The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #133392   Message #3029237
Posted By: Pibydd
11-Nov-10 - 08:42 AM
Thread Name: Sessions - how do you learn?
Subject: RE: Sessions - how do you learn?
Talking of tunebooks...

I've found the Lewes session tunes site great (thanks!), although I don't get to many English sessions. Sometimes I'll just leave the midi file play over and over (or, similarly, a youtube video or whatever), to get it into my head - as has been mentioned above.

Should anybody be interested in Welsh tunes and sessions, there's a book which came out this summer and which I think will rapidly become the basis of a core session repertoire in Welsh tunes. It's called 'Pwt ar y Bys', published by Clera, and contains something over 50 tunes, and some songs. It also comes with two CDs which have every tune played slowly and at a faster speed, and it's got chords too. For ten quid it's a bargain.

http://www.clera.org/saesneg/products.php

There are other, more voluminous collections but this is brilliant for learners and would stand anyone in good stead for a Welsh session. A few people to whom I've been teaching whistle have bought copies and they don't need me much any more...

Now, the next step after learning a tune is indeed playing it with others, which is a diferent hurdle altogether. I've got some learners' sessions coming up near Swansea - if anyone might be interested, message me and I'll say more.