Live group lessons via Zoom every fortnight

Learn tunes and how to accompany them

Be guided through melodies of every style. We will use Irish, other traditional tunes, classical melodies, rock, folk, and basically anything that can be played on the cello. We look at chords and learn how to accompany the tunes. In learning the melodies, and developing your accompaniment skills, you develop your arranging and composition skills and find a way to play with any music in any situation. We explore the techniques, harmonic concepts and challenges the tunes present. We practice learning by heart, or practice sight-reading by using the music provided.

Warm-Ups & Chords

Tips for a better practice session and accompanying others

Warm-ups that work are essential to help you sound better when you practice and play. These short sessions will give you new ideas to work on each month and help you explore and develop your technique. The warm-ups include CHORD studies and exploration to help you develop your theory in an easy and practical way. You will start to hear new ideas to add to the music you play, arrange and accompany.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • How to access Zoom

    • Copy of Calendar
  • 2

    Warm-ups

    • Warm up No.1

    • Warm up No. 2

    • Warm up No.3

    • Whole Tone Scale Exploration

    • Bowing Exercises on Open Strings

    • Intonation Tip

    • Study in Sixths - Bb Major Scale in 6ths
  • 3

    Chord Progressions

    • Chords I - V - vi - IV

    • Chords - The Andalusian Cadence

    • Chords - Turnaround in E major
  • 4

    Drones

    • C drone
  • 5

    Learning By Ear - "Beyond the Dots!"

    • Beyond the Dots in F

    • Beyond the Dots in F (faster feel)

    • Beyond the Dots in G
  • 6

    Lesson 1 - Báidin Fheilimí

    • Play Along Video and mp3s

    • Live Zoom Lesson 28/02/21

    • Báidin Fheilimí lead sheet

    • Báidin Fheilimí two cellos
  • 7

    Lesson 2 - Love me Tender

    • Zoom Lesson 28/02/21

    • Lesson Notes

    • Love Me Tender_score-melody with chords

    • Love Me Tender_lead sheet-chord shapes

    • Love Me Tender_chords (alternate positions)

    • Love Me Tender_solo arrangement_Ilse de Ziah

    • Play Along melody with chord tones
  • 8

    Lesson 3 - Western Boogie

    • Zoom lesson 14/03/21

    • Western Boogie lesson notes

    • Western Boogie

    • Western Boogie play along

    • western boogie bass line

    • western boogie chugs bass line

    • western boogie with chugs
  • 9

    Lesson 4 - Speed the Plough

    • Zoom lesson Speed the Plough

    • Speed the Plough tune

    • Chord chart of G, C/G and D/A in two positions

    • Tune only with chords - try playing chords from this version

    • Tune with percussion SLOW
  • 10

    Lesson 5 - Tá na Báid

    • Zoom Lesson and song info

    • Tá Na Báid sheet music

    • Slow with music

    • Slow version mp3

    • Tune faster with accompaniment
  • 11

    Lesson 6 - Black Velvet Band

    • Zoom Lesson and song info

    • Black Velvet Band sheet music

    • Black Velvet Band for 2 cellos

    • Play along video and mp3s
  • 12

    Lesson 7 - Flop Eared Mule

    • Flop Eared Mule sheet music

    • Flop Eared Mule Study

    • Flop eared Mule - slow version mp3

    • Flop Eared Mule - fast version mp3

    • Lesson on Zoom
  • 13

    Lesson 8 - Danse Norvegienne

    • Danse Norvegienne sheet music to download

    • Two Cellos

    • Guitar backing

    • Guitar Backing and guitar impro

    • Original Django recording

    • Zoom Lesson

    • Visual Chord Chart
  • 14

    Lesson 9 - The Guns of the Magnificent Seven

    • The Guns of the Magnificent Seven Sheet Music

    • Sheet music version in A for Cello and for Fiddle/Treble clef

    • Zoom Lesson

    • Play along video

    • Mp3
  • 15

    Lesson 10 - The Connachtman's Rambles - jig

    • Sheet music - melody, cello two and harmony line

    • Melody and visual chord chart

    • mp3

    • Zoom Lesson
  • 16

    Lesson 11 - Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine

    • Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine Sheet music

    • Practice Notes - scales and chords

    • Sheet music for fiddle

    • mp3

    • Zoom Lesson
  • 17

    Lesson 12 - For Ireland I'll not Tell Her Name

    • Lesson via zoom

    • Sheet music

    • Melody with cello 2 part

    • Sheet music treble (with cello 2)
  • 18

    Lesson 13 - St James Infirmary

    • Sheet music

    • Sheet music (worksheet)

    • Chord Chart

    • Cello Backing chords

    • Melody and chords play along

    • St James Infirmary Zoom lesson

    • St James Infirmary sheet music - treble
  • 19

    Lesson 14 - Isle of Capri

    • Sheet Music

    • Chord Chart

    • Melody and Chords play along

    • Isle of Capri Zoom lesson
  • 20

    Lesson 15 - Autumn Leaves

    • Autumn Leaves zoom lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Sheet Music Worksheet

    • Play Along melody and chords

    • Play along melody and chords (.wav file)
  • 21

    Lesson 16 - The Minstrel Boy

    • The minstrel Boy Zoom lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • mp3 and .wav Play along

    • Play along -Download the .wav file here if it is your preferred format

    • Treble clef version sheet music

    • Playthrough in Eb
  • 22

    Lesson 17 - The First Year Reel

    • Sheet Music

    • Melody

    • Slow Melody

    • The First Year Reel Zoom Lesson

    • Lead sheet
  • 23

    Lesson 18 - The Entertainer

    • The Entertainer Zoom Lesson

    • The Entertainer - melody

    • The Entertainer - Full Score

    • The Entertainer - Violoncello 2

    • Slow version both parts

    • Slow version both parts (WAV file)

