Gerry O’Connor is an experienced and talented fiddle teacher. He teaches fiddle at the Willie Clancy Summer school and at master-classes throughout Europe. As a fiddle maker and restorer, Gerry is also able to give advice about your fiddle itself and how to get the most out of it.
Gerry also does online tutorials on a one to one basis or in a group setting to people all over the world.
Location: Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare (July 2011)
Copyright: Danny Diamond
I try to teach so that the fiddle player learns how to approach the learning of the instrument with a focus on making the bowing enhance the melodies learned. I will teach a small number of tunes, both popular and unusual, focusing on the bowing patterns inherent to, and specific to each tune learned. I will highlight and explain what I describe as “Typical Bowing Patterns in Irish Music specific to t he playing of Dance music”.
A typical class comprises of students of an intermediate level of fiddle playing.
Some experience in learning by ear would be an advantage. More importantly what is required is a positive approach to and an attempt to learn by watching and listening. In this way the tune and the bowing will come together naturally.
The bowing and articulation of bow patterns in the playing of jigs and other familiar dance rhythms introduced in the early part of the class will provide the basis for a systematic approach to a generic playing of Irish fiddle music suitable for this level of experience. This will enable the student to identify some repetitive patterns of bowing which, although non-specific, will aid the student in understanding the non-random activity of fiddle bow activity in Irish fiddle playing.
Tunes Types will include Jigs, Reels, Highlands, Single Jigs, Hornpipes, Slip Jigs and a Slow Air. Other melody types will be taught should time allow.
Audio and selective video recording is encouraged. The notation of the workshop tunes with some typical bowing motifs indicated will be forwarded by email after the class
The focus in this class will be not just to learn more tunes but to improve the ability to play and enjoy the experience of playing the fiddle. A class of 10 -12 would be considered appropriate.
Individual tuition is by arrangement; please contact me directly at gerryfiddleoconnor@gmail.com