Your next lesson will be on 9th October at 9.30 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Tune : Maple Sugar<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Back Row Band Busk Book – you have the book & next workshop is at 11 am at Lucy Sanderson Hall. Galashiels on 25.10.26<\/p>\n\n\n\n Music for grade 4 sets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.Guiser’s March\/Kirrie Kebbuck\/Miss Susan Cooper<\/a> – recordings below<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Coilsfield House\/Acrobat Hornpipe\/Balcomie House<\/a> – recordings below.Don’t forget your F major arpeggio for Balcomie House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Ivor & Eleanor’s Wedding\/Da Nord Rodd<\/a> – recordings below<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Hill of Lochiel\/ Sound of Sleat<\/a> – you have videos and recordings<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back Row Sessions – Link to playlist here<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1st Chosen set<\/strong>: Here is it all together in one set<\/a> (Guiser’s March\/Kirrie Kebbuck\/Miss Susan Cooper)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Guisers’ March Gideon Stove <\/em> (Number 344 of Fiddle Music of Scotland – Hunter 1988)<\/em> with a similar you tube recording here<\/a>. Kirrie Kebbuck J.S.Skinner<\/em> (105 – Hunter 1988)<\/em> with a you tube recording here<\/a>.Miss Susan Cooper R.Cooper<\/em> (No. 218 – Hunter 1988<\/em> with a recording here<\/a> and a slower recording here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2nd chosen set<\/strong> :<\/p>\n\n\n\n a) Coilsfield House <\/a> (recording<\/a>)(number 5 of Fiddle Music of Scotland – Hunter 1988)<\/em> b} (Number 305 of Fiddle Music of Scotland – Hunter 1988)<\/em> c) Acrobat Hornpipe <\/a> (recording)<\/a>Balcomie House<\/a> – (recording)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3rd chosen set<\/strong> :Recording <\/a>of Da Nord Rodd (very basic!) with Ivor & Eleanor’s Wedding. Notes are here<\/a> <\/a>for the set<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 4th chosen set<\/strong> : Hill of Lochiel\/ Sound of Sleat<\/a> – you have videos and recordings<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5th chosen set<\/strong> : Hector the Hero<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> The Rights of Man and The Earl of Dunsmore<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ————————————————————————————————————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaving Lerwick Harbour – double stopping. Go for it and vibrato but not so your arm hurts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New tune: The Big Yin<\/a> with recording<\/a> and a slower recording here<\/a> for learning. There is an easier accompaniment here<\/a> and,wait for it, an arrangement<\/a> with a basic music software recording of it here<\/a> to give you a rough idea. You can hear Bruce MacGregor playing it here<\/a> and work out where it goes into another key (just shift up a string – same fingering).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashokan’s Farewell – hang onto the long notes.Try vibrato!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rowan Tree in 3rd position<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Have a wee listen and try it if you like the tune.Goes to 3rd position now and again and sounds great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try Ye Banks and Braes in 3rd position – notes and fingering are here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sleeping Tune<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stick to Roslin Castle in D minor (the version you have).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Iron Man<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> – could try this tune!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rannie MacLellan <\/a>(mp3)<\/a> – Cape Breton tune<\/p>\n\n\n\n Malcolm Finlay<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Listen and only try if you like it<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lakewind Strathspey<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Whole set<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> on one page, without chords, for ease of reading, or, for accompanists, with chords<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ———————————————————————————-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tartan Tunes – we both have music .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashokan’s Farewell – hang onto the long notes.Try vibrato!<\/p>\n\n\n\n New tune to work on – Kerry Dancers <\/a>(mp3)<\/a> with a slower recording here<\/a>. A jig – strawberry, raspberry rhythm with emphasis on 1st note of each three<\/p>\n\n\n\n Skye Boat Song<\/a> is here<\/p>\n\n\n\n Play along with Father Abraham here<\/a> and Don’t Worry Be Happy here<\/a>. 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’ <\/p>\n\n\n\n Manning the Bass<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Brinkie’s Brae (mp3)<\/a> and Holm Band Tune (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shapinsay Polka (mp3)<\/a> Lily’s March (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercise<\/strong> : Your bow needs to be nearer the bridge<\/strong> (nearer you!). Bowing exercise – open D,open A<\/em>, 1st on D (E),open A<\/em>,2nd on D (F#),open A<\/em>,3rd on D (G) open A<\/em> and back down. Start on a down bow. The A note is always an up bow .Gradually get it faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n African Lullaby (Bk 2: 58). learn this by heart.It is in the key of D. Try starting on D3 (G) or open A (stretchy 3rd on D when you get to it)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashokan’s Farewell <\/a>(mp3)<\/a> – get expression and hang on to longer notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tunes you are doing include Roslin Castle, The Iron Man (try and play it at this speed<\/a> – one bar is different to your music I think). Try NOT using music for this one.There is also John Stephen of Chance Inn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New waltz and strathspey – Mr and Mrs Robert Brunton (mp3)<\/a> and Melgund Glen (mp3) <\/a>– notes for both here – Mr and Mrs Robert Brunton and Melgund Waltz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Da Sooth End and Mrs McGlashan’s jigs are