I just wanted to let everyone know how much I am benifitting from this group and what it is sharing. Since stumbling upon the Sessions I have learned to play Inisheer, Concertina Reel, The wind that shakes the barley and am making good progress with Kesh. (Did I mention that I am a beginner??) This has happened dispite me no longer being able to take fiddle lessons anymore due to the ill-health of my teacher. I live in a rural setting and with my work schedule plus isolation, I really don't feel that I am missing much at the moment. It would be nice to hook up with real people and real sessions however. Do any of you Canadians know Vic Mullen? He was teaching me and I was very fortunate. Great musician. I'm not sure what to do now: is it important to keep up with lessons or maybe go solo for a while? I'll have to start going out to musical things in the area but to be honest, bluegrass is almost the only thing on offer. It is nice to listen to but not really what I want to play.
Lalonde, it would help to know a little more about you--where in Canada you live, for instance. If you're in Nova Scotia (Vic's stomping grounds), then get yourself over to Cape Breton Island for music with more Scottish/Irish influence.
Also check the session listings here--there are sessions in Halifax, Kentville, and Wolfville. Even a one-time visit might help you find a fiddle teacher geared more toward Irish or whatever your interests are.
And sorry to hear Vic Mullen isn't doing well. I played in East coast bluegrass bands 30 years ago and was familiar with his records on the Rodeo label.
I'm way down in Digby Co, about 9 hours drive away from CB. I am keen to check things out at Paddy's Pub in Kentville, which would be the closest of the sessions listed on this site. Of course even those represent a 2.5 hr trip.
Okay, so you *are* out in the sticks a bit. I can empathize--while learning fiddle I went through stages of living hours from the nearest human being, let alone another fiddler.
I'd suggest two strategies. First, keep looking locally for someone who plays the sort of music you want to learn. Even if it's not a fiddler. I learned a lot in my early years from playing with people on whistle, concertina, and even piano. And don't give up on finding another fiddler--you can learn good technique regardless of what genre of music they play.
Second, consider getting the Kevin Burke video fiddle lessons (a 2 volume set), available through Amazon.com. And/or Cathal Hayden's cd tutorial through www.madfortrad.com.
You can also learn just by listening to cds. Listen to lots of fiddlers (and uilleann pipers too), and immerse yourself in the playing that most calls to you. It'll rub off if you let it.
Get in with the bluegrass folks. Maybe you can convert them. Start slipping a few tchunes into their toons, if you know what I'm saying. Bluegrass and Irish music aren't that different (here comes the barrage of rotten tomatoes) when you strip it down to the melodic elements, and it's fun to play with other people. You might find some of the bluegrass folks also play trad at home and are secretly yearning for an opportunity to play with others, but you'll never meet them if you don't get out there.
Speaking of sessions...I am just a beginner starting out and would just like to know the names of a few good sets that nearly always get played at a session???
No such animal, I'm afraid. Check in at the local session you intend to frequent and ask them for sets they play a lot, is probably the best advice! Good luck!
Lalonde-What Kerri said. I played with a bluegrass bunch for a year or so after my teacher kicked me out of the nest, and found that it was an invaluable learning experience. Some of the tunes have the same name, but have morphed a bit, but it's all playing. I was lucky to have those wonderful, supportive folks who ran the jam, and it boosts your level of playing to sit in with other instruments. Makes you pay attention to rhythm, tuning, what other musicians are doing.
"Cattle prod in a good way": I certainly hope so, as the cows I know drop their load when prodded.
It's "benefits." I have to keep up my repetition as a spelling Nazi.
The Fiddling Fenian: If you are going to follow Zina's good advice, take a tape recorder to tape the session. Then you have an easy reference. If you can't get the sheet music, some of the music may be here in the "tunes" section, or elsewhere on the Internet. Best Wishes! (^: (^: (^: (^: (^: (^: (^:
Good benifits of the Sessions
Good benifits of the Sessions
I just wanted to let everyone know how much I am benifitting from this group and what it is sharing. Since stumbling upon the Sessions I have learned to play Inisheer, Concertina Reel, The wind that shakes the barley and am making good progress with Kesh. (Did I mention that I am a beginner??) This has happened dispite me no longer being able to take fiddle lessons anymore due to the ill-health of my teacher. I live in a rural setting and with my work schedule plus isolation, I really don't feel that I am missing much at the moment. It would be nice to hook up with real people and real sessions however. Do any of you Canadians know Vic Mullen? He was teaching me and I was very fortunate. Great musician. I'm not sure what to do now: is it important to keep up with lessons or maybe go solo for a while? I'll have to start going out to musical things in the area but to be honest, bluegrass is almost the only thing on offer. It is nice to listen to but not really what I want to play.
