I so very nearly didn’t post today. Stressful Monday equals no desire to write. But then I thought about how I promised myself I would do this, and also contemplated how I could’ve thought the whole ‘posting on Mondays’ thing through – there are literally 6 other days to pick from, Kate!
Anyway, to get rid of YOUR Mondayitis, here is a list of stellar online resources I’m currently using to help me learn Irish fiddle tunes, and I promise will at the very least make you want to learn something today.
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The Online Academy of Irish Music
The OAIM is a phenomenal self-paced school where you pay a monthly fee and have complete access to all the endless options to learn absolutely everything and anything you’d like to learn on all aspects of Irish music. Have I sold it to you yet? Accordian, banjo, fiddle, harp, sea shanty and more – the OAIM literally has everything from all of your favourite (and quite famous) tutors. The fiddle first tune I learnt from there in 2014ish was the Geese in the Bog (jig in C) from the wonderful Tola Custy. He has a really patient and structured way to learning a tune, and it was all sunk into my fingers within 20 minutes. The Geese in the Bog is actually a tune that had haunted me for years, as it was always one played in sessions that I could never get ‘just right’. And now I do, so thanks Tola!
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YouTube (obviously)
I actually use The Whistler a lot for tunes, as their phantom-of-the-opera channel style has always intrigued me, while also being a BEAUT recount of tunes. Also, CutiePie who is another whistle player, and Martin Hayes has just started teaching tunes too (and how you can really go past him for fiddle instruction?). Martin has a really lovely and soothing way about him, that makes it seem perfectly fine to get that C# wrong, you can get just give it a wee nother go the second time around, there’s no rush.
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Aural skillz apps like EarPeggio and Ear Trainer
Aural skills are super important in Irish music, and actually quite easy to lose if you’re not consistently exposing yourself to the sounds of the notes and ‘switching on’ that ability to critically reflect on what you’re hearing in a non-lesson setting. After using these apps for a while and enjoying the points system of it, now when I’m playing scales or working on intonation, I actually focus on how the sound feels in my ear. Afterall, they’re vibrations. Phone apps have helped me tremendously to practice this skill, and turns out aural abilities aren’t just a divine skill for people who ‘have perfect pitch’ (who even actually has perfect pitch anyway, I beg you!)
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FiddleHed YouTube/website
One thing I know about folk communities and musicians is they are insanely generous people. Jason from FiddleHed has literally thousands of YouTube videos of tutorials and lessons. He also has a wonderful resource of a website, which you can subscribe to for a fee. He is PROLIFIC to say the least and I always find if I’m stuck for things to learn or interested in, Jason will have something fascinating and new to mull on. His unique perspectives are always welcome. He’s also a very forgiving teacher and reiterates to just enjoy fiddling, rather than making it perfect, which is something I can totally get on board with. Jason’s insightful blogs on his mailing list is actually a big reason I’m trying to be kinder to myself as a musician. He’s just very understanding!
So that’s my first list of some online resources for you to go out and learn something new this week. I always find online is a bit overwhelming, with the endless options and tunes (as you probably already know by now) so having somewhere that is a structured curriculum is a pretty great launching pad.
Thanks for reading and hope you have a very Musical Monday!
Kate's Endless Notation 