I've just recently taken on some of my fiddle/violin teacher's younger students and will start teaching this month. Her students had been learning mostly Suzuki and are around book 1-2. If the students and parents want, I will probably continue with some Suzuki, but as fiddle is really what I know well, I am planning on teaching fiddle too. I was wondering if any of you out there have suggestions for good tunes to start on with fiddling.
Early on, I learned mostly Old-time and some Irish, so I have a good amount of old-time beginner tunes up my sleeve, but for quite a while I have been playing Cape Breton, Scottish, and more Irish styles. I'd love to get some suggestions on good beginner tunes especially in those genres since I didn't learn those styles when I was beginner!
And if anyone has any tips on ear training and teaching by ear... I would love some suggestions. I learn by ear very easily, so I'm almost not sure how to deal with teaching it because of that. I would assume there is a good deal of just play the tune/ parts of the tune slowly and having them repeat it, but if you all have ideas, they would be welcome!
(Oh, and just so you know I'm really not trying to stir up any arguments with Suzuki and everything! I'm very much for traditional styles of playing, so I don't prefer it myself and would much rather teach only fiddle.)
Ear suggestions you say? Well first, know that it's hard to teach ear because it's something they have to do on their own. Really, i think all you could do is teach them methods to help them learn by ear because you can't show someone how you learn by ear because it all happens in the ear(Unlike sheet music where you can show someone where the note is on the paper and on the instrument.) The one suggestion I have for you is to teach them the importance of knowing the music before they learn it. Sheet or Ear, the more you know how a song or tune goes, the easier it is to learn it. I now live by this priniciple when learning anything. Next suggestion, teach them to get to know the instrument. The better they know the instrument, the less they have to think of where the notes are on the instrument and then they can focus on where the notes are in the music. Lastly, if you think about it, you know all the methods because you're experienced. If you take note of how you've learned, and teach them your same....
I think llig's hit it spot on. You might try starting by singing songs with them. Sing a song with a line-refrain pattern so they get lots of chances to sing back a simple part with you. Once they know the tune, you can help them bring it out on the fiddle. From there, you can maybe teach them a song that's built on a tune. Kitty Lie Over comes to mind, but that might be a little racy for the young ones. Once they realize that the stuff they're singing and the stuff that comes out of the fiddle are the same stuff, it's a lot easier to get their head around the idea of hearing a thing, lilting it until you have it in your head, and then playing it - even if there's no words to hang on it.
And have fun - kids know when they're being played, and they hate it. If you're not having fun, they'll know this is just more "good for you" stuff, like spinach and arithmetic.
well for learning how to play by ear, it could be helpful to learn to sing by sight using solfege. You could also play intervals and have the student identify them. do one note after another, then both together. Start with 4ths and 5ths, then move to 3rds and 6ths, then 2nds and 7ths. then start mixing it up. then do major and and minor 3rd's and 6ths, etc.
so, in a nutshell, teach them the theory of the music, help them to be able to recognize certain notes and patterns, then, once they can sing it, help them mirror that onto the fiddle.
Thanks for all the playing by ear suggestions, everyone! I really like the idea of actually singing the tunes... any suggestions for easy tunes with lyrics?
fiddlelearner: Yeah, knowing the music is so key in becoming a good fiddler! After years of playing by ear, (and after I really got to know my instrument!) I finally realized that if I could get a tune stuck in my head, I could probably play it. That realization definitely moved my playing and learning style forward.
Jon: I definitely planning on having fun. I love fiddle and would love to pass that on to the kids and let them have fun playing tunes they like, etc. I know that being able to play the styles I liked when I started out was probably a good part of what kept me playing, even when I hit ruts.
I'd still love some suggestions for easy (and fun!) beginner tunes if you all have ideas!
I've got no tunes with words, except for little bits and pieces. The only ones I can think of are "Kitty Lie Over" and "Cunla", both from Planxty. And, come to think of it, there's the Little Beggarman.
Some fragments - The phrase "Merrily kiss the quaker's wife and merrily kiss the quaker" fits over part of that tune, and I've heard someone sing "Everybody wants to kiss the maid behind the bar" to the last part of that tune, except he didn't sing "kiss", he used a different word.
Maybe you could come up with some. Get a tune in you head, think about the title, and start lilting until words happen. They probably won't be good, but you might surprise yourself.
Hey... I'd forgotten all about the Little Beggarman having lyrics ( since I learned the tune first as Red Haired Boy).... that's a good one! Thanks....
All the tunes have words: die dee diddley diddley dum de do, etc, etc.
