Fiddle Tutors
Stentor Student Fiddles (photo right)
These instruments are well made and sound great. They are an excellent starting
point for those wishing to take up this instrument without outlaying a lot of
money. They cater for all sizes.
These fiddles have:
How to choose the correct size fiddle
Pretend that the person wanting the fiddle is holding one
with their arm out straight. Now measure from the neck to the wrist. This
measurement will provide the most comfortable size fiddle. If you measure from
the neck to the middle of the palm you will obtain the maximum size fiddle
that can be held.
The larger the fiddle the richer the sound and longer the time before upsizing.
All the above fiddles are very playable and will produce an excellent sound.
Students have no problems adjusting to a larger size fiddle after learning on
a smaller one.
| Arm Measurement in Inches | 23" and above | 22" | 20" | 18 ½" | 16 ½" | 15" | 14" |
| Arm Measurement in Cms | 58.5 | 55.8 | 50.8 | 47 | 41.8 | 38.2 | 35.6 |
| Fiddle Size | Full Size | ¾ | ½ | ¼ | 1/8 | 1/10 | 1/16 |
Fiddle Tutors
Hokum: Theory and
Scales for Fiddle Tunes and Fiddle Improvisation
by Leon Grizzard
This book is written to teach theory and scales as applied to American
Celtic traditional music, to teach fiddle improvisation and to present
additional information to the fiddler who wants to play in other popular styles.
The book teaches the theoretical framework of fiddle tunes and of fiddle
soloing; scales and arpeggios that fiddlers actually use,
fiddle improvisation, and also presents material to help the fiddler play in
other popular styles.
Addresses: major, minor, and blues scales, lydian and mixolydian modes, dominant
chords and scales, diminished chords, more. Standard notation only.
Size A4, 124 pages with wire binding for easy opening on music stands.
Contents
Jazz Fiddle Wizard
by Martin Norgaard
This is a step by step instruction book designed for string players who wish
to learn to improvise in the jazz tradition. Features 25 lessons that
progressively introduce the player to the art of improvisation in a unique way
designed for strings. Each lesson presents an easy to understand concept which
is implemented in the exercises and tunes.
Size A4, 124 pages with wire binding for easy opening on music stands.
| Knock, Knock, Who's There? | My House | Rose Room |
| Good Lady | Tune Down | You Can't Appear Again |
| Indiana (Back Home Again In) | ||
The Cajun Fiddle
By Craig Duncan
Cajun fiddling uses many double stops, often an open string sounding along
with the melody. This book shows when to use slides and trills, and
emphasizes the bowing technique required for the Cajun sound. 8 tunes have
easy arrangements and the other 64 tunes show all the embellishments and
double stops. A CD to accompany the book helps get the right feel for
playing this vibrant music from Louisiana.
Book size A4, 101 pages contains melody lines and basic chords
Contents
Easy Klezmer Tunes
By Stacy Phillips
Classic tunes from Eastern Europe arranged for beginners on all instruments.
The accompanying CD plays the 24 tunes as written then adds some Klezmer
embellishments.
Book size A4, 129 pages contains melody lines.
The Irish Fiddle
by Paul McNevin
All Ireland Champion fiddler Paul McNevin has produced a book and cd, on how to play the Irish fiddle. The book contains
Book and CD Price $55 WM1309 bk/cd
The Irish Fiddle DVD
by Paul McNevin
This DVD is designed for the Absolute Beginner covering everything from
holding the bow, bow tension and applying rosin to playing a variety of tunes.
Paul McNevin is an excellent communicator who clearly demonstrates a variety of
playing techniques.
The Irish Fiddle Book
by Matt Cranitch
The most complete tutor for playing the fiddle in the Irish Style. It takes you
from basics through to styles. Includes 100 tunes and a demo CD comes with the
book. Also recommended are two of Matt's tapes "Take a Bow" and "Give it Shtick"
Size A4, 180 pages.
