Fiddle book

Trad Strings
1

I’m looking for a good book on fiddling to get for my girlfriend… she plays classical already, is quite competent on it; also very, very good at learning by ear. She took a fiddling class for a few weeks, but the teacher cancelled the class; so she knows some basics, sounds good playing the fiddle tunes she knows, is definately comfortable with the instrument itself, but isn’t perfectly comfortable in the idiom- bowing and ornamentation would probably be the big things. I’m going to check the local shops when I have time, but I was interested to hear what all y’all’s thoughts were.

This here looked promising: http://www.elderly.com/books/items/224-1312CD.htm
Does this look like the right type of thing?

2

The Pete Cooper book is the best instructional book for beginners, IMO. It covers much in the way of basics, and doesn’t skip some essential things that other books do. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Bays-Complete-Irish-Fiddle-Player/dp/0786603291/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198737490&sr=8-1
It is not a tune-book, but is primarily an instruction book.

Others might recommend the Cranitch book, but it does not have a comprehensive bowing section. Bowing is everything in fiddle music. A book which covers bowing is hands down better for beginners, IMO.

Of course, nothing beats a teacher…

3

Aha! That looks perfect! Thank you :slight_smile: