Irish Traditional Music Archive

Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann

Learning Irish Traditional Music

Learning to sing or to play traditional music depends not just on innate aptitude but also on being well motivated and then on getting to hear the music frequently and listening to it with attention.

It is never too early or too late to start to learn, and within a reasonably short period the beginner - especially the motivated adult beginner - can achieve a good degree of competency, and derive much pleasure and satisfaction from learning. Since the unit of learning is the song or tune, the drudgery of scales and exercises is avoided. Techniques acquired on one instrument can be transferred to another.

Gaining listening experience, which is an essential part of learning, is dealt with by leaflet no 2 in this series, 'Getting to Hear Irish Traditional Music'.

Attentive listening will enable you to make your own of the idiom of the music, and thus to perform items in a good traditional style. If possible, listen with a view to learning in relaxed surroundings where the music is live and close at hand rather than recorded.

Singing and playing
There are ways of learning to perform, whether solo or in combination with others, which apply both to singing and playing:

By imitating live performances. This is the best method, but it has the drawback that it is difficult to pick up by ear all the details of a performance. Even if you do find it possible, slavish imitation is not the ultimate goal, but you need to assimilate the characteristics of the music as it comes to you before you begin to introduce your own personal touches.
By imitating recorded performances. This method has the advantage of allowing you to slow down performances, and play them over and over, so that you can pick up details. But there are elements of a performance that are not captured on a recording. The lack of personal interaction with others makes it a somewhat arid way of learning. It is however the most feasible method for very many people.
By teaching yourself from written versions of songs or tunes.This method is best used for adding items to your repertory after you have otherwise absorbed the idiom of the music and acquired sufficient technique. It is also useful for learning details which might have escaped your ear, or for getting ideas for variations of an item you already know.

Other ways of learning to perform apply rather to playing only:

Playing

By getting individual tuition, on a regular or occasional basis, from an experienced player. Although cases differ, this is probably the best way to learn to play. You will be able to hear repeated renditions of a tune at a pace sufficiently slow to resolve difficulties, get advice on fine points of technique, and perform along with your teacher if suitable.
By attending a class run by an experienced player. You will not get individual attention in this situation, at least not for any length of time, but it will be beneficial in many ways to be with other learners, and it will ease you into session playing.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (the association of Irish musicians) provides many classes in its branches throughout Ireland and abroad, and at other venues such as its annual summer school Scoil Éigse. Details can be had from CCÉ's headquarters, 32 Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co Dublin, tel. +353-1-2800295. Classes and workshops are also provided at general summer schools such as Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, details from tel. +353-65-7084148, and specialised schools such as that of Cairdeas na bhFidléirí (the association of fiddle players), Glencolumbcille, Co Donegal, details from tel. +353-72-52144. Details of classes and workshops in uilleann piping can be had from Na Píobairí Uilleann (the society of uilleann pipers), 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 1, tel. +353-1-8730093. There are also local groups such as the Armagh Pipers Club (details from 14 Victoria Street, Armagh, Northern Ireland) and individual teachers giving tuition in various centres. These are best discovered by making enquiries of local traditional performers.
By teaching yourself from published tutors. There are many instrumental tutors and tutor cum tune collections, in different formats and of wildly varying quality, available in music shops and libraries. Among them are:

Accordion

Peter Browne, Irish Button-Accordion Techniques for the Two-Row B and C, also C# and D Tuning, CW Productions, Dublin. 2005 ed. (DVD)
P.J. Hernon, Learn to Play the B and C Button Accordion, CW Productions, Dublin. 2005 ed. (DVD)
Pat McCabe, Tutor and Tunes [for the Button and Piano Accordion], McCabe, Fermanagh, 1990 ed. (book)
David C. Hanrahan, The Box. A Beginner's Guide to the Irish Traditional Button Accordion, Ossian Publications, Cork, 1988 (book with CD)

