Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player

Rating:
Summary: TEN Stars
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: TEN Stars
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: From Classical Violinist to Irish Fiddler
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: From Classical Violinist to Irish Fiddler
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Great place to start
Review: 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.


Rating:
Summary: The standard by which to judge music self-instruction books
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Intro to Irish Fiddle...Covers All the Essentials!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Intro to Irish Fiddle...Covers All the Essentials!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player
Review: This version DOES NOT CONTAIN THE CD'S. DO NOT BE FOOLED...l. the version with the CD costs a lot more and is available here, but the one they sent me did NOT, even thought these reviews say CD'S included.

Rating:
Summary: Tommy Peoples Here I Come!
Review: 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.