"session" Dvd's For Practice ?

[Simon H]

As a beginning EC player, I'm constantly looking for ideas for learning, (anything that will keep me away from actually learning scales and theory and improving my technique).

 

There are very few sessions locally, and none of them which would welcome a player of my standard spoiling their music. Luckily I do have a couple of friends I play with who can tolerate my awful play.

 

It would be nice if there were such a thing as a DVD, or set of DVD's which had session tunes, possibly with scrolling melody notation along the bottom, or sheet music provided. all packaged so you could join in and play along to, all done with a nice filmed pub scene with musicians smiling and nodding encouragement... ok maybe I'm going too far !

 

Not all of us can go to County Clare or wherever and expend the months required getting to know the music and getting to know the local musicians enough to be welcomed with open arms as anything other than a "tourist", but how good it would be to sit in front of a widescreen TV with a surround sound system and tootle along and have players smiling at me as I hit a hundred duff notes in a row!

 

I know, artificial, not as good as playing in a session, but we don't all have those options. This would be an infinitely better way of learning a few good session tunes than sitting alone trying to motivate myself to play tunes from midi files and sheet music and so on.

 

So - video sessions for learners with some clever menu options, like "show sheet music, remove bodhran etc !!". Has anyone done it, (where are the DVD's on Amazon), and if not, who's going to make these for me ! ? (and one or two other learners out there). I can see the titles "Play-along shanty session, filmed at the Ship inn - 30 shanty tunes for you to play along to" and so on. I suppose youtube would provide a lower grade platform for such a thing, I already have tried playing along with some Youtube stuff, with varying degrees of success.

 

You don't have to just be a concertina player to see a market for this. Or am I missing something ?

 

Simon

Edited November 23, 2007 by Simon H

[dwinterfield]

You should check out the Foinn Seisiun books and tapes. The music is played in a Ceilli band format- that is staight ahead wiht little ornamentation. Play the cd's on you computer and use any of the available program to slow them down to a speed you can handle. They are also available from cd baby and many Irish music sellers.

 

http://comhaltas.ie/shop

Edited November 23, 2007 by dwinterfield

[PeterT]

If there were such a thing as a DVD, or set of DVD's which had session tunes possibly with paper or printable sheet music provided and you could join in and play along to, with maybe some menu options so you could play along with one two or several instruments, all done with a nice filmed pub scene with musicians smiling and nodding encouragement... ok maybe I'm going too far !

Hi Simon,

 

Sounds like a very useful idea. Don't know whether anyone on this forum has the technical knowledge to turn this into reality. So far, videos filmed at home, or in sessions, seem to be as far as we've gone. What you are suggesting is two or three steps further along in the process.

 

I look forward to reading other responses.

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Alan Day]

This site offers tune o tron and the music which goes with it.If you prefer the concertina sound to the Electronic then Henk's page will in some cases (certainly mine) give you the artist playing the tune.

Al

[Pete Dunk]

You could always try the BBC Virtual Session. It doesn't have everything you want but you can print the dots and join in without annoying anyone.

[Leo]

Playing along is a skill that will probably be a difficult task for me for a long time. It's a lot different than playing alone. I've tried.

 

I've put the notes on my laptop screen, in a midi player, then the saved video from Youtube plays from my hard drive through a wireless router to an XBox to the tv. Play and pause options are used frequently as I forever try to keep up. Not DVD quality, but certainly very useable.

 

Now if I could get the TV to keep up with me, now that would be something.

 

Thanks

Leo

[Carl Watts]

So - video sessions for learners with some clever menu options, like "show sheet music, remove bodhran etc !!". Has anyone done it, (where are the DVD's on Amazon), and if not, who's going to make these for me ! ? (and one or two other learners out there).

You don't have to just be a concertina player to see a market for this. Or am I missing something ?

Not sure whether this is the sort of thing that you are looking for - I've never seen the CDrom in action, but it sounds like this 'No excuses' package might potentially solve the problem?

 

http://www.bigwhistle.co.uk/shop_results.a...47&search=1

[Simon H]

So - video sessions for learners with some clever menu options, like "show sheet music, remove bodhran etc !!". Has anyone done it, (where are the DVD's on Amazon), and if not, who's going to make these for me ! ? (and one or two other learners out there).

You don't have to just be a concertina player to see a market for this. Or am I missing something ?

Not sure whether this is the sort of thing that you are looking for - I've never seen the CDrom in action, but it sounds like this 'No excuses' package might potentially solve the problem?

 

http://www.bigwhistle.co.uk/shop_results.a...47&search=1

 

Wow - that looks like it is exactly what I was after !! I can't believe how well the description matched my needs. now all I've got to do is find someone with it in stock! Thanks a million.

 

Edit : found at http://www.musicroom.com/

Edited December 6, 2007 by Simon H

[Simon H]

Well the CD/DVD arrived yesterday, and i have to say this is a great package. A good CD rom of Celtic facts and info plus some tunes to play along to (reels/polkas)

The DVD is a filmed "session", to which you can play along or substitute for one of the musicians. 3 jigs, 2 slip jigs, 2 hornpipes, 3 reels 2 "scottish tunes", 2 breton tunes, 1 song and 3 polkas.

 

There's a book of dots, chord charts and demo pieces and all sorts.

 

Whilst I've not had time to get much into this as yet, it is very much the motivational tool I was looking for. well done to http://www.musicroom.com for rapid dispatch. and well done to http://www.noexcusesguides.com for a well realised package.The guide is at: http://www.noexcusesguides.com/02celtic.htm

 

I'm happy.

Edited December 9, 2007 by Simon H

[Carl Watts]

Well the CD/DVD arrived yesterday, and i have to say this is a great package. A good CD rom of Celtic facts and info plus some tunes to play along to (reels/polkas)

The DVD is a filmed "session", to which you can play along or substitute for one of the musicians. 3 jigs, 2 slip jigs, 2 hornpipes, 3 reels 2 "scottish tunes", 2 breton tunes, 1 song and 3 polkas.

 

There's a book of dots, chord charts and demo pieces and all sorts.

 

Whilst I've not had time to get much into this as yet, it is very much the motivational tool I was looking for. well done to http://www.musicroom.com for rapid dispatch. and well done to http://www.noexcusesguides.com for a well realised package.The guide is at: http://www.noexcusesguides.com/02celtic.htm

 

I'm happy.

That's great, I'm pleased that it was what you were looking for - and following your description, I've just ordered my own copy direct from NoExcuses Guides!

 

For those that are interested the DVD/CDRom package costs £21.20, including postage in the UK. Virtual Guiness not included!