Banjo

Gerry O'Connor, Absolute Beginners Irish Tenor Banjo, CW Productions, Dublin, 2005 ed. (DVD)
Gerry O'Connor, Irish Tenor Banjo Complete Techniques, CW Productions, Dublin, 2005 ed. (DVD)
Gerry O’Connor, The Complete Guide to Learning the Irish Tenor Banjo, Waltons, Dublin 1997 (book with audio cassette)
Owen Hackett, Irish Music Banjo Tutor, Marieoin Publishers, Meath 2001 (book)
Anthony Sullivan, Sully's Irish Banjo Book, Halshaw Music, Cheshire, 3rd ed. n.d. (book with audio cassette)
Tony (Sully) Sullivan, Irish Tenor Banjo for Beginners, Halshaw Music, Cheshire, n.d. (book with audio cassette and video)
Tony (Sully) Sullivan, The 5-String or G Banjo, Halshaw Music, Cheshire, n.d. (video)
W.A. Sullivan, Teach Yourself Traditional Irish Banjo and Mandolin, Solo and Accompaniment, Coldwater, Cork, 1986 (book)

Bodhrán, Bones, Spoons

Nicholas Driver, Nicholas Driver's Bodhrán & Bones Tutor, Gremlin, Horsham, 1994 ed. (book)
Frank Lewis, The Bodhrán. Can You Beat It?, n.p., n.d. (book with audio cassette)
Stéafán Hannigan, The Bodhrán Book, Ossian Publications, Cork, 2006 ed. (book with audio cassette and video)
Stéafán Hannigan, The Advanced Bodhrán Video, Ossian, Cork, 1996 (video)
Stéafán Hannigan, Bodhrán Basics, Ossian, Cork, 2002 ed. (book with CD)
Tommy Hayes, Bodhrán, Bones & Spoons, CW Productions, Dublin, 2005 ed. (DVD)
Paddy League, An Gabhairin Binn: A Bodhrán Tutor, League, Charlottesville, VA, 2002 (book with CD)
Long, Conor, Absolute Beginners Bodhrán Tutor, Waltons, Dublin 1998 (book with audio cassette)
Mel Mercier & Seamus Egan, Bodhrán & Bones, Interworld Music, Vermont, 1993 (video)
Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, The Bodhrán, Waltons, Dublin, 1984 (book)
Tony Sullivan, Bodhrán Tutor, Halshaw, Cheshire, n.d. (book with audio cassette)
Tommy Walsh & Jim Kelly, The Waltons Bodhrán Tutor, Waltons, Dublin, 1994 (book)

Bouzouki

Niall Ó Callanáin & Tommy Walsh, The Irish Bouzouki, Waltons, Dublin, 1989 (book with audio cassette)

Concertina

Mick Bramich, The Irish Concertina. A Tutor for the Anglo Concertina in the Irish Style Mallinson Publications, Yorkshire, 1996 (book with audio cassette)

Fiddle

Kevin Burke, Learning the Irish Fiddle 1-6, Homespun, New York, 1981 (audio cassettes)
Kevin Burke, Learn to Play the Irish Fiddle 1-2, Homespun, New York, 2004 ed. (DVDs)
Peter Cooper, Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player, Mel Bay, Missouri, 1995 (book with audio cassette)
Matt Cranitch, The Irish Fiddle Book, Mercier, Cork, 2001 4th ed. (book with CDs)
Tony De Marco & Miles Krassen, A Trip to Sligo. A Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Irish Fiddling Sligo-Style, Silver Spear Publications, Pittsburg, 1978 (book)
Charlie Lennon, Irish Fiddle: Complete Techniques, CW Productions, Dublin, 2005 ed. (DVD)
Paul McNevin, A Complete Guide to Learning the Irish Fiddle, Waltons, Dublin, 1998 (book with audio cassette)
Donnchadh Mac Suibhne, An Fhidil, Céim ar Chéim 1-4, Ceol Dal Riada, Randalstown, 1995 (books)
Kathleen Nesbitt, Fidil: Irish Fiddle Tutorial, Nesbitt, 2003 (book with CD)
Dale Russ, Basic Irish Fiddle, Lark in the Morning, California, 1987 (video)
Eithne and Brian Vallely, Learn to Play the Fiddle, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, n.d. (book)

