"My question is: what would we call a "reasonably steady" tempo? I've noticed, when teaching, that too fast a tempo can make the piece difficult to follow(and learn) - but too slow a tempo can also lose the sense of the piece. Any ideas/advice on a happy medium for beginner tempos in general would be welcomed. "


"Begged, Borrowed and Stolen" is a compilation of tunes with play-along CDs widely used in Australia. The producers say "Each tune in the Book is played twice at about three quarter pace". As a newcomer to mandolin I find this pace about right - enough to push me without being discouraging.

The producers say in the book - "in playing a tune slowly much of the tune's dynamics and feel is (sic) lost. This is especially true for reels. Our approach was to add extra lilt to the playing making them sound hornpipish. When the tunes are played up to speed we feel that they will lack lilt more than suffer from too much, so it doesn't hurt to have excess bounce in the slower versions. Jigs played slowly are played with a dotted feel. Most Scottish jigs should be played this way."