Fiddlerbelle, I would recommend searching this website for 'beginner tunes' or 'learning tunes' as this topic has been discussed many many times, and you should find a lot to think about from past discussions.
And since it appears you are new to the site, you may not have encountered the 'Dow List' yet. These 50 tunes, a list first developed by thesession.org member ‘Dr. Dow,’ are pretty common the world around. Some of them are a bit overplayed, or felt to be out of fashion, but generally, when they get played at a session, most everyone in the circle can join in. They are not all the easiest of tunes, but many people think that earning them is a good place to start.
Reels: The Banshee [James McMahon], The Bird In The Bush, The Bucks Of Oranmore, The Concertina Reel, The Congress, Cooley’s (Luttrell’s Pass), The Cup Of Tea, Drowsy Maggie, Farewell To Ireland, Father Kelly’s (Rossmore Jetty), The Foxhunter’s, The Gravel Walks, The Maid Behind The Bar, The Merry Blacksmith, Miss McLeod’s, The Mountain Road [Michael Gorman], Rolling In The Ryegrass (The Shannon Breeze), Saint Anne’s, The Sally Gardens, The Silver Spear, The Star Of Munster, The Wise Maid (All Around The World).
Jigs: The Blackthorn Stick, The Blarney Pilgrim, The Cliffs Of Moher, The Connaughtman’s Rambles, Donnybrook Fair (The Joy Of My Life), The Irish Washerwoman, The Kesh, The Lark In The Morning, The Lilting Banshee, Morrison’s, My Darling Asleep, Out On The Ocean, The Rakes Of Kildare, Tripping Up The Stairs.
Hornpipes & Set Dances: The Boys Of Bluehill, Harvest Home, King Of The Fairies, Off To California, The Rights Of Man
Slip Jigs: The Foxhunter's, The Kid On The Mountain.
Hop Jigs: The Butterfly, The Rocky Road To Dublin.
Slides: Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife, The Road To Lisdoonvarna.
Polkas: Denis Murphy’s, Egan’s, John Ryan’s (The Keadue).
The tunes that i picked up really fast are: The Humours of Trim, The Black Rogue, The Silver Spear, The Connatchmans' Ramble, The Calliope House, The Spotted Dog, Kitty Lie Over, and if i think of more, i'll post them. These were repetitive and simple enough to retain fairly quickly
Oh! And make sure they *want to learn simple tunes. I've learned that a lot of the simple tunes get old and boring pretty fast... well for me anyway. I'm still new to the music so I don't really know how to "work" a tune yet.
Oh! Wow! Thanks Al Really, if it weren't for the teams of contributers here, I know for sure that I wouldn't have made it this far. I'm greatly for great teachers. And fiddlerbelle, you've already done the first part in helping your students, which shows that you are a good teacher
Wow... thanks for that list, Al! (aaaannnd thanks for bearing up with a newbie to the site. )I did do a few searches before and came up with Will Harmon's huge list of common session tunes, but hadn't run across the Dow list yet. That's super helpful!
I certainly appreciate your encouragement, fiddlelearner! I'm agreed that if my students learn those tunes as quickly as you, I would be very happy! And yeah... I'll try to make sure that they get to play tunes they like and that won't get old too fast.
Awww you guys are sooo flattering I'll shoot you an email describing my method for learning music by ear. It'll be more organized and detailed than what i've posted here. It's developed over a course of about 14 years lol, so you may wanna read it when you have some time ;)
I am a mom of fiddle players (and a Suzuki piano mom) so I think I may have some ideas. First, I think Suzuki is a great foundation for trad. It starts with listening, so they're already trained aurally. The little ones sing the notes before they play them, and their teacher often makes up nonsense words to songs to help teach the rhythm.
Playing together is a fun way to keep everyone interested. Our kids fiddle group plays a mix of Old Time (Boil the Cabbage, Liza Jane, Angeline the Baker, Cindy, Shortnin Bread) and Irish (Rakes of Malow, Swallowtail, Harvest Home, John Ryans' and Planxty).
Our teacher works by ear first, then gives the dots, along with a recording of the song at speed and slowed down). Her webpage page should give you lots of ideas.
Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Tunes for beginner fiddlers
I've just recently taken on some of my fiddle/violin teacher's younger students and will start teaching this month. Her students had been learning mostly Suzuki and are around book 1-2. If the students and parents want, I will probably continue with some Suzuki, but as fiddle is really what I know well, I am planning on teaching fiddle too. I was wondering if any of you out there have suggestions for good tunes to start on with fiddling.
Early on, I learned mostly Old-time and some Irish, so I have a good amount of old-time beginner tunes up my sleeve, but for quite a while I have been playing Cape Breton, Scottish, and more Irish styles. I'd love to get some suggestions on good beginner tunes especially in those genres since I didn't learn those styles when I was beginner!
