During this pandemic it has been quite the challenge to play music with other people. If you have tried to play music together via zoom, you’ll know how challenging that can be because of the delay. It’s pretty much impossible to play together. I have been using other apps, one in particular called Acapella, which … More McGivney’s Fancy: Tune 21 of 52
This week’s tune is a hornpipe I learned a while ago and relearned this week, called Road to Eyries. Hornpipes are some of my favorite types of tunes to play because they always sound so joyful and upbeat. I hope you like my version: Join me next week for tune #21 fromĀ A Tune A Week. … More Road to Eyries: Tune 20 of 52
I learned this week’s tune, Sweeney’s Dream, because it goes well after last week’s tune Humours of Lissadell. And now we have a set. We’re on week 19 of my tune learning venture and I have to admit, I’m pretty proud of myself for keeping it up for 19 weeks. It has definitely been a … More Sweeney’s Dream: Tune 19 of 52
As I get older, I find there is only room for so much information in my brain. There might just be a limit to how many tunes I can remember at any given time. I mean how am I expected to remember a tune I learned years ago when I can’t even remember where I … More Humours of Lissadell: Tune 18 of 52
This is a slip jig that I likely learned at one point and relearned this week because it’s a great session tune. And also, because dusting off an old tune gives me a chance to work on technique instead of focusing so much on learning the notes. As I spoke about in a previous post, … More Give Us a Drink of Water: Tune 17 of 52
This is St. Patrick’s Day week and normally, we’d all likely be practicing diligently for a gig. I’m hoping that next year we’ll all be in a different place and are able to celebrate St. Patrick’s day by playing music together. Until then I’ll carry on with A Tune A Week. This week’s tune is … More Barney Brannigan: Tune 16 of 52
Many years ago I attended a week long Celtic music festival in Glasgow, Scotland. I took workshops with some of my favorite fiddlers, went to concerts, master classes, and played in some sessions. One of the workshops I took was with a fiddler and composer named Aiden O’Rourke. Not only is he a great fiddle … More Ride a Mile: Tune 15 of 52
It was this weekend last year that we were all going around doing our business like it was just another day in paradise. I likely was practicing with my band for our St. Paddy’s day gig, going to spinning classes and meeting friends for drinks at one of the local watering holes here in town. … More The Music Goes On
As with anything in my life, I learn as I go. My first real job in Vermont was as a snow reporter and I got the job reporting on snow conditions before I even learned how to slide down the mountain gracefully. Needless to say, I learned quickly. Since this is the first time I’ve … More The Foxhunter’s Slip Jig: 14 of 52
In the last 14 weeks I’ve been diligent about either learning new tunes or dusting off old ones. I can’t say whether or not I am actually sounding better, but I can say I’m listening better. I’m listening to myself and listening to others with a keen ear. And I’m noticing things I’ve never noticed … More Stop, Look and Listen
Session Obsession 