Gotta Have CDs to help learn by ear - Which ones?

pastorkeith · Post by **pastorkeith** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:27 pm

I have enjoyed the discourse on learning by ear vs sheet music
The best advice seems to be to listen to good players play the tunes - so folks want to update the old "Top-ten-CD's-you-gotta-have-so-you-really
play-the-tunes-better-then-the-newbie-that-you-are" list?
Thanks!
pastorkeith

pipersgrip · Post by **pipersgrip** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:04 am

grey larsons flute and irish whistle, orthe essential tin whislte book by melbay.

colomon · Post by **colomon** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:44 am

The Mountain Road: Tunes Popular in South Sligo -- Various
Fortune Favours the Merry -- Peter Horan and Gerry Harrington
Farewell to Evening Dances -- Colm O'Donnell
Speed 78 -- Mike Rafferty
Cooley -- Joe Cooley

Out of print / unavailable but worth keeping an ear out for:
Donncha O Briain -- Donncha O Briain
Music of Sligo -- Peter Horan and Fred Finn
That concert with Martin Wynne, Paddy Reynolds, and Brian Conway

lyrick · Post by **lyrick** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:59 am

Rather than trying to begin your ear-learning from commercial CD's, which can have fast, complex playing with lots of instruments, I think you may be better off trying to start with well-played recordings that just have whistle.

WhistleThis.com has some great recordings (see the 'mentor' versions, especially kilfarboy's) that are good to learn from. They're simple enough for a beginner but still have the little things that make for good Irish music. The mentor versions also have the tune played both slow and at normal speed. I don't think you could find a better place to start learning by ear.

bdh · Post by **bdh** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:29 pm

The other option is to pick and choose tunes that you like from CDs. I subscribe to eMusic http://www.emusic.com/ which has nice quality mp3s from a big selection of music. The cost is also pretty reasonable, I think. Usually I go along to a session, hear a tune that I like, and track it down on eMusic later. Definitely much cheaper than buying whole CDs, and it's nice to have different recordings of your favourite tune.

Once you've found the tunes you want, you can then look into software to slow them down (without changing the pitch). There are a couple out there, even for Mac

There is a referral bonus of 50 free tunes, but since this isn't a commercial post I don't feel it's appropriate to ask you to mention me

emmdee · Post by **emmdee** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:51 pm

If I might venture an opinion, speaking from my own experience, I'd say that you can learn tunes from any solo cd by a performer on ANY instrument, or even a solo lead melody with guitar backing or similar. I've learned tunes from Tommy Peoples, Noel Hill, Paul Brock, Kevin Rowsome, Matt Molloy, etc. This approach has the added benefit that you pick up stylistic aspects of the same tunes played on different instruments.
m.d.

jonharl · Post by **jonharl** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:38 pm

To also chime in. It's been very beneficial for me to watch good players play. I think the "Mad for Trad" DVD and the LE McCullough DVD or video are great. Great tunes and ornaments are explained and shown. I've learned my first 20 songs with ornaments from these two instruction DVD's.

MTGuru · Post by **MTGuru** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:19 pm

Some whistle-specific recordings that may be near the top of many serious whistlers' lists:

Mary Bergin - Feadóga Stáin 1
Mary Bergin - Feadóga Stáin 2
Brian Hughes - Whistle Stop
Cormac Breatnach - Music for Whistle & Guitar
Cormac Breatnach - Musical Journey
Micho Russell - Traditional Country Music
Micho Russell - The Man from Clare
Joanie Madden - Song of the Irish Whistle 1
Joanie Madden - Song of the Irish Whistle 2
Joanie Madden - Whistle On The Wind

There, that's 10 of them!

rh · Post by rh » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:43 pm

kkrell · Post by **kkrell** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:28 am

Carmel Gunning's "The Sligo Maid" whistle CD

http://www.cygo.ie/tradmusic/

Track listing:

http://www.cygo.ie/tradmusic/cdtracks.htm

Kevin Krell

King Friday · Post by **King Friday** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:41 am

emmdee wrote:If I might venture an opinion, speaking from my own experience, I'd say that you can learn tunes from any solo cd by a performer on ANY instrument, or even a solo lead melody with guitar backing or similar. I've learned tunes from Tommy Peoples, Noel Hill, Paul Brock, Kevin Rowsome, Matt Molloy, etc. This approach has the added benefit that you pick up stylistic aspects of the same tunes played on different instruments.
m.d.

I agree completely. If you want to play only Irish music, play along with Irish music, but I think playing along with any instrumental recording is fun and beneficial. It gives you you a chance to explore other types of music and pick up different styles. Whistle still sounds just as good outside of ITM. I read in an interview that Brian Finnegan developed his style by playing along with jazz CD's.

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:43 am

Second that on the Brid O'Donohue CD--must have, must have, must have!
Buy it here: http://new.bridodonohue.com/

Susan

Whistlin'Dixie · Post by **Whistlin'Dixie** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:44 am

fiddle and guitar, all the trad tunes you could want.

Regular speed, then slowed down.

www.glencottagemusic.com

M

Buckeye67 · Post by **Buckeye67** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:17 pm

John Skelton's "A Few Tunes" and "A Few More Tunes".

Each CD contains about 45 tunes played at a moderate tempo with no accompaniment. Just John playing them on whistle and flute. They were designed originally as a reference for his students. Each comes with a booklet with music as well. They're fantastic for learning tunes by ear.

http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Book_Skelton.html

thistledown · Post by **thistledown** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:20 pm

Without this, I wouldn't have learned The Butterfly so soon.

www.tradlessons.com