Greetings all,
It has come to my attention that many of the peple who post here are beginners often looking for help on tunes, and a fair few of the regulars here actually teach classes, so I was wondering what would the ideal begineers book contain?
For myself, when I teach, I usually start off with Mazurkas, marches, then onto some simple jigs, then reels. (Sorry but not a big fan of slides or slips, and don't get me started on Polkas!)
Sample of what I do,
Mazurka,
Donegal Mazurka
Proiseas O Maoinighs
Marches
Foggy Dew
Fainne Geal an Lae
Jigs
Humours of Glendart,
Sean Buidh
I buried my wife.
Wards jig
Reels
Fermoy Lasses
St. Annes
Silver Spear
Maid in the Cherry tree
(Last one is a bit of challenge though!)
So what tunes do you use for teaching? Maybe we can come together with an unofficial begineers syllabus!
This list would probably bear some resemblance with the
Old Warhorses/Best Hated Tunes section which already exists.
In other words: beginners are usually happy to learn tunes which a lot of other people know so they can join in.
The trouble is that advanced players will moan if you want them to play Kesh Jig and Drowsy Maggie again.
I don't know if there is an innovative beginners' list. Just play what you like and feel capable of.
Hiya, Pol -- how's stuff out there? Funny how opinions vary on this, I teach Silver Spear but St. Anne's isn't one I'll generally give a beginner (though I suppose the Old Time version of it would do well enough, being simpler). I do teach Dawning of the Day, but haven't ever thought of using Foggy Dew. Mountain Road is one I use that isn't on your list, and Humors of Tulla the same.
Mind you, those are among the ones I give people who are learning their instrument at the same time they're learning the music. I also teach Jackie Coleman's -- anything that is fairly repetitive and that they like the sound of is good, as things that repeat phrases a lot help to give a sense of accomplishment (less to learn to have the whole tune) and if they like it, they'll want to learn it.
If they have the instrument down all right enough, I'll give them whatever I feel like playing over and over that day...
Sorry but you're missing the point. The list is of tunes that a begineer can get started on, not necessarily for a session, but in their own practice time.
Oh and any session that moans about begineers requesting "simple" tunes that they can play along with should be ashamed of themselves! Some people forget where they came from very quickly!
Ok rant over,
P.
Errr...well, no, they wouldn't use Dawning of the Day at a session, most probably, but the others would work just fine. Don't see why they can't get started on session tunes right away, actually...
A Phoil,
I think a list of easy tunes might depend partly on the instrument. For example, I'm a weak whistler and a beginner fiddler. Some notes are easier to play on the whistle, although tunes that can be played on two strings are easy too.
That said, I have had some experience teaching beginners, ages 8 to 12 roughly, tin whistle. I started out with songs I knew, like Fainne Geal an Lae, already mentioned, and The Men of the West. The first jig I taught was Nead na Lachan sa Mhuta/Foxhunter, then we did Merrily Kiss the Quaker and The Dingle Regatta. I think Off to California/hpipe would be easy too. Another that went down well was An Suisin Ban/Set Dance. (Although you don't seem keen on polkas, I must mention one (about the only thing I can play on the fiddle that an attentive listener would recognise) , The Britches Full of Stitches. Go n-eirigh an bothar leat.
mairtin
Sorry Steve, that's not on the officially approved list of message board stereotypes. You could suggest they add it, but I think you'll find we're all in the current version:
Grego: "Picador"... you wish! Excellent set of stereotypes there. I think the one Steve was thinking of for Will was "Xenophobe", or perhaps "God". Whereas I reckon most of us would assess him as "Eagle Scout" (or maybe "Philosopher"?).
- rog. (who imagines he's "Big Cat" but worries that he's really "Lamer"...)
Oh yeah, I wanted to say that, personally, I have nothing against people posting a commercial link, just so long as it's relevant to the discussion in hand, and it's clear that there's some self-interest involved. That kind of rule has worked well on other groups I've followed.
LOL -- that is hilarious! The artwork of "Perv" is, well, indescribable. Hmm. If something is "indescribable", haven't you just described it? I think I've been all of those at some point or other. Well, not Perv. And not really Pinko. And not really... *snort*
How about the most popular tunes from the Session, i.e.
Drowsy Maggie 210 times
The Kesh 192 times
The Butterfly 180 times
Banish Misfortune 156 times
Cooley's 145 times
Morrison's 144 times
The Connaughtman's Rambles 142 times
The Banshee 140 times
The Glasgow 134 times
The Silver Spear 134 times
The Maid Behind The Bar 133 times
The Mason's Apron 130 times
The Musical Priest 122 times
The Gravel Walks 121 times
The Rights Of Man 120 times
The Kid On The Mountain 118 times
The Bucks Of Oranmore 115 times
The Harvest Home 111 times
Ashokan Farewell 111 times
The Blarney Pilgrim 108 times
Beginners Tune book
Beginners Tune book
Greetings all,
It has come to my attention that many of the peple who post here are beginners often looking for help on tunes, and a fair few of the regulars here actually teach classes, so I was wondering what would the ideal begineers book contain?
For myself, when I teach, I usually start off with Mazurkas, marches, then onto some simple jigs, then reels. (Sorry but not a big fan of slides or slips, and don't get me started on Polkas!)
Sample of what I do,
Mazurka,
Donegal Mazurka
Proiseas O Maoinighs
Marches
Foggy Dew
Fainne Geal an Lae
Jigs
Humours of Glendart,
Sean Buidh
I buried my wife.
Wards jig
Reels
Fermoy Lasses
St. Annes
Silver Spear
Maid in the Cherry tree
(Last one is a bit of challenge though!)