Flute

S.C. Hamilton, The Irish Flute Player's Handbook, Breac Publications, Cork, 1998 reprint (book with audio cassette)
Grey Larsen, The Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle, Mel Bay, Missouri, 2003 (books with CDs)
June McCormack, Fliúit: Irish Flute Tutorial, McCormack, 2006 (book with CD)
Mizzy McCaskill and Dona Gilliam, eds, Complete Irish Flute Tutor, Mel Bay, Missouri, 1997 (book with CD)
Fintan Vallely, Timber. The Flute Tutor, Long Note Productions, Clare, 2nd ed. 1987 (book with audio cassette)
Mickie Zekley, How to Play the Flute in the Traditional Irish Style, Lark in the Morning, California, 1987 (video)

Guitar

Duck Baker, Celtic Airs, Jigs, Reels and Hornpipes, Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop, New Jersey, 1992 (video)
Paul de Grae, Traditional Irish Guitar, Ossian, Cork, 1996, 2nd ed. (book with audio cassette)
Stefan Grossman, Celtic Airs, Hornpipes & Reels Arranged for Fingerstyle Guitar, Mel Bay Missouri, 1990 (book)
Frank Kilkelly, Accompanying Irish Music on Guitar, Mallinson, West Yorkshire 2000 (book)
El McMeen, Irish Guitar Encores, Stephan Grossman's Guitar Workshop, New Jersey, 1993 (video)
Sarah McQuaid, The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book, Ossian, Cork, 1995 (book with audio cassette)
Gavin Ralston, Irish Traditional Guitar Accompaniment, Waltons, Dublin 1998 (book with audio cassette)
John Reid, Traditional Irish Fiddle Tunes for the Fingerpicking Guitarist, Texas Music & Video, Texas, n.d. (video)

Harp

Nancy Calthorpe, Begin the Harp, Waltons, Dublin, 1987 (book)
Sheila Larchet Cuthbert, The Irish Harp Book, Carysfort Press, Dublin, 2004 ed. (book)
Anne Heymann, Secrets of the Gaelic Harp, Clairseach, Minneapolis, 1988 (book)

Hammer Dulcimer

Karen Ashbrook, Playing the Hammered Dulcimer, Oak Publications, New York, 1987 ed. (book)
Walt Michael, Celtic Tunes for the Hammer Dulcimer, Homespun, New York, 1990 (video)

Mandolin

Pádraig Carroll, The Irish Mandolin, Waltons, Dublin, 1999 ed. (book with CD)
W.A. Sullivan, see Banjo above
Anthony Warde, Learn to Play the Irish Mandolin, CW Productions, Dublin, 2005 ed. (DVD)

Uilleann Pipes

The Art of Uilleann Piping vol. 1, Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dublin, [2006] ed. (DVD)
Denis Brooks, Irish Union Pipes. A Workbook, Brooks, Washington D.C., 1985 (book)
H.J. Clarke, The New Approach to Uilleann Piping, Clarke, Galway, Ossian, Cork, 1998 (book with CD)
Eddie Climo, A Handbook for Uilleann Pipers, S.-W. Association of Uilleann Pipers, 1996 (book)
Tadhg Crowley, How to Play the Irish Uilleann Pipes, Crowley, Cork, 1974 ed. (book)
Séamus Ennis, The Master’s Touch: A Tutor for the Uilleann Pipes, eds Wilbert Garvin & Robbie Hannan, NPU, Dublin 1998 (book)
Thomas Kannmacher, The Uilleann Pipes, Kannmacher, Grafschaft, 1999 (book)
Marc Pollier, Uilleann Pipe Tutor, Bains-sur-Oust, Alain Pennec, 1998 (book with audio cassette)
Leo Rowsome, Tutor for the Uilleann Pipes, Waltons, Dublin, 1936 (book)
Pat Sky, A Manual for the Irish Uilleann Pipes, Sky, Chapel Hill, NC, 2000 ed. (book)
Pat Sky, ed., The Complete Tutor for the Pastoral or New Bagpipe and Also for the Union Pipes by Henry [sic] Colclough and John Geoghegan, Chapel Hill, NC, Sky, 2000 (facsimile book)
Davy Spillane & Tommy Walsh, The Davy Spillane Uilleann Pipe Tutor, Waltons, Dublin, 1996 (book with audio cassette)
Eithne & J.B. Vallely, Learn to Play Uilleann Pipes, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, 1998 ed. (book)

