pedantry breaks down - I don't know the actual dates) before O'Carolan was born, by Ruari Dall O Cathain.
# Posted on January 26th 2004 by granama
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/454
# Posted on January 26th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
I just checked out a tune recommended by "Deidre" called Britches Full Of Stitches that seems to be right up my alley for use with the kids. (She sent an email). Thank you all for the ideas. I'll be looking up these suggestions. Anybody else with any ideas is encouraged to send them my way. This is very exciting to me! Maybe my beginners can actually play some different tunes this year. I've been putting together these dances for about 15 years now and they're terrific for generating interest in our grade 4-8 fiddlers. My trouble has been that there are thousands of difficult tunes out there but I need more stuff that doesn't require much facility to get to a danceable tempo. Thanks again everybody. Keep 'em comin'
# Posted on January 27th 2004 by MickyMan
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
Try The Tenpenny Bit (jig) - it's one of the first ones I ever learned and it's pretty simple and easy to commit to memory. The Goat's Horns is easy too, if you've a copy of O'Neill's lying around. And give the Carraroe a try
-C.
# Posted on January 28th 2004 by gravelwalks
Re: Tunes for young fiddlers
the old concertina reel
the blackberry blossom
# Posted on January 30th 2004 by r