    • Backing Track

    • Backing Track (.WAV)
  • 24

    Lesson 19 - The Entertainer Part 2

    • The Entertainer Part 2 Zoom Lesson

    • Play Along both parts - second half of tune only

    • PART 2 SLOW - play along

    • Play Along - both parts - whole tune

    • The Entertainer - complete piece - Full Score

    • Cello 1 sheet music- melody

    • Cello 2 sheet music - accompaniment

    • Play Along - backing track - whole tune
  • 25

    Lesson 20 - Amhrán na Trá Báine

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine sheet music

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine notes

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine unadorned

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine with ornamentation

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine with ornamentation .wav

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine unadorned .wav

    • Amhrán na Trá Báine
  • 26

    Lesson 21 - Solid Boogie Woogie

    • Solid Boogie (slow, separate parts)

    • Solid Boogie (slow solo and drums)

    • Solid Boogie Fast

    • Solid Boogie Woogie solo

    • Solid Boogie Woogie two cellos

    • Solid Boogie Zoom lesson
  • 27

    Lesson 22 - Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä

    • Backing track

    • Backing track .wav file

    • Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä 3 parts with count in

    • Arkihuolesi_kaikki_heita - Violoncello 1 Solo Cello

    • Arkihuoles kaikki heita - Full Score & parts

    • lesson 21 Arkihuolesi kaikki heitä
  • 28

    Lesson 23 - O Little Town of Bethlehem

    • Backing Track

    • Play Along Score

    • Score and parts

    • melody - down an octave - 1st position version

    • Lesson on Zoom
  • 29

    Lesson 24 - Wayfaring Stranger

    • Sheet Music

    • Play Along Audio

    • Version in Treble clef with chords

    • Video Lesson 9/01/22

    • Solo Version Sheet music
  • 30

    Lesson 25 - Guitar Boogie Woogie

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Slow drums with cello

    • Slow drums (no cello)

    • Fast Drums with cello

    • Fast Drums (no cello)
  • 31

    Lesson 26 - Slievenamon

    • Sheet Music

    • Play Along Audio and Lyrics

    • Lesson 25 Slievenamon
  • 32

    Lesson 27 - The Morning Air

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Beethoven Arrangement for violin, cello, piano and voice
  • 33

    Lesson 28 - John Anderson my Jo

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Treble with Cello accompaniment version
  • 34

    Lesson 29 Waltz from Ukraine

    • Chyorni brovi, kari ochi - Ukrainian Waltz

    • Treble version

    • Ukrainian Song audio

    • Listen and play along

    • Lesson 29 Live Lesson
  • 35

    Lesson 30 - Gymnopédie No. 1

    • Gymnopédie No.1 Satie

    • Live Lesson
  • 36

    Lesson 31 - Buachaíll ó'n Éírne (A Boy from the Erne)

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Buachaíll ó'n Éírne with chord symbols

    • Advanced version (from Irish Airs for Solo Cello)
  • 37

    Lesson 32 - Star of the County Down

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet music as played in lesson

    • Sheet music from Easy Irish Cello collection

    • Duo version from Scott Walker's arrangement in 3/4

    • Star of the County Down original
  • 38

    Lesson 33 - Manha de Carnaval

    • Sheet Music

    • Live Lesson

  • 39

    Lesson 34 The Bluebell Polka

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Two cellos - melody and cello 2

    • Backing Track cello 2
  • 40

    Lesson 35 Argentine Polka No.2

    • Live Lesson

    • Sheet Music

    • Audio Two cellos play along
  • 41

    Lesson 36 The Boatsman

    • Live Lesson

    • The Boatsman Sheet Music
  • 42

    Lesson 37 Miss Thornton's Reel

    • Live Lesson

    • Miss Thornton's in C Sheet Music (lesson key)

    • Miss Thornton's in Bb

    • Miss Thornton's in Bb - treble
  • 43

    Lesson 38 Limerick's Lamentation

    • Live Lesson

    • Limerick's Lamentation sheet music

    • Limerick's Lamentation treble

    • Audio Two Cellos play along
  • 44

    Lesson 39 Inis Oirr

    • Inis Oirr sheet music

    • Inis Oirr solo version

    • Lesson Inis oirr
  • 45

    Lesson 40 Claire De Lune

    • Claire de Lune sheet music

    • Claire de Lune with chord notes

    • Claire de Lune backing audio

    • Lesson - Claire de Lune
  • 46

    Lesson 41 Peacock Rag

    • Peacock Rag sheet music

    • Lesson
  • 47

    Lesson 42 Second Year Jig

    • 2nd Year Jig Sheet Music

    • Live Lesson
  • 48

    Lesson 43 - The Man of the House

    • Sheet Music

    • Live Lesson
  • 49

    Lesson 44 - Bad Girl (jazz)

    • Club Lesson 44 - Bad Girl

    • Bad Girl chart - sheet music

Lessons and Warm-Ups lead by Ilse de Ziah

MA (Hons) Music

Ilse de Ziah

My aim is to help cellists to find a new approach to playing cello. I have run many workshops for cellists and other string players over the years and presently teach at University College Cork, conduct the Cork Light Orchestra, play contemporary 'deep listening' music with the Quiet Music Ensemble, work in theatre and play cello in many different styles, from Irish, Jazz, Rock and Roll to Classical. This has given me a broad experience of all the ways one can make a cello speak. I compose, arrange and publish music. I saw a need for quality solo pieces that are challenging but not impossible, sound great, develop technique and are perfect for performance. I wanted music for cellists, that when someone asks, "play for me, I love the cello", there is an alternative to the Prelude. (beautiful though it is!) I help students improve through playing music they love; to develop technique, style, memory, and confidence.

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