Fancy Yourself
Fiddling?
by Sean Kenan
For over 20 years Sean has been performing and teaching Irish fiddle at
festivals, sessions and events throughout Australia. He has been a valued tutor
for several years in Celtic Fiddle at Music Under the Southern Cross
Celtic Summer School.
Sean
has produced two excellent books of some of the best Irish tunes, with a CD to
help the new fiddler hear the nuances that make the music uniquely Irish.
Size A4, 32pages
Book and CD Price $40 each Volume
Available directly from Sean at 0419 210 043 or Seankenan@hotmail.com
or visit his website at www.seankenan.com
Scottish Fiddle
Play Scottish Fiddle - intermediate
By Sarah Naylor
Sarah was born on the Isle of Skye and is one of Scotland's leading young
fiddlers.
Sarah's relaxed and encouraging teaching style and phrase by phrase tuition
makes learning easy and invites you into a world of authentic Scottish fiddle
music. She teaches the style and techniques of rhythm, bowing and ornaments
appropriate for intermediate level players and by the end of the session you'll
by playing tunes such as Mrs Macleod of Ramsay, The Stool of Repentance, The
Breas of Tullimet, Pipers Cave and many more. From this solid foundation in
Scottish fiddle music you should gain the confidence to play for Ceilidhs.
Running time 55 mins includes booklet
Traditional Scottish Fiddling
A players guide- encompassing music from the West Coast, East Coast, Shetland,
Orkney and the Boarders of Scotland. The book is filled with excellent
instruction on fiddle techniques and includes a demonstration CD with 68
tracks. Most tunes in the book are played once.
Book size A4, contains 146 pages, music, chords, fiddle instruction and
demonstration CD.
Scottish Fiddlers and Their Music
by Mary Anne Alburger
She provides a stimulating and scholarly account of many of the notable fiddlers
of the 17th, 18th and 19th and 20th centuries. It gives extended treatment to
outstanding composers such as Niel and Nathaniel Gow, William Marshall, Simon
Fraser and James Scott Skinner.
Size A5, 256 pages contains 100 tunes and variations, and history.
Strathspey Players - Past and Present
by William C. Honeyman
First published in 1922, this booklet tells the stories of Niel Gow, Scott
Skinner and Peter Milne. The author argues against the dilution of the
traditional style of strathspey playing.
Size A6, 51 pages
Scottish Folk Fiddle Tutor
A comprehensive beginners book but with great tunes. Useful photos illustrate the points as they occur. A
CD is included.
Contents of book / An Clar-Innse
Size A4, 43 pages.
A Guide to Scottish
Fiddling
by Bill Cook
Bill Cook is a violin teacher, leader of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and
conductor of the Stirling Caledonian Strathspey and Reel Society. This book
provides a sound base for fiddlers and violinists to learn to play the distinctive
rhythms of Scottish music.
Size A4 44pages include instructions.
Four Hour Celtic Workout - backup and lead for all instruments
by Steve Kaufman
Steve Kaufman's popular workout tutor is a powerful practice tool for
intermediate and advanced players who want to get into shape for sessions and
festivals. Steve plays 50 celtic pieces slowly, then up-to-speed.
With you stereo balance control you can turn off the lead and play along with
the rhythm to get your soloing together. The solo lead is on the other
channel, so you can practice your back-up parts and learn the tune. This
system will improve your ear and build stamina, power and confidence.
Book size A4, contains 50 tunes on 4 cds, with tab and melody lines and chords for
all tunes, chord charts and helpful hints.
A
Fiddle Lesson - Intermediate Level
Video
by Cape Breton Fiddler Natalie MacMaster
One of the best presented fiddle tutors available, this video begins with an introduction on grace notes and bowing, followed by teaching and performance of five traditional tunes. The video features
Natalie MacMaster CDs can be ordered
from music@burkesmusic.com.au
My Roots are Showing - TRAX163
No Boundaries - TRAX142
In My Hands - TRAX 180
Deluxe
Fiddling Method
by Craig Duncan
Craig Duncan guides the fiddler through studies and 49 great American fiddle solos of
all the classics in the keys of A, D, C and G. Included is a CD and 80 min
DVD
Book size A4, contains 104 pages, 47 tunes with melody lines, chords and
instruction for
all tunes, and helpful hints.