And if anyone has any tips on ear training and teaching by ear... I would love some suggestions. I learn by ear very easily, so I'm almost not sure how to deal with teaching it because of that. I would assume there is a good deal of just play the tune/ parts of the tune slowly and having them repeat it, but if you all have ideas, they would be welcome!
(Oh, and just so you know I'm really not trying to stir up any arguments with Suzuki and everything! I'm very much for traditional styles of playing, so I don't prefer it myself and would much rather teach only fiddle.)
Thanks, everyone!
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by fiddlerbelle
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Never teach a tune tune they can't sing first
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by ...
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Ear suggestions you say? Well first, know that it's hard to teach ear because it's something they have to do on their own. Really, i think all you could do is teach them methods to help them learn by ear because you can't show someone how you learn by ear because it all happens in the ear(Unlike sheet music where you can show someone where the note is on the paper and on the instrument.) The one suggestion I have for you is to teach them the importance of knowing the music before they learn it. Sheet or Ear, the more you know how a song or tune goes, the easier it is to learn it. I now live by this priniciple when learning anything. Next suggestion, teach them to get to know the instrument. The better they know the instrument, the less they have to think of where the notes are on the instrument and then they can focus on where the notes are in the music. Lastly, if you think about it, you know all the methods because you're experienced. If you take note of how you've learned, and teach them your same....
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
...methods, it will help them just as much as it's helped you
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
My wife started with Suzuki lessons, and has always felt it gave her a good foundation. And she has become quite a fine trad fiddler.
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
I think llig's hit it spot on. You might try starting by singing songs with them. Sing a song with a line-refrain pattern so they get lots of chances to sing back a simple part with you. Once they know the tune, you can help them bring it out on the fiddle. From there, you can maybe teach them a song that's built on a tune. Kitty Lie Over comes to mind, but that might be a little racy for the young ones.
Once they realize that the stuff they're singing and the stuff that comes out of the fiddle are the same stuff, it's a lot easier to get their head around the idea of hearing a thing, lilting it until you have it in your head, and then playing it - even if there's no words to hang on it.
And have fun - kids know when they're being played, and they hate it. If you're not having fun, they'll know this is just more "good for you" stuff, like spinach and arithmetic.
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
well for learning how to play by ear, it could be helpful to learn to sing by sight using solfege. You could also play intervals and have the student identify them. do one note after another, then both together. Start with 4ths and 5ths, then move to 3rds and 6ths, then 2nds and 7ths. then start mixing it up. then do major and and minor 3rd's and 6ths, etc.
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by Earl Cameron
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
so, in a nutshell, teach them the theory of the music, help them to be able to recognize certain notes and patterns, then, once they can sing it, help them mirror that onto the fiddle.
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by an fidleir
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Thanks for all the playing by ear suggestions, everyone! I really like the idea of actually singing the tunes... any suggestions for easy tunes with lyrics?
I love fiddle and would love to pass that on to the kids and let them have fun playing tunes they like, etc. I know that being able to play the styles I liked when I started out was probably a good part of what kept me playing, even when I hit ruts.
fiddlelearner: Yeah, knowing the music is so key in becoming a good fiddler! After years of playing by ear, (and after I really got to know my instrument!) I finally realized that if I could get a tune stuck in my head, I could probably play it. That realization definitely moved my playing and learning style forward.
Jon: I definitely planning on having fun.
I'd still love some suggestions for easy (and fun!) beginner tunes if you all have ideas!
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by fiddlerbelle
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
I've got no tunes with words, except for little bits and pieces. The only ones I can think of are "Kitty Lie Over" and "Cunla", both from Planxty. And, come to think of it, there's the Little Beggarman.
Some fragments - The phrase "Merrily kiss the quaker's wife and merrily kiss the quaker" fits over part of that tune, and I've heard someone sing "Everybody wants to kiss the maid behind the bar" to the last part of that tune, except he didn't sing "kiss", he used a different word.
Maybe you could come up with some. Get a tune in you head, think about the title, and start lilting until words happen. They probably won't be good, but you might surprise yourself.
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Hey... I'd forgotten all about the Little Beggarman having lyrics ( since I learned the tune first as Red Haired Boy).... that's a good one! Thanks....
# Posted on January 3rd 2012 by fiddlerbelle
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
All the tunes have words: die dee diddley diddley dum de do, etc, etc.
Fiddlerbelle, I would recommend searching this website for 'beginner tunes' or 'learning tunes' as this topic has been discussed many many times, and you should find a lot to think about from past discussions.
