Just got back from a week at Mark O’Connor’s fiddle fiddle camp where I was the only whistler bold enough to play his whistle in public.
In the early mornings I would sit down by the performance pavillion and play for Mark Wood, the rock and roll fiddler. He advised his students to practice with a drum groove. He was particularly fond of Aerosmith’s drummer.
Pretty cool to rev up a Celtic ditty with pounding heavy metal accompaniment! Beats a metronome for sure!
Does anyone know of any Celtic drum grooves available for jamming, tempo practice, etc.? This could really take some headaches out of tempo polishing…
Afro Celt Sound System(red CD with “Lovers of Light”), Loreena McKennit (Book of Secrets), Shugalnifty (sp?), Wolfstone, Shotts n Dykehead Pipe Band etc.
I think I have some info you might be interested in. For awhile I’ve been using Acid Music-Music Studio. I found it so useful, I went out and bought the software.
However, you can dowload a free version that gives you very minimal features, but you can use it for what you want to do.
First you need to download the software: http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/download/step2.asp?DID=551
Then you’ll need to browse through the MANY different sound loop collections for what you like. There are literally dozens of free samples you can download and use.
That is such a great suggestion! I decided that this summer, I am really going to work hard on improving my technique, tone, etc. I have been spending about 1/2 - 1 hour a day with the metronome, and I am really getting sick of it. Thanks to Notus for suggesting this tip and to Mike for the link!
