I'm very happy to present the Learning Fiddle with Irish Music materials (LFIM) as a foundational approach to learning to play the fiddle using Irish tunes and songs. Quite simply, the approach is a method for learning how to play the fiddle using Irish music, teaching the music by ear while introducing skills in a step-by-step manner.  With more context, this series of learning materials is the culmination of 25 years of teaching, with 10+ years of collecting resources, teaching them, and evaluating their effectiveness and efficiency as students use the resources to learn how to play the fiddle using Irish music.  Thank you to all of my students who persevered as I made changes and updates to the materials during that time.  My Suzuki teacher training helped me to identify the skills needed for playing Irish music on the fiddle and lay them out in a way that mirrors the popular Suzuki method, while putting a special focus on the skills needed for Irish music. As with the Suzuki method, there is a heavy emphasis on learning by ear in the LFIM materials.

 

In addition to creating materials for students, taking teaching training classes and drawing inspiration from really wonderful teachers and colleagues has helped me to develop training for other teachers on how to use these resources.  These resources will be most effective when teachers take training classes or rely on the expertise and observation from those who have coaching in how to effectively deliver the skills that are introduced in each tune.