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
And since it appears you are new to the site, you may not have encountered the 'Dow List' yet. These 50 tunes, a list first developed by thesession.org member ‘Dr. Dow,’ are pretty common the world around. Some of them are a bit overplayed, or felt to be out of fashion, but generally, when they get played at a session, most everyone in the circle can join in. They are not all the easiest of tunes, but many people think that earning them is a good place to start.
Reels: The Banshee [James McMahon], The Bird In The Bush, The Bucks Of Oranmore, The Concertina Reel, The Congress, Cooley’s (Luttrell’s Pass), The Cup Of Tea, Drowsy Maggie, Farewell To Ireland, Father Kelly’s (Rossmore Jetty), The Foxhunter’s, The Gravel Walks, The Maid Behind The Bar, The Merry Blacksmith, Miss McLeod’s, The Mountain Road [Michael Gorman], Rolling In The Ryegrass (The Shannon Breeze), Saint Anne’s, The Sally Gardens, The Silver Spear, The Star Of Munster, The Wise Maid (All Around The World).
Jigs: The Blackthorn Stick, The Blarney Pilgrim, The Cliffs Of Moher, The Connaughtman’s Rambles, Donnybrook Fair (The Joy Of My Life), The Irish Washerwoman, The Kesh, The Lark In The Morning, The Lilting Banshee, Morrison’s, My Darling Asleep, Out On The Ocean, The Rakes Of Kildare, Tripping Up The Stairs.
Hornpipes & Set Dances: The Boys Of Bluehill, Harvest Home, King Of The Fairies, Off To California, The Rights Of Man
Slip Jigs: The Foxhunter's, The Kid On The Mountain.
Hop Jigs: The Butterfly, The Rocky Road To Dublin.
Slides: Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife, The Road To Lisdoonvarna.
Polkas: Denis Murphy’s, Egan’s, John Ryan’s (The Keadue).
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
The tunes that i picked up really fast are: The Humours of Trim, The Black Rogue, The Silver Spear, The Connatchmans' Ramble, The Calliope House, The Spotted Dog, Kitty Lie Over, and if i think of more, i'll post them. These were repetitive and simple enough to retain fairly quickly
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Oh! And make sure they *want to learn simple tunes. I've learned that a lot of the simple tunes get old and boring pretty fast... well for me anyway. I'm still new to the music so I don't really know how to "work" a tune yet.
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
If her students learn as well as you have, fiddlelearner, they will be doing great!
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by AlBrown
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Oh! Wow! Thanks Al
Really, if it weren't for the teams of contributers here, I know for sure that I wouldn't have made it this far. I'm greatly for great teachers. And fiddlerbelle, you've already done the first part in helping your students, which shows that you are a good teacher 
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
"greatly=grateful"
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Wow... thanks for that list, Al! (aaaannnd thanks for bearing up with a newbie to the site.
)I did do a few searches before and came up with Will Harmon's huge list of common session tunes, but hadn't run across the Dow list yet. That's super helpful!
And yeah... I'll try to make sure that they get to play tunes they like and that won't get old too fast.
I certainly appreciate your encouragement, fiddlelearner! I'm agreed that if my students learn those tunes as quickly as you, I would be very happy!
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlerbelle
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Awww you guys are sooo flattering
I'll shoot you an email describing my method for learning music by ear. It'll be more organized and detailed than what i've posted here. It's developed over a course of about 14 years lol, so you may wanna read it when you have some time ;)
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlelearner
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Ooh, that would be great, fiddlelearner! I'd love to get some of your insights on learning music by ear!
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by fiddlerbelle
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/448 has lots of easy to remember words. I don't know if its a beginners tune or not though.
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by David50
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
Oops, already mentioned, but you could skip the racy bits.
# Posted on January 4th 2012 by David50
Re: Tunes for beginner fiddlers
I am a mom of fiddle players (and a Suzuki piano mom) so I think I may have some ideas. First, I think Suzuki is a great foundation for trad. It starts with listening, so they're already trained aurally. The little ones sing the notes before they play them, and their teacher often makes up nonsense words to songs to help teach the rhythm.
Playing together is a fun way to keep everyone interested. Our kids fiddle group plays a mix of Old Time (Boil the Cabbage, Liza Jane, Angeline the Baker, Cindy, Shortnin Bread) and Irish (Rakes of Malow, Swallowtail, Harvest Home, John Ryans' and Planxty).
Our teacher works by ear first, then gives the dots, along with a recording of the song at speed and slowed down). Her webpage page should give you lots of ideas.
http://www.happyhollowmusic.com/learntofiddle.htm
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by tracywag