Four Hour Bluegrass Workout for all instruments
by Steve Kaufman
Steve Kaufman's popular workout tutor is a powerful practice tool for
intermediate and advanced players who want to get into shape for sessions and
festivals. Steve plays 49 classic bluegrass pieces slowly, then up-to-speed.
With you stereo balance control you can turn off the lead and play along with
the rhythm to get your soloing together. The solo lead is on the other
channel, so you can practice your back-up parts and learn the tune. This
system will improve your ear and build stamina, power and confidence.
Book size A4, contains 47 tunes on 4 cds, with melody lines and chords for
all tunes, chord charts and helpful hints.
Old Time Mountain Fiddle
by Stan Gottschalk
Stan Gottschalk was born in America and has been living in Tasmania for over twenty years. He is noted here as being a researcher and multi-talented musician. Audiences have enjoyed Stan's presentations at the Huon, Tamar and National Folk Festivals where each year he presents different aspects of early American music and history.
This instruction manual is based on the styles of the traditional fiddlers and includes over 40 tunes, in both music notation and tablature.
This is an excellent book for learning how to play old time fiddle.
Singing with the Fiddle
Accompanying Old Time Songs and Ballads taught by Bruce Molsky
The violin can be used to accompany old time country songs with beautiful
results, and no one does this better than Bruce Molsky. On this DVD lesson,
he shows you how you can achieve distinctively rich and compelling harmonies
in a musical interaction between your fiddle and your voice.
Bruce covers all the basics, starting with simple exercises to develop
your ear and tune your singing to the pitches of the fiddle. He shows the
most common chords for folk songs and how to use your instrument to
harmonise with the sung melody. You will learn to accompany songs using a
variety of tunings, with detailed instruction in rhythmic effects, chord
movement, harmony variations, syncopated bowing patterns and other
techniques to bring out the drama and excitement of your song.
Bruce teaches Omie Wise, Stay all Night, Bachelor's Hall, June Apple
and I Truly Understand. The written music is provided.
Length is 95 mins.
Southern
Old-Time Fiddle Tour
An in-depth lesson in traditional styles taught by Bruce Molsky
This 75 minute video teaches six tunes, each from a geographical area
in the southern US that's known for great old time playing -
West Virginia,
North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Mississippi. You'll learn
licks, bowing patterns and the special tunings that give this music it's
haunting sounds and toe-tapping drive and excitement.
Cello
Fiddle Tunes for Beginning Cello
by Stacy Phillips
This book contains a selection of American fiddle tunes arranged for the
beginning cello player. The only technical prerequisite for this music is the
ability to play a major scale of some sort. Fingering and string
position are shown under each note. Each tune is played on the 31 track
included CD.
The Ceilidh Collection for Cello/Bass
Tunes are in order of difficulty. The fingering is included for cellists only while chords are given to facilitate the collection's use in group settings.
Size A4, contains music
Celtic Fiddle Tunes for Solo and Ensemble, Cello and Bass
by Craig Duncan
This collection contains 14 set arrangements of 22 traditional tunes from
Ireland and Scotland in a variety of styles including jigs, reels,
hornpipes, slip jigs, strathspeys, waltzes and airs. The harmonies are
written so that various combinations from solo instrument with piano to
duets and trios to full string quartet/orchestra are possible.
This cello book includes melody (solo cello), cello harmony, bass and piano
accompaniment.
A companion book for non bass melody instruments is available.
Size A4, contains tune sets and variations plus pull out section with
melody, cello and piano accompaniment. All tunes are written in bass script.
Last updated 17/7/2010 © 1996, Celtic Southern Cross.