Customer Reviews

Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Well, I can dream can't I? Peter Cooper had me playing--using the term loosely--the Irish Washerwoman in no time. Each song introduces a new element to add to your arsenel of Irish fiddling technique: slurs, grace notes, variations, combining tunes into sets, bowing patterns, and on and on. Most tunes are preceded by a brief lesson: advice, a description of what's coming in the next tune, a breakdown of the patterns, or bars or techniques to practice before trying the tune, etc. Tunes progress in difficulty quite quickly for a beginner. I've got a lot to work on already and I'm only up to tune #6. But I'm having a great time and enjoying Mr. Cooper's selections and advice. There are at least seven tunes in this volume that can be found on Bothy Band albums, such as Butterfly (a version of which is also the haunting tune in the film Secret of Roan Inish). In other words, if you like traditional Irish fiddle music, you'll find some of your favorites in this book. Be sure to purchase this book with its companion cd. Cooper plays each tune in the book: it is invaluable to listen to the rhythms and intonation of the tunes played by a real musician. While I'm no expert, it's difficult to imagine a better organized, more inspiring, collection of tunes. If you're in the mood to fiddle, this is a book to try.

Mr. Cooper has done what so few have done in teaching us to play fiddle. He has progressively placed each tune from simple to moderately complex, beginning to end, through the book. But the best of this book is the (OPTIONAL) two CD version which has him starting at a very easy pace for beginners. Toward the end of CD #2 he is playing at a faster but still followable pace for the student to grasp. Most accompanying CDs are an "Ain't I great?" show of the author's abilities. Instead, Peter Cooper puts away his ego and steps you through how to perform a finger a roll or a slur the Irish way.

I love this book. It gave me the ability to join in at many local sessions with confidence.

Update:
Another reviewer was disappointed that s/he ordered this book, but failed to realize that their book did not come with CDs. These reviews (like this one that you are reading now) are linked to two editions of this book; one that includes 2 CDs, and another (same book) that does not include the CDs. This is a very common situation when buying music instruction books. So, the Reder Reviews can innocently mislead you. Order carefully! Make your item selection on the information from the Web Site Vendor, not from reviewers comments.

If you are an aspiring Irish Fiddler and
- don't have access to a teacher, or
- want additional "tutoring" between your fiddle classes, or
- you're frustrated trying to keep up with the playing speed of other master fiddlers' recordings,
then I highly recommend spending the extra money for the edition of this book that includes 2 CDs. See my earlier review to find out why I appreciate Pete's work on these CDs!

See you at the pub!

LL

This is simply the best book purchase I have ever made.

I learned the violin at 7 and stopped when I was 14. Now at 28 I decided to pick it up again. My friend told me that Irish fiddling is great for solos, and I have to agree. Irish fiddle tunes provide its own rythm so that solo violin does not sound bland. One of the frustrating thing about classical violin is that there are so few pieces written for solo violin, and they tend to be very difficult.

This is a superb instructional book (and make sure you buy the version with the CD). In three weeks I am learning my sixth song and with each song I learn new techniques and idoims. The book starts with simple tunes and becomes increasingly complex and challenging. But even the simple songs are very tuneful and "Irish." The book is much more than a collection of scores but a self-teaching guide to understanding and playing Irish fiddle. Being Asian, I really enjoy all the tales and additional info about Irish music that help me understand where this music comes from. Lacking any talent in violin playing, when I ordered the book I thought it might take a year or so for me to learn something, but now it looks like in three months I can start entertaining my friends with a few tunes.

If I HAD THIS BOOK AS A TEENAGER, I PORBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED PLAYING THE VIOLIN BACK THEN.

This book is marvelous on so many levels; it's hard to know where to begin.

In the first place, it's just a great collection of Irish fiddle music. Some 60 tunes are included here making this something of a treasury, and while that isn't the end of the Irish fiddle repertoire, it certainly makes a good beginning.

As to the teaching, Cooper expects you to know the basics of fiddle playing (I got these by following Jim Tolles' Fiddle Primer) and starts at an early-intermediate level. Not only do the songs progress in complexity as he adds more technical elements such as rolls and other ornaments, but he explains bowing patterns and the importance of bowing in great detail - an element often ignored in fiddle books. For an uncoordinated oaf like myself, I anticipate that it will take months to get through the book and master the techniques, but therein lies the value, and as long as you take baby steps, it should provide years of enjoyment.

Beyond those elements, the book includes an interesting history of Irish traditional music, personal anecdotes, and a fantastic collection of photographs of well known Irish players past and present.

Then there are the CDs. Two of them! Cooper includes every song in the book, and plays them through without additional commentary. Once in a while he includes a sample of a new technique that is introduced in the book, but mostly it's just the songs. I find these invaluable in learning how to play as my own background isn't Irish and the music isn't "in my blood" though I love it dearly. In fact quite apart from the learning aspect, these CDs make for pleasant listening as Cooper's playing is precise and fluid.

So all in all, this collection is highly recommended for anyone interested in this kind of music (whether Irish or the broader "Celtic"). It's a work I'd have to rank as a masterpiece.

This is an excellent intro to Irish fiddling, especially for total beginners to Irish Music. Pete Cooper's lesson plans methodically and skillfully walk you from the very beginning concepts of bowing through to the more advanced forms of ornamentation that are so critical to the "irish" style.

Newbies like me are eager not only to learn the basics, but also to learn great tunes that are likely to come up during the Irish music sessions at the local pub, and all of the tunes Cooper uses in his lessons are core tunes that are session favorites. So when you've walked through his lessons, you're also ready to play a more than a few of the tunes that are likely to be played at a session.

Cooper does an excellent job explaining how to play jigs, reels, hornpipes, slides, mazurkas and polkas, each with their distinctive irish "feel". He also includes an excellent discography...suggested CDs for further study of tunes and playing style.

As an Irish tin whistle player, I can say that Cooper's book for the fiddle does a better job of conveying the basics of irish music than anything else I've seen, including numerous tutorials for other instruments such as tin whistle, and in fact its even helped me improve my style on the tin whistle.

I wish I knew how to get the CD that supposedly accompanies this book. The only other possible "down side" is that he assumes you know how to read music and how to play the notes on your violin...he's showing you how to play it Irish, so if you are a total and complete beginner to the violin you'll need a basic violin book too.

Peter Cooper has put together an excellent introduction to the world of Irish fiddling. The book progresses through levels of difficulty, introducing the reader to the different tune forms (jigs, reels, hornpipes etc) and the different forms of ornamentation. The first few sections introduce tunes that are fun to play and not too difficult; however, this book is not for absolute beginners. You should have a sound knowledge of the fingerboard to get the most from it.

One great feature of this book is that the tunes are ones you are almost sure to hear in sessions in the United States. If you learn the tunes in this book you will have a good solid set of session tunes to play for those nights you get together with friends or go to a pub.

My hat's off to Peter Cooper! This book is masterfully organized for the experienced player or the novice - starting with the simple tunes to the more complex.

As an experienced classical violinist, I've found this book (and CD) perfect to explain the different nuances between Irish fiddling and classical technique. Just a few quick pages of reading and you're off and running for hours of fulfilling Irish tunes!

And whether you're the type that likes a little background on the origin of the tunes or the theory of modal Irish music, it's all there! This is a must-have for all aspiring Irish fiddlers!

I have tried various "intro" to Irish fiddling books before. They have all only had the written music with no information about how to play with the style of Irish music. This book explains how to play in the Irish music tradition. I would suggest purchasing it with the accompanying CD so that you can hear it as well. The samples on the CD are played slow enough so that you can hear what is going on. The book is set up starting with a simple jig and then moves on to progressively more complex tunes. It is the Suzuki Method for the Irish Fiddling world...Highly Recommended.

This will not replace competent instruction but it is a good teaching aid. If you already know some of the rudiments of playing a bowed instrument, it is a wonderful teaching aid.

The approach is simple. New concepts and style devices are introduced with text explanations and minimal diagrams. (Nothing replaces a real teacher.) Simple pieces of music that utilize the new concept are presented as well. What I particularly liked was some of the background information given. It is not complete but it does pique the interest. The tutorial is not the place for music history. The notes are just a welcome additional resource.

A Very Good Choice

I am a professional violinist and teacher (both classic and traditional Irish training) and this is my favorite book to use with students, if a book is desired (while learning by ear is the obvious method of choice that has been employed for centuries, most modern players who read music seem to feel better with a page of notes in front of them...)
There are loads of books of Irish music (and I think I just might possibly own them all) but this book is the BEST instructional book of them all- the closest thing to a "textbook" on Irish fiddling that there is (all my students use it). I also use the Suzuki method books for my classical violin students, and yes, I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer who felt Cooper's book is the Suzuki method of Irish fiddle.