going well. Here is a jig in A minor (no sharps or flats) and this is the jig on the recording with Da Sooth End on this website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Da Auld Peat Rod<\/a> with the recording of it and Da Sooth End here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Taladh Chriosda<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Bk 1: 46 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chi mi muile<\/a> (mp3) <\/a>Bk 1:46<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calum’s Road<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Bk 1: 19 with Mothers of St Ann’s (Bk 1: 10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We may look at Tiny Nanna’s Waltz <\/a>(mp3)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Schneewalzer which is here<\/a> (dots) -with recordings of Schneewalzer in D<\/strong><\/a> and Schneewalzer in C<\/strong><\/a> as played by ourselves on 12.09.23 with a view to Donald (photo above) teaching an arrangemen<\/strong>t<\/mark> (see the score <\/strong>here<\/a> and a movie <\/strong>of it here<\/a>) for the tune in the key of C. There’s a slowed down <\/strong>version of the movie here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use their music and recordings. Remember using long bows and vibrato for Roslin Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Practice scale of D and different rhythms (short\/long and long\/short) to get that Strathspey sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This set is used by Riddell Fiddles and we may play it in the RNLI Concert in Kelso on 3rd December 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n Da Boannie Polka Set <\/a> notes are here – Individual recordings below<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Da Boannie Polka <\/a> 2. Seven Step Polka<\/a> 3. Sister Jean<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calliope House and The Warlocks.Use the recordings you have and the music – these are challenging but you are doing well. HOLD on to the longer notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other tunes if you get fed up with these ones<\/p>\n\n\n\n Island of Woods<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaving JP<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n El Choclo<\/a> (Argentinian Tango) with fast recording<\/a>. Here is a slower recording<\/a>.(Bk 1:32 – 1st part only). However here is the harmony for the whole thing. Here is what you should be playing<\/a> (made one mistake!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Margaret’s Waltz <\/a>– a lovely tune. Here is a recording<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bert Mackenzie’s 70th<\/a> (mp3)<\/a>. – in book. Maggie West<\/a> (mp3<\/a>) Look up Mairead Green on YouTube playing it with Anna Massie.Listen a 1000 times. Hang on to notes<\/p>\n\n\n\n Songs to play along with. Just busk it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t Worry , Be Happy<\/a> Play along to this – Ye Jacobites<\/a> . Start on an E \u2013 1st<\/sup> finger on D<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tongadale Reel – Shorten bow and use right wrist more. practice 2nd part really slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vibrato – flexi wrist on long notes<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another great tune.The Sleeping Tune<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Long bows and watch tuning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.Rose of Saint Magnus <\/a> – (mp3)<\/a> 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). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Practice some simpler faster tunes such as Soldier’s Joy. Here is a recording<\/a>. Use middle of bow. try it without music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Tune in G minor (B and E flats so pulled back 1sts on D,A and E)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Essich (1st part)<\/a> (2nd part)<\/a> with recording<\/a>. There is a recording of the group playing it here<\/a>. Try the high harmony and the riff too.Practice tune only and REMEMBER the long notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Exercise : Your bow needs to be nearer the bridge<\/strong> (nearer you!). Bowing exercise – open D,open A<\/em>, 1st on D (E),open A<\/em>,2nd on D (F#),open A<\/em>,3rd on D (G) open A<\/em> and back down. Start on a down bow. The A note is always an up bow .Gradually get it faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6.Scale of B flat major in 2 octaves<\/a> with recording here<\/a> to prepare you for Leaving Lerwick (YouTube recording here)<\/a>. This is going really well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n 8.Brochan Lom<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Remember to do short,long notes in the D scale and then long,short in the D scale. and then long,short,short,long (give me coff-eee). Bottom of bow better for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about trying this tune from the Blazing Fiddles concert? Annie’s Waltz<\/a>. Look up you tube to find Bruce MacGregor playing it. Do scale of A first in 2 octaves (stretchy thirds on G and D strings) and then the arpeggio. (PDF <\/a>here and mp3<\/a> here)<\/p>\n\n\n\n ——————————————————————————————-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bow hair – towards your face!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bovaglie’s Plaid (tuning). Do scale of A major before playing (all stretchy including 3rds on G and D)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neil Gow’s Lament for his 2nd Wife<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scale of B flat major in 2 octaves<\/a> with recording here<\/a> to prepare you for Leaving Lerwick (YouTube recording here)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ye Banks and Braes in G (mp3) <\/a>\/ Aran Boat Song in Em (mp3)<\/a> \/Leaving Lismore in D (mp3 – music software)<\/a> – the set<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Current basic playlist is on website under ‘Playlist’ link. Use music when you need but listen and play along without if you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Working on third position-Grand Old Duke of York and Hot Cross Buns from sheet.Move 1st finger up to where 3rd on A is. Start Hot cross Buns in this position 3,2,1 etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ALSO