Lessons / Teachers [Post here only]

Hi, I'm a student of the BA in Irish Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. I hold the teacher's diploma in teaching Irish music (TTCT). I have 5 years teaching experience with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and giving private lessons. I am available to teach trad flute, tin whistle and piano in Limerick on weekdays and in Dublin on weekends. All ages and levels welcome!

For further info, please contact me on my college e-mail:
09007000@studentmail.ul.ie

marz90 wrote: »

Hi,
I am a fiddle teacher and based in Dublin City. I have taught with Comhltas for the past two years when I was living in Cork. I am also classically trained, Grade 8 completed, and have experience teaching classical privately also. I would love to teach the fiddle now in Dublin. Let me know what you think.

Mairead

hello there,
i am looking for lessons in trad fiddle could you let me have some details

Hi guys,

Been asked for some tips on learning the Banjo, and decided to put them here to benefit the community. So I hope this helps. I give Banjo lessons- details below.


Many playing the banjo concentrate on the technical aspect of the instrument, even famous players do this. The banjo tends to force this, as mistakes can be noticeable. Also the Banjo has a sweet sound when played quickly. Therefore what happens is that the player, even though technically brilliant, can concentrate so much on the technical aspect, the Banjo ends up sounding like a machine gun! Barney Mc Kenna (Dubliners) is technically excellent, but he plays with feeling, which one reason he is so loved as a player, and this is what can be cultivated in the student.

I find timing can also be a weakness with some Banjo players, even the experienced. Because sections of songs are easier than others, and because the banjo sounds good, when it is played quickly, Banjo players can sometimes fly through certain section of songs. What happens is the Banjo player gets ingrained, and habitualized with uneven timing.

This is ok when playing with others, as timing sorts itself out, and is not as noticeable. When playing solo, the crowd can tap, or clap. But if a Banjo player speeds only slightly through a section, then the crowd become slightly out of sync. People then stop clapping, as they are out of time, with the player.
The Banjo requires considerable practice, and over many hundreds of hours in being technically excellent, and not practicing with others, is why bad timing can be difficult to fix later. I always give a metronome to students on their phone (if suitable) to work with from the start. This gives an excellent discipline. Its ironic but if an experienced player plays at 6 or 7 notes per second, but is asked to play in time with a metronome, they find it difficult to play at the same speed! But if the student is aware of this, at the beginning, then this does not become ingrained.

Bad habits are easy to develop while playing the Banjo. This is because in an effort to play better, certain aids are used. but using these aids means that the player will have a limited speed later because the aid, easier at the beginning, eventually becomes a restriction. for instance, in my experience, using the wrist, and whole hand leads to faster playing. If it is good enough for B. McKenna, its good enough for me! But, at the beginning, it is easier to move ones fingers around instead. Later however the fingers cannot move as fast as the wrist, and this places a ceiling on how fast one can play. This then leads to the student believing they cannot get any better. Some other bad habits are not arching the fingers sufficiently to allow chords later on, and allow the ringing of the string (sustain), not placing ones finger directly behind the fret, overt or dramatic movement of fingers. I tend to find this last one with guitar players moving over to Banjo. The Banjo strings just need to be lightly touched, and one must be completely relaxed.
I feel playing without looking should be developed as soon as possible, and that means naturally, in time with a persons development, but not ignored. If one must look at the strings, and has only learned this way, then, again this will limit the player later on. But this can be done so a student does not even notice, as this aspect becomes natural.

To get to a proficient level of banjo playing, one ultimately learns with ones mind, and muscle memory. But when jigs or reels are practiced quickly, the mind has no time to learn, as it is concentrating on 2 or three notes per second. I find mistakes are repeated, over and over, and are difficult to correct. However if one plays slowly, and methodically, ones speed increases naturally, at the pace of ones mind, and muscles. Mistakes are also virtually non existent, when a song is played slowly. The bottom line is that playing slowly is the fastest way, to play accurately, and quickly. Practicing slowly usually shocks student as to how good they become, over time.

Composition is where one can take enjoyment to a completely new level. To be creative in music is a real joy. But this is simply not as difficult as many believe. There are certain rules, and harmonies which must be obeyed. But spontaneity or the unexpected, with inspiration can be cultivated. The intuition to compose music is quite easy to get. One must concentrate lightly on the subject, and not have any expectations, but keeping ones eyes and ears open for that little part of a composition which makes it special. First, the type of song should be selected- melancholy? happy? serious? fun? there are thousands of emotions, but the budding composer, should decide what combination of emotions the song should contain. Constantly repeating the initial song, then adjusting it, and looking, and listening for additions, also knowing what is not wanted is an asset in finding the tune one is looking for. If a person is interested in learning an instrument, they must have music in their blood, and that is a fantastic base to begin composing with.

A beginner will have more freedom, if they learn to play by ear. I usually give free open source software to students so they can slow a song they hear on youtube down. This gives huge freedom to the student, as it allows them to play a song they want to play, instead of a song they are instructed to play. This is one way of maintaining practice, and adding enjoyment. Slowing songs down is one thing, but the notes but the tone should not go down also. The software slows the song from 100% through to 25% or a quarter of original speed. This is an excellent way to learn the art of playing by ear. Reading from music sheets is a great skill, but playing by ear is an addition to that. If one can only do either, they, for instance are limited to finding sheet music on all songs. Tablature is an excellent form of sheet music, and also another string in ones Banjo!

The Banjo is a fabulous instrument. There are few musical instruments where one can walk into almost any pub and tinkle away softly on it ! I find the crowd in the pub goes quiet to listen!, One gets smiles, and comments from complete strangers !! comments like 'beautiful' . Its like one casts a spell !!
The Banjo is definitely worth the effort.

I give Irish tenor Banjo lessons in the South Wexford area.
Cost is 25 euros for 50 minutes. If interested, please send me a PM. We will be getting a session of beginners together in the future, to progress student, and learn to play in sessions with confidence.

I was asked if we can provide accommodation, and yes, this is available.

Hi everyone. I hope someone can help me here. I'm looking for guitar lessons as a beginner. the style of music that interests me is folk music, and traditional music. I would appreciate it if you could contact me declan.flynn@mycit.ie
Thankyou

Guitar lessons available and Irish ballad style playing and singing also available contact Gary 085 1284751.

marz90 wrote: »

Hi,
I am a fiddle teacher and based in Dublin City. I have taught with Comhltas for the past two years when I was living in Cork. I am also classically trained, Grade 8 completed, and have experience teaching classical privately also. I would love to teach the fiddle now in Dublin. Let me know what you think.

Mairead

hi mairead. i am interetsed in getting lessons on the fiddle. I am a beginner. I live dublin 12 and can travel. What are your rates, and what days/eveings are suitable. cheers

colin.

looking for beginners lessons. 4 string tenor banjo. PM me if interested.

Experienced fiddle player available for lessons in the Limerick city area.

Will teach beginner / intermediate / advanced.

Group and individual lessons.

25 Euro per hour.

PM me for more details.

This may not be related but I tot it a good place to look. I would like to know if anyone has any info on a song called the gallant irregular it is id great importance to my granda