Doris Gazda, Janet Farrar-Royce

Fiddling Fingers

Fiddling Fingers presents the ideal way to enrich string classes with fiddle music in six simple lessons that teaches students the basic elements of fiddling. The performances of the tunes on the CD helps them to learn tunes in true fiddling style by listening and joining in, just as if they were sitting in a real fiddling session with an authentic string band. Each tune is also performed at a Learning Speed and then at a Practice Speed to encourage students to learn by listening and playing by ear. Students will learn to play the basic fiddling techniques of shuffles, slides and drones', which can be applied to all fiddling tunes. They will learn how to kick-off a tune and then end it with a tag. They will be encouraged to develop their own fiddling style while applying the basics of good position, listening for good intonation and playing rhythmically. This book contains lyrics, historical backgrounds and suggestions for activities that will expand and deepen an understanding of the fiddling style. It also offers ways for students to monitor their fiddling progress. A glossary is included at the end of the teacher's score and each part that clearly defines all of the fiddling terms used in the book. Fiddling Fingers is the perfect way to add excitement and variety to your string classes, and to expand and enrich the musical life of string players.