War Pipes

G. de M.H. Orpen-Palmer, Walton's Tutor and Selection of Irish Airs for the Bagpipes, Waltons, Dublin, 1967 (book)

Whistle

Geraldine Cotter, Geraldine Cotter's Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor, Ossian, Cork, 3rd ed. [2000] (book with CD)
Patrick Conway, Mel Bay's Deluxe Tinwhistle Songbook, Mel Bay, Missouri, 1982 (book)
Vinnie Kilduff, Learn to Play the Irish Tin Whistle, CW Productions, Dublin, 2005 ed. (DVD)
Cathal McConnell, Irish Pennywhistle Taught by Cathal McConnell 1-3, Homespun, New York, 1984 (audio cassettes)
L.E. McCullough, The Complete Irish Tinwhistle Tutor, Silver Spear Publications, Pittsburgh, rev. ed. 1976 (book with audio cassette)
Francis McPeake, Pocket Tin Whistle Tutor, Appletree, Belfast, 1983 ed. (book)
Tom Maguire, An Irish Whistle Book, Ossian, Cork, 1985 (book with audio cassette)
Dave Mallinson, Instant Tin Whistle, Mallinson Productions, West Yorkshire, n.d. (book)
Bill Ochs, A Handbook for the Clarke Tin Whistle, Pennywhistler's Press, New York, 1990 (book with audio cassette)
Bill Ochs, The Clarke Tin Whistle, Pennywhistler’s Press, New York 2000 (book with CD)
Micheál Ó hAlmhain and Séamus Mac Mathúna, Tutor for the Feadóg Stáin, CCÉ, Dublin, 1971 (book with audio cassette)
Eithne & John Vallely, Learn to Play the Tin Whistle 1-3, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, 8th ed. 1978 (books)

Useful general works which deal with several instruments are:

Eithne and J.B. Vallely, Sing a Song and Play It 1-3, Armagh Pipers Club, Armagh, n.d. (books)
Eamonn Jordan, Whistle and Sing! 1-2, Ashardan, Portadown, 1988 (books)

Singing

The problem about learning to sing is that it does not lend itself easily to any specific method of approach. The voice expresses temperament more plainly than an instrument, and the traditional 'rules' of singing are better learnt by sympathetic listening and imitation than by formal tuition. Remember that the words take precedence over any refinement of the air.

Other

The formal education system at first and second level makes little provision for the teaching of traditional music. But in spite of the restrictions of the official syllabus many teachers throughout the country very successfully impart a knowledge and love of the music to their pupils, and some schools actively promote the music on an extra-curricular basis.

At third level, tuition in traditional performance forms part of undergraduate and post-graduate courses at University College, Cork (tel. +353-21-4903000), the Waterford Institute of Technology (tel. +353-51-302000), the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick (tel.+353-61-202590), Dundalk Institute of Technology (tel. +353-42 9370200), National University of Ireland, Maynooth (tel. +353-1-7086000), Trinity College Dublin (tel. +353-1-896 1000) and the Dublin Institute of Technology (tel. + 353-1-4032000).

To perform traditional music to its fullest it is necessary to have some knowledge and appreciation of its background. As well as learning traditional music, it is necessary to learn about it.

N.B. THE ARCHIVE CANNOT SUPPLY THE ABOVE BOOKS, TAPES OR DVDS, OR ENGAGE IN CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THEM; THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM LIBRARIES OR BOOKSELLERS.

No 3 of a series of information leaflets. These leaflets were published in 1996 and therefore have some information which is no longer current. Updated versions of these leaflets will be made available on the website in due course.