One of my sons (age 12) has just passed his Grade 3 violin - I'd like to encourage him to get into some fiddle tunes, as well as his classical and orchestral pieces.
I myself went the classical route through the grades and orchestras, and only in the last 2-3 years have got around to what I've meant to do for years/decades - ie start playing session stuff - and love it!
In order of difficulty to learn, easiest were airs then hornpipes then jigs then (hardest) reels. What I found tricky is all the striing crossing, across the bar slurs, different accents, 'driven bow', etc etc!
Anyway, back to my lad - any suggestions for some tunes to start him on his fiddle journey? I've got a few lined up but maybe some of you have some ideas
You know, domnull, somebody else just started this exact same thread. You might have better luck (and response) posting your comments and questions over there.
Well, there's a difference between an 8-year-old with little experience and a 12-year-old with some training (especially with some classical habits to undo, like reliance on the dots), so I think there's some point to a separate thread.
I would suggest you look at his specific strong and weak points as a player, and select tunes you think fit his capabilities. If he likes the tunes you choose, it won't hurt! I would also suggest you have him put a good bit of energy into learning the tunes by ear.
Since you specfically mentioned hornpipes as easy for you when you began, there are plenty of decent hornpipes that aren't too hard to learn. My own favorite beginning hornpipe was Kitty's Wedding, which is a jaunty little tune, and which over here at least doesn't seem to get played to death, but your mileage may vary.
Going more towards advise than tunes...... There are these great books which i think are great for learning traditional music (roughly 99.8% scottish) ceilidh collections by 'taigh na teud' and 'ceol na fidhle' it might also be helpful to root out a junior fiddle group in your area for him 2 join which would help with the enthusiasm part.
I wasn't going to mention tune books, but now that it's been brought up, the Comhaltas Foinn Seisiun Book 1 should prove very useful (see http://www.comhaltas.com/seisiun/foinn.htm for details). As Irish traditional music is really an aural thing, listening is crucial and the Foinn Seisiún book is accompanied by a CD which greatly assists learning the tunes. Fiddlemouse mentioned "Kitty's Wedding" hornpipe and this is one of the Foinn Seisiún tunes. There are also lots of polkas which should be well suited to an 8 year old.
I have a 9 year old girl who is learning by tab and ear. I won't let her near the classical music training world, my own preference (that's a whole nuther discussion). Anyway, the polkas really work wonders in getting her to move the bow and find the crossings. And they are simple and fun.
I think if the kid is already taking classical lessons it's redundant to teach him trad from sheet music. In the beginning, it will probably also be a lot more confusing for him than it would be to learn to pick up tunes by ear, since in classical music you are forbidden to stray from what the sheet music says, whereas in trad you are forbidden not to.
That's just my two bits. The great thing is he's started young, so no matter what you offer him now he's got a leg up in the future.
And take him out to the sessions! Introduce him to the fiddlers you know. Getting kids to feel included with the other players and making sure the experience of that is good will go a very very long ways towards making them want to play the stuff.
It doesn't really matter what tunes he will learn but how he will play them. Be sure to make him try the recordings of some old fiddle masters such as Denis Murphy and Bobbey Casey. He'll get an idea of how to turn simple tunes into masterpieces.
fiddle tunes for grade III lad
fiddle tunes for grade III lad
One of my sons (age 12) has just passed his Grade 3 violin - I'd like to encourage him to get into some fiddle tunes, as well as his classical and orchestral pieces.
I myself went the classical route through the grades and orchestras, and only in the last 2-3 years have got around to what I've meant to do for years/decades - ie start playing session stuff - and love it!
In order of difficulty to learn, easiest were airs then hornpipes then jigs then (hardest) reels. What I found tricky is all the striing crossing, across the bar slurs, different accents, 'driven bow', etc etc!
Anyway, back to my lad - any suggestions for some tunes to start him on his fiddle journey? I've got a few lined up but maybe some of you have some ideas
Thanks
Domnull
# Posted on April 5th 2005 by domhnall.
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
You know, domnull, somebody else just started this exact same thread. You might have better luck (and response) posting your comments and questions over there.
# Posted on April 5th 2005 by Kerri Brown
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/6277
# Posted on April 5th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
Well, there's a difference between an 8-year-old with little experience and a 12-year-old with some training (especially with some classical habits to undo, like reliance on the dots), so I think there's some point to a separate thread.
I would suggest you look at his specific strong and weak points as a player, and select tunes you think fit his capabilities. If he likes the tunes you choose, it won't hurt! I would also suggest you have him put a good bit of energy into learning the tunes by ear.
Since you specfically mentioned hornpipes as easy for you when you began, there are plenty of decent hornpipes that aren't too hard to learn. My own favorite beginning hornpipe was Kitty's Wedding, which is a jaunty little tune, and which over here at least doesn't seem to get played to death, but your mileage may vary.
# Posted on April 5th 2005 by sara g
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
Going more towards advise than tunes...... There are these great books which i think are great for learning traditional music (roughly 99.8% scottish) ceilidh collections by 'taigh na teud' and 'ceol na fidhle' it might also be helpful to root out a junior fiddle group in your area for him 2 join which would help with the enthusiasm part.
# Posted on April 5th 2005 by nicola1
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
I wasn't going to mention tune books, but now that it's been brought up, the Comhaltas Foinn Seisiun Book 1 should prove very useful (see http://www.comhaltas.com/seisiun/foinn.htm for details). As Irish traditional music is really an aural thing, listening is crucial and the Foinn Seisiún book is accompanied by a CD which greatly assists learning the tunes. Fiddlemouse mentioned "Kitty's Wedding" hornpipe and this is one of the Foinn Seisiún tunes. There are also lots of polkas which should be well suited to an 8 year old.
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by Bannerman
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
I have a 9 year old girl who is learning by tab and ear. I won't let her near the classical music training world, my own preference (that's a whole nuther discussion). Anyway, the polkas really work wonders in getting her to move the bow and find the crossings. And they are simple and fun.
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by saltcast
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
I think if the kid is already taking classical lessons it's redundant to teach him trad from sheet music. In the beginning, it will probably also be a lot more confusing for him than it would be to learn to pick up tunes by ear, since in classical music you are forbidden to stray from what the sheet music says, whereas in trad you are forbidden not to.
That's just my two bits. The great thing is he's started young, so no matter what you offer him now he's got a leg up in the future.
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
And take him out to the sessions! Introduce him to the fiddlers you know. Getting kids to feel included with the other players and making sure the experience of that is good will go a very very long ways towards making them want to play the stuff.
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
It doesn't really matter what tunes he will learn but how he will play them. Be sure to make him try the recordings of some old fiddle masters such as Denis Murphy and Bobbey Casey. He'll get an idea of how to turn simple tunes into masterpieces.
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by slainte
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
Thanks to all for the input, and for pointing out the similar query thread opsted the same day as this one!
Domnull
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by domhnall.
Re: fiddle tunes for grade III lad
Sorry - "posted" the same ......
# Posted on April 6th 2005 by domhnall.