Jane’s Page
Next lesson is on 21st April 2026 at 9.30 am. This is the last lesson of the session.
Back Row Session – Link to playlist here – session on 26th April 2026 at the Glen cafe at St mary’s loch.
- Ye Banks and Braes in G (mp3) / Aran Boat Song in Em (mp3) /Leaving Lismore in D (mp3 – music software) – the set
- Believe me if all these Endearing Charms Set (mp3) Bk 1:44 (Pride of Erin Set)
- The Big Yin with recording and a slower recording here for learning. There is an easier accompaniment here and,wait for it, an arrangement with a basic music software recording of it here to give you a rough idea. Try it starting on E string (same fingering).
4. McKechnie’s Farewell (Bk1:49)
Also play tunes you like such as Callum’s Road, Leezy Linzy, Fear a’Phata etc.
Hamnataing (Bk 1:18)- recording
Flowers of Edinburgh – listen and play along
Listen here to Love of the Isles (music is in your book)
Marni Swanson (use Fiona Cuthil’s you tube video)
Grade 3 Scales are below but go canny on them as it will scare you! The scale of D major in two octaves in third position is a good place to start. Some finger pictures for scales are here
Arpeggios and scales – slurred. See syllabus at back of book and here
New tune to work on – Kerry Dancers (mp3) with a slower recording here. A jig – strawberry, raspberry rhythm with emphasis on 1st note of each three. Do scale of A and arpeggio first.
The Sleeping Tune (mp3) Long bows and watch tuning.
1.Rose of Saint Magnus – (mp3) Try using fourth fingers at some bits. Listen to Duncan Chisholm playing it on YouTube or Eryn Rae in part 2 of the Trad Music Awards 2023 (second set that she does).
African Lullaby (mp3) Bk 2:58
Play along with Father Abraham here and Don’t Worry Be Happy here. Use open D and 1st on D (e). In ‘Don’t Worry be Happy’ use an offbeat rhythm (ooom chip) and only do a wee short up bow on the ‘chip’
Practice bowing exercises as taught and do tunes like Slockit Light – record yourself
We will work on Mr and Mrs Robert Brunton and Melgund Waltz. Recordings are here but we can rerecord. Mr & Mrs Brunton and Melgund Glen (fiddle)
Seven Step Polka (mp3)Keep bow flowing and hairs towards you. Try to keep bow parallel with bridge (don’t pull hand towards you).
Revision: Ye Banks and Braes in G (mp3) / Aran Boat Song in Em (mp3) /Leaving Lismore in D (mp3 – music software) – the set
Continue to work on the beautiful tune Fear a’ Phata. long bows. Start trying a wee bit vibrato.
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Grade 2 – Crib sheet for scales here to help you. Fiddle Syllabus is here. You are doing the natural minor scales so ignore the harmonic and melodic.
Scale of A in two octaves starting on 1st finger on G. You have a sheet to help you.
Scale of D in one octave slurred – see sheet for bowing
Do the scale of E minor in one octave – it is here
Do the scale of G minor in one octave. Just do open G to third on G remembering the b flat and E flat (pulled back 1st on D). Ignore second octave of scale below.
Tunes for Grade 2 : Leezy Linzy, Here is Callum’s Road recording and you have the music. Your set is Slockit Light (mp3) and Soldier’s Joy –Here is a recording. Use middle of bow. try it without music.
Use bow at tip, middle & bottom for each note of a scale (one octave of A or D)
LazyDayz (mp3) /Merry Blacksmith recording with your harmony here
Here is Callum’s Road recording and you are almost there with the tune.
Bolloles Schottis (Bk 1:2) – work on 2nd part slowly.
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Essich – Scale of G minor. Recording of Bruce MacGregor here.
If you really want to get into the detail!
Essich Score is here and our own first recording here.
There is a video score here of this expanded arrangement. You can also find an explanatory diagram here. There are scores for the Low Harmony Line here and High Harmony Line (plus the A part riff) here (Line 1) and here (Line 2) – the score for the solos only differ in the final few bars._________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1.Catfish nailed to a Tree/The Hoy Tune (mp3) (Bk 1: 12)
2. Bolloles Schottis (Bk 1:2)
3.Egan’s Polka – listen and play along (Bk 1:13) with John Ryan’s on same page (mp3)
4.Slockit Light (mp3) – a beautiful slow tune. Work on that bar in the second half with the close G and the stretchy G (2nd fingers on E). Riddell Fiddles plays it with this tune Da Road to Houll (listen here)
5. Here is Callum’s Road recording and we play it with Hut on Staffin island (1:19).
6. McKechnie’s Farewell (Bk1:49)
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Ye Banks and Braes in G (mp3) / Aran Boat Song in Em (mp3) /Leaving Lismore in D (mp3 – music software) – the set
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Listen here to Love of the Isles (music is in your book)
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