Tamarack'er Down
Guide to Celtic-Canadian Fiddling Through Rhythm
Here it is, the method book you've been waiting for,
your friend on the road of traditional fiddling.
The fiddle is a rhythm instrument
“Your books have a depth of info and a historical basis that we need.” Gordon Stobbe, Fiddler, teacher and composer
“Your amazing book… I know it will be very well received by fans of the fiddle everywhere!” Erynn Marshall, Fiddler & teacher
What I treasure the most is the importance placed on rhythm. This has helped me to take a step beyond simply playing the notes to actually feeling the music!” Student, Royal Conservatory of Music"The repertoire closely parallels the Suzuki method, suggesting simple, small, confidence-building steps, enabling students to achieve an awesome sound, a musical ear and a beautiful heart."
Capucine Onn, Goderich Suzuki Violin School
“It is a great teaching method…always encouraging and fun.”
Student, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
“Of all the fiddle instruction books in my collection, her book series stands out as the most comprehensive of all the things that make fiddling enjoyable!” Student, Orangeville Fiddle Camp, OntarioEach Part of Tamarack’er Down consists of a book and CDs. Each of these parts builds on the book before. They will help you build up from simpler rhythms and tunes, bowings and fingerings, to more complicated ones, all the while learning to sound better, go faster and enjoy the groove. Each book/CD works with technique in 5 areas: The Bow, The Left Hand, Scales & Arpeggios, Developing Rhythm, and Developing Your Ear. You will find practical suggestions for improving in all these areas at every stage.
The CDs present the tunes played full tilt for listening, then slower for practising, as well as sung versions to help you get the tunes into your head and learn the fingering.
Part 1: Beginner • Get comfortable with the fiddle and bow • Understand how to use/not use various parts of your body to play fiddle • Learn the basic groove of the four most common rhythms: Two-steps/Marches/(Reels), Jigs, Waltzes and Hornpipes. • Learn the two most common finger patterns for the keys of A, D and G Majors, and E and A minors • Get you started learning by ear • Learn a bunch of great, simple melodies with the feel and spirit of the dance |
Part 2: Intermediate • Learn simple slurred bowings for different styles of traditional fiddling in Canada. • Learn to feel and play basic off-beat accents in all rhythms. • Learn high 3rd finger and low 1st finger patterns, and extended note ranges for modes on A, C, D, E and G • Learn basic double-stringing with drones • Learn simple ornamentation: pull-offs, grace notes • Develop your ear |
Part 3: Advanced • Differences in the sound and rhythmic feel of the four main traditions • Keys of Bb Major/C minor, F Major/ G minor, B minor and E Major Available Soon! |
Watch for:
Teacher's Corner
Notes for violin/fiddle teachers, as well as harmony parts, easy rhythm parts and chord accompaniments
Available Soon!