Customer Reviews

DVD-Learn To Play Irish Fiddle #1

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've collected several instructional fiddle/violin dvds over the past year, and this one is by far the most enjoyable and clear to learn from. The tunes are easy to pick up for an advanced beginner and yet they are complex enough melody-wise for friends and family to enjoy. I actually LOVE playing each of these tunes. This was a nice change of pace from the Suzuki books I'm currently using. Good job, Kevin Burke and Homespun! Can't wait to get Kevin's #2 DVD.

This is a nice DVD to learn a few tunes from. While I'm not new to the violin, I'm relatively new to Irish fiddling, and only in the last year or so have been making any effort to develop my ear. Thus, the hardest part for me is to learn by ear, and that's what I'm focusing on right now. This DVD was great for that purpose. Once learned, the tunes were not really difficult for me, although there are some technique and stylistic emphases which took a little getting used to.
Kevin Burke's style is indeed rather 'laid-back'. It creates sort of a homey atmosphere, which is nice. On the other hand, it means there's not a whole lot of verbal explanation. This is a little annoying, but the net effect is probably positive: it forces you to *listen*! He plays the tunes first at a slowed-down pace, repeating each complete musical phrase twice, and then plays through the whole tune. He also introduces each tune at full-speed, so you have the feel for what it 'should' sound like.
I found it was a perfect pacing for me, but I would not recommend it to a true beginner. It would have been enormously frustrating. Get some lessons first and get comfortable with fingering, and smooth bowing patterns, then buy this disc and learn from the best!

This video is a must buy if you want to learn the Irish fiddle from one of the best. Kevin burke teaches you each tune slowly than takes you up to full speed with some great slides, jigs and polkas. He teaches the correct way to bow that enhances that Irish sound along with all the grace notes and left handed techniques that will make your fiddle playing very impressive.

What a treat - a 90 minute private lesson from one of the greats of Irish fiddling, Kevin Burke. I'm sorry some reviewers felt his delivery was too laid back. I happened to enjoy his relaxed attitude and delivery. He clearly loves what he does and shares some wonderful insights into his playing style. Mr. Burke makes it clear from the outset that there is no "set" way to play these tunes; he simply shares his thoughts and techniques. Tunes covered are Bill Sullivan's Polka, Britches Full of Stitches, Saddle the Pony, Connaughtman's Rambles, John Leary's Slide, Micko Russell's Slide, and The King of the Faeries. A booklet accompanies the DVD with all the tunes in standard notation as well as recommended bowing patterns. Each tune is broken down phrase by phrase. I'm buying DVD Two very soon!

I play by ear and am taking fiddle lesson from a Sukuki Violin teacher. That is not the direction I want to go, although I am learning some basics. Kevin Burke's style of teaching and music is more the direction I want to go. I live in a rural area, so do have lots of choices for teachers and don't have time to drive far for lessons.

I have used DVDs successfully to help learn difficult software programs -so I thought I'd give this a try.

Was pleasantly surprised....just right for me.

I am a great fan of Kevin Burke and new to violin playing. He does an excellent job in teaching the tunes and shares a lot of good pointers and tricks to playing Irish music and violin in general. He plays each tune at its normal speed then slows it down. The camera person did a good job in showing what Kevin's hands were doing. I highly recommend the DVD. It's great that a master at playing Irish fiddle decided to share what he knows and meet the users at their level.

These are some Good Old Irish Fiddle Tunes. Good Instruction with a slow pace which I think in good. However some previous fiddle playing experience or previous lessons would be very helpful.

Frankly I haven't viewed the whole video because he almost put me to sleep with his laid back approach. Also, it is hard to see exactly which notes he is pressing on the fingerboard of the violin when he is teaching a tune. I guess this is the way people are supposed to learn this type of music but I would have preferred an actual reference to music and notes as opposed to just see him pressing down on the strings.

This DVD, like a lot of others, assumes that you already know how to play the fiddle. I do wish that beginner videos were really for beginners. It would have been a total waste of money had it not come with sheet music so I could at least figure out what he was doing. I do not recommend this for anyone who does not already know the note placement on the finger board or for anyone who cannot play by ear.