We’ve made it to week ten! As a recovering procrastinator, I feel like getting to the double digits is quite the accomplishment. I not only added 10 more tunes to my repertoire but I have so much more confidence in my playing and it has forced me to practice, even on the days I would … More Tommy People’s Reel: Tune 10 of 52
This week’s tune has haunted me for more years than I can count and I’ve been threatening to learn it for just as long. It’s a beautiful jig in the key of E Minor, called The White Petticoat. As a fiddler this tune is a true test to your bowing technique because it crosses 3 … More The White Petticoat: Tune 9 of 52
Aside from learning a tune a week, I have been taking a harmony singing class from Old Town School of Folk Music. Singing harmony has always been a challenge for me. I learn the harmony but then when someone starts singing the melody, my part becomes more of a hybrid of the melody and harmony … More Repetition is the name of the game
I’ve been thinking about my mother a lot lately. She passed away 10 years ago this June. And honestly, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her in some way. Although she wasn’t a musician, she introduced me to all kinds of music growing up and supported me throughout my … More Neil Gow’s Lament for the Death of his Second Wife: Tune 8 of 52
This week’s tune is a Donegal tune called the Gravel Walks. I literally remember the first time I ever heard this tune. I was in a retail shop in Stowe, Vermont and they had some Celtic music CD playing in the background and this tune came on. I thought it was a cool tune so … More Gravel Walks: Tune 7 of 52
January 6 is the final day of the 12 days of Christmas. In Ireland, this day is known as Nollaig na mBan or Women’s Christmas. The day was intended to be a reward, a day off from all the housework the women did during the Christmas season. Traditionally men were supposed to take over the housework while … More Nollaig na mBan: Women’s Christmas Covid-Style
We’re at week 6 of my 52 week goal of learning a tune a week. This week’s tune is called Alice’s Reel and was written by the great Irish fiddler, Frankie Gavin. I hope you like it:
Though 2020 has been a tough one for us all, I want to spend some time appreciating all the good things that happened amidst the chaos, say good-bye to all the bad things that caused the chaos, and welcome in a bright new year filled with hope, empathy, love and, of course, beautiful music. I’m … More Hindsight is 2020
A few days before COVID hit, there was an Irish session about 30 minutes away from my house. I debated whether to go because it was getting dark and I was getting lazy after working all day. I opted to stay home, cuddle up on the couch, and plant myself in front of the TV. … More Why do today, what you can do…?
This week’s tune is a march that is easy to learn, and fun to play. Enjoy! … More The Drunken Piper: Tune 5 of 52
Session Obsession 