Egan’s Polka<\/strong> – listen and play along<\/a> (Bk 1:13) with John Ryan’s on same page (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bonnie Lass of Fyvie Set – Bonnie Lass of Fyvie\/Loch Lomond (D) and Marie’s Wedding (A)<\/a> with a rough recording here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bolloles Schottis<\/a> (Bk 1:2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mothers of St Ann’s<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tune to work on – M\u00e0iri Bh\u00e0n Og<\/a> (rough recording)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sitting in the Stern of a Boat – great YouTube clips from Iain Fraser \/Hanneke Cassel \/Phil & Aly – so have a listen<\/p>\n\n\n\n ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1.Catfish nailed to a Tree\/The Hoy Tune<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> (Bk 1: 12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Bolloles Schottis<\/a> (Bk 1:2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3.Egan’s Polka<\/strong> – listen and play along<\/a> (Bk 1:13) with John Ryan’s on same page (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.Slockit Light<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> – 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<\/a> (listen here)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is Callum’s Road recording<\/a> and we play it with Hut on Staffin island<\/a> (1:19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. McKechnie’s Farewel<\/a>l (Bk1:49)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Pumpkin Soup<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Tune for Tony<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ______________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coilsfield House recording<\/a> – music as in your grade 4 book<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some trickier grade 4 tunes = Da Day Dawn (as on you tube) and Leaving Stoer<\/a> (music in book)<\/p>\n\n\n\n New Shetland Set<\/p>\n\n\n\n Willafjord<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> Spootiskerry (you have music in book)\/ Hurlock’s Reel<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Try doing arpeggios – start on the open string and follow the finger pattern – open,2nd,open,3rd and then back down to open, 2nd and open<\/p>\n\n\n\n For A it would be A, C#,E,top A and then open E,C#,A<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your tone is great as is your tuning. Now we need to work on what your bow is doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bow exercise : Open D (down bow)<\/strong>, Open A up bow. 1st on D (down bow)<\/strong>. Open A up bow. 2nd on D <\/strong>(down bow)<\/strong>. Open A up bow. 3rd on D (down bow)<\/strong>. Open A up bow. 3rd on D (down bow)<\/strong>. Open A up bow. 2nd on D (down bow)<\/strong>. Open A (up bow).1st on D (down bow).<\/strong> Open A up bow. Open D (down bow)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stronsay Wedding<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> (slowly) – start the groups of four on a down bow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Down bow = hand away from fiddle<\/p>\n\n\n\n Up bow = hand towards fiddle<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kerry Dancers<\/a> (mp3)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taladh Chriosda (mp3<\/a>)\/Chi mi Muile (mp3)<\/a> – the set <\/a>and, when you get bored, have a wee run through of The Brig (3rd tune in set)(Bk 1:46)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bolloles Schottis<\/a> (page 2 of Riddell Fiddles’ Book 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slockit Light<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> – a beautiful slow tune<\/p>\n\n\n\n Auld Lang Syne<\/a> – work on this for Starter Session<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Keel Row<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Love of the Isles – a recording<\/a>. Try some 4th fingers now<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go back and try Stool of Repentance, Murdo’s Wedding, Soldier’s Joy<\/p>\n\n\n\n ________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flower of the Quern<\/strong> – stretchy thirds on D and long, moving notes! Use your bow fully!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This set is going well so work on it. Slockit Light<\/a> (mp3)<\/a> – a beautiful slow tune. Slockit Light (mp3) . 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<\/a> (listen here)<\/a> and you are well on the way to learning it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tunes to be working on – here is a recording of The Pearl<\/a> with a metronome (may put you off!) as well as Love of the Isles (you have a recording).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is Callum’s Road recording<\/a> and we play it with Hut on Staffin island<\/a> (it is in book 1). Here are dots for the set.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t forget the grade 2 stuff .Soldier’s Joy<\/a> and Stool of Repentance<\/a> which starts slow in this recording but speeds up the 2nd time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Select a few tunes and work on them. You do not need to know them all. Listen to the tunes and you are halfway there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![Coilsfield House <\/a>](\"https:\/\/www.riddellfiddles.scot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_4667-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}
![Acrobat Hornpipe <\/a>](\"https:\/\/www.riddellfiddles.scot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_4665-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}
![Balcomie House<\/a> –](\"https:\/\/www.riddellfiddles.scot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_4666-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}
![Earl of Dunsmore<\/a>](\"https:\/\/www.riddellfiddles.scot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMG_4980-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}
![(1st part)<\/a>](\"https:\/\/www.riddellfiddles.scot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Essich-part-A-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}
![(2nd part)<\/a> with](\"https:\/\/www.riddellfiddles.scot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Essich-part-B-scaled.jpg\"){kind=link}