This was a fun night of playing Irish music in Manhattan.  Thank you Mickela Malozzi for posting this video!

The rewards of playing by ear

     If you are new to playing Irish music by ear,  you may have a tendency to want to "play along" with a particular tune with the sheet music in front of you.  Please, I beg you, don't!   As I post the written versions of the tunes, do remember that it is just a reference point and that is it.  These particular tunes are taught to students by ear first before they receive the written version of them.  At a further date, we will discuss how to read sheet music without playing along with it on your instrument.  Sounds tricky, but the sooner you learn to play by ear, the easier this technique will become!    
      I can't stress this enough:  listen, listen, and listen again to the tunes you want to learn.  It is a process of experimentation on your part that is actually quite fun.  Once you pick out the notes that match the pitch that you hear in your head, you can then piece together this musical puzzle and VIOLA, a tune is discovered on your own without any aides.  Now that's a nice pat on the back, wouldn't you agree? 

    

I am now available to teach tin whistle or wooden flute on Skype!  If you are interested in a lesson and would like further details,  please visit my website:  www.christelrice.com

Here is great flute tune that sits well with the whistle as well.  This reel is called Over the Bog Road.

Over the Bog Road

Not "becoming of the tune"

The Leitrim Fancy by Christelrice

 This is a written version of the lovely jig, The Leitrim Fancy.  I learned this jig from Mike Rafferty and I remember him saying that rolling the third note, F is not "becoming of the tune." 

The Leitrim Fancy

The Sandmount Reel by Christelrice


 The Sandmount Reel

Here is the written version of an old reel that I learned from the great flute player from Ballinakill, Ireland, Michael Rafferty.

The Trip to Kilavel by Christelrice


 Trip to Kilavil



Here is written version to the jig, Trip to Kilavil.