So what tunes do you use for teaching? Maybe we can come together with an unofficial begineers syllabus!
Ok, back to lurking mode now,
Pol.
# Posted on January 31st 2004 by macfion
Re: Beginners Tune book
This list would probably bear some resemblance with the
Old Warhorses/Best Hated Tunes section which already exists.
In other words: beginners are usually happy to learn tunes which a lot of other people know so they can join in.
The trouble is that advanced players will moan if you want them to play Kesh Jig and Drowsy Maggie again.
I don't know if there is an innovative beginners' list. Just play what you like and feel capable of.
# Posted on January 31st 2004 by kuec
Re: Beginners Tune book
Hiya, Pol -- how's stuff out there? Funny how opinions vary on this, I teach Silver Spear but St. Anne's isn't one I'll generally give a beginner (though I suppose the Old Time version of it would do well enough, being simpler). I do teach Dawning of the Day, but haven't ever thought of using Foggy Dew. Mountain Road is one I use that isn't on your list, and Humors of Tulla the same.
Mind you, those are among the ones I give people who are learning their instrument at the same time they're learning the music. I also teach Jackie Coleman's -- anything that is fairly repetitive and that they like the sound of is good, as things that repeat phrases a lot help to give a sense of accomplishment (less to learn to have the whole tune) and if they like it, they'll want to learn it.
If they have the instrument down all right enough, I'll give them whatever I feel like playing over and over that day...
# Posted on January 31st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginners Tune book
Sorry but you're missing the point. The list is of tunes that a begineer can get started on, not necessarily for a session, but in their own practice time.
Oh and any session that moans about begineers requesting "simple" tunes that they can play along with should be ashamed of themselves! Some people forget where they came from very quickly!
Ok rant over,
P.
# Posted on January 31st 2004 by macfion
Re: Beginners Tune book
Errr...well, no, they wouldn't use Dawning of the Day at a session, most probably, but the others would work just fine. Don't see why they can't get started on session tunes right away, actually...
# Posted on January 31st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginners Tune book
Pol - you're right. Sessions should welcome beginners, even if they can only play one tune, and that from sheet music.
Don't lurk too much.
Dave
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Beginners Tune book
Ahh, the board becomes an advertising forum. That's frowned upon on most BB's, Steve. We'll have to see what Jeremy says.
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Beginners Tune book
Wow.
Only 50 years?
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Beginners Tune book
A Phoil,
I think a list of easy tunes might depend partly on the instrument. For example, I'm a weak whistler and a beginner fiddler. Some notes are easier to play on the whistle, although tunes that can be played on two strings are easy too.
That said, I have had some experience teaching beginners, ages 8 to 12 roughly, tin whistle. I started out with songs I knew, like Fainne Geal an Lae, already mentioned, and The Men of the West. The first jig I taught was Nead na Lachan sa Mhuta/Foxhunter, then we did Merrily Kiss the Quaker and The Dingle Regatta. I think Off to California/hpipe would be easy too. Another that went down well was An Suisin Ban/Set Dance. (Although you don't seem keen on polkas, I must mention one (about the only thing I can play on the fiddle that an attentive listener would recognise) , The Britches Full of Stitches. Go n-eirigh an bothar leat.
mairtin
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by frozenstiff
Re: Beginners Tune book
Will, no fair hogging the domain, okay? *snort* Leave some for the rest of us.
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginners Tune book
Do I hear the theme music to "Rocky"?
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by BowHand
Re: Beginners Tune book
*sweetly* And Will, are you Master of your own domain? *snicker*
# Posted on February 1st 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginners Tune book
Isn't the "easy" tune list somewhat dependent on the instrument in question?
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by grego
Re: Beginners Tune book
Grego - yes. That's an important point.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Will CPT
Narrow-minded bigot
Sorry Steve, that's not on the officially approved list of message board stereotypes. You could suggest they add it, but I think you'll find we're all in the current version:
http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame1.html
Yours, etc.
PICADOR
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by grego
Re: Beginners Tune book
Excellent site, Grego!
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Beginners Tune book
Grego: "Picador"... you wish! Excellent set of stereotypes there. I think the one Steve was thinking of for Will was "Xenophobe", or perhaps "God". Whereas I reckon most of us would assess him as "Eagle Scout" (or maybe "Philosopher"?).
- rog. (who imagines he's "Big Cat" but worries that he's really "Lamer"...)
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by rog
Re: Beginners Tune book
Oh yeah, I wanted to say that, personally, I have nothing against people posting a commercial link, just so long as it's relevant to the discussion in hand, and it's clear that there's some self-interest involved. That kind of rule has worked well on other groups I've followed.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by rog
Re: Beginners Tune book
LOL -- that is hilarious! The artwork of "Perv" is, well, indescribable. Hmm. If something is "indescribable", haven't you just described it? I think I've been all of those at some point or other. Well, not Perv. And not really Pinko. And not really... *snort*
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Beginners Tune book
How about the most popular tunes from the Session, i.e.
Drowsy Maggie 210 times
The Kesh 192 times
The Butterfly 180 times
Banish Misfortune 156 times
Cooley's 145 times
Morrison's 144 times
The Connaughtman's Rambles 142 times
The Banshee 140 times
The Glasgow 134 times
The Silver Spear 134 times
The Maid Behind The Bar 133 times
The Mason's Apron 130 times
The Musical Priest 122 times
The Gravel Walks 121 times
The Rights Of Man 120 times
The Kid On The Mountain 118 times
The Bucks Of Oranmore 115 times
The Harvest Home 111 times
Ashokan Farewell 111 times
The Blarney Pilgrim 108 times
A beginner could do worse than learning these.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by russellrapport