A Few Tips

28 May 2020 |
Fiddle classes with Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

Hello fellow fiddlers 🎻,

I just want to give you a few tips now that you have started these classes with me.

  1. Practice daily
  2. Keep playing the new tunes you have learned.
    Repetition is good for finger work and bowing.
  3. Don’t rush the tune.
    Learn it very slowly initially and there’s no rush to play it fast until you have perfected all the nuances.
    Take your time.
  4. Stay in tune.
    Make sure that your fingers are going down at the proper notes.
    Record yourself and listen back – it really helps!
  5. Hold the bow, not too tight and let your wrist have fluency.
  6. Try and keep the bow steady to get a nice even tone.
    Place it half way between the bridge and fingerboard for full volume.
    It is  good to record continued long notes, and listen back, in order to achieve this.

ENJOY! 😊

Mairéad x
Posted in Lessons Blog

4 Comments

  1. Mairead Shields on 2 June 2020 at 18:29

    Go raibh maith agat Mairead 🙂

    • Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh on 4 June 2020 at 00:50

      Thanks Mairead ,
      I feel that repeating a piece over and over is the only way to learn by ear initially, then gradually it becomes easier to pick up tunes.

      Go raibh maith agat.

  2. Peter Kasin on 26 July 2020 at 23:24

    Thank you, Mairead! I hope you’re doing as well as can be in these strange times. Do you having any bowing tips or excercises to recommend to help “get” Donegal fiddling?
    Best,
    -Peter

    • Peter Kasin on 26 July 2020 at 23:38

      Actually, in reviewing lessons, I can see that the bowing technique is in the lessons, so please disregard my above question.

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