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Lalonde
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
The session is to trad musicians what a cattle prod is to a cow.
In a good way.
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by wreckin` rea
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
Lalonde, it would help to know a little more about you--where in Canada you live, for instance. If you're in Nova Scotia (Vic's stomping grounds), then get yourself over to Cape Breton Island for music with more Scottish/Irish influence.
Also check the session listings here--there are sessions in Halifax, Kentville, and Wolfville. Even a one-time visit might help you find a fiddle teacher geared more toward Irish or whatever your interests are.
And sorry to hear Vic Mullen isn't doing well. I played in East coast bluegrass bands 30 years ago and was familiar with his records on the Rodeo label.
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
I'm way down in Digby Co, about 9 hours drive away from CB. I am keen to check things out at Paddy's Pub in Kentville, which would be the closest of the sessions listed on this site. Of course even those represent a 2.5 hr trip.
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Lalonde
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
LOL, Rea!
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
Okay, so you *are* out in the sticks a bit. I can empathize--while learning fiddle I went through stages of living hours from the nearest human being, let alone another fiddler.
I'd suggest two strategies. First, keep looking locally for someone who plays the sort of music you want to learn. Even if it's not a fiddler. I learned a lot in my early years from playing with people on whistle, concertina, and even piano. And don't give up on finding another fiddler--you can learn good technique regardless of what genre of music they play.
Second, consider getting the Kevin Burke video fiddle lessons (a 2 volume set), available through Amazon.com. And/or Cathal Hayden's cd tutorial through www.madfortrad.com.
You can also learn just by listening to cds. Listen to lots of fiddlers (and uilleann pipers too), and immerse yourself in the playing that most calls to you. It'll rub off if you let it.
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Will CPT
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
Get in with the bluegrass folks. Maybe you can convert them. Start slipping a few tchunes into their toons, if you know what I'm saying. Bluegrass and Irish music aren't that different (here comes the barrage of rotten tomatoes) when you strip it down to the melodic elements, and it's fun to play with other people. You might find some of the bluegrass folks also play trad at home and are secretly yearning for an opportunity to play with others, but you'll never meet them if you don't get out there.
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
Speaking of sessions...I am just a beginner starting out and would just like to know the names of a few good sets that nearly always get played at a session???
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by The Fiddling Fenian
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
No such animal, I'm afraid. Check in at the local session you intend to frequent and ask them for sets they play a lot, is probably the best advice! Good luck!
# Posted on March 30th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
Lalonde-What Kerri said. I played with a bluegrass bunch for a year or so after my teacher kicked me out of the nest, and found that it was an invaluable learning experience. Some of the tunes have the same name, but have morphed a bit, but it's all playing. I was lucky to have those wonderful, supportive folks who ran the jam, and it boosts your level of playing to sit in with other instruments. Makes you pay attention to rhythm, tuning, what other musicians are doing.
# Posted on March 31st 2005 by Batlady
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
"Cattle prod in a good way": I certainly hope so, as the cows I know drop their load when prodded.
It's "benefits." I have to keep up my repetition as a spelling Nazi.
The Fiddling Fenian: If you are going to follow Zina's good advice, take a tape recorder to tape the session. Then you have an easy reference. If you can't get the sheet music, some of the music may be here in the "tunes" section, or elsewhere on the Internet. Best Wishes! (^: (^: (^: (^: (^: (^: (^:
# Posted on March 31st 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
one more tip-- keep acting like you know nothing-- else they'll be so threatened they won't even acknowledge you... (*smirk*)
# Posted on March 31st 2005 by CC
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
Spelling Nazi: who made up this English language anyway? It causes me no end of misery.
OK, I think I could grow on the idea of mingling with the bluegrass crowd. It was the rebel in me, not wanting to start on that road to begin with.
# Posted on March 31st 2005 by Lalonde
Re: Good benifits of the Sessions
The English language was invented by the original, sadistic, English professor. She was later identified as an alien transplant in "Men in Black."
Lalonde: try some "Nickle Creek" type Bluegrass stuff. This young bands original album won a grammy and has a rendition of "Cuckoo's Nest."
Best Wishes!
# Posted on April 1st 2005 by CeolCairdeas