What is in the course

The traditional way to learn Irish tunes is by ear, one phrase at a time. When you can vocalize the melody, you will find it much easier to play the notes and give them a natural feel and sense of timing. The modern approach adds written music as well as tablature. This course combines the best of both worlds with written music and tablature as well as recordings. 

Two of the tunes have a thorough video walk through that combines singing as well as playing one phrase at a time.Four of the tunes have complete sheet music with harmonica tab, and separate slow recordings of the different sections of the tune. The remaining two have sheet music with tab and a slow recording of the tune. All of the tunes sound great on the blues harmonica. You will need a harmonica in the key of G and the key of D. 

This course focuses on clean clear melodies without a lot of grace notes and ornaments. You can play these melodies with seasoned players without dropping the beat and you still add another layer of magic to the collective sound at a session. And you can always add ornaments (extra notes) and create variations later on once you really get the feel of the tunes.

Richard Sleigh has been playing Irish music since 1974, when a month long bicycle trip through Ireland hooked him on the music and the culture of Ireland.

The course also includes a one hour interview with Patty Lambert, an accomplished concertina, whistle, and the Irish flute player who also has been conducting traditional Irish sessions in Central Pennsylvania for over a decade. Patty has played numerous sessions in Ireland and talks about the culture of the traditional Irish session, what works and what does not, plus her own adventures learning the music.