Trad on Cello
Polkas, Slides, Jigs
It is important to continually expand your repertoire and styles of playing to feed your passion for music and to keep your playing fresh. Adding new feels to your playing can help you express the emotions you want to through the cello. Get inspired by the lessons in this course, learn the pieces, expand your repertoire and play the way you want to hear!
The videos include;
Benefits of the Course
Bonuses Included
Discussion platform in course and direct email access to Ilse
Sheet music to download, including the complete book Trad on Cello (Value €20)
Two Irish solo cello arrangements on course completion (Value €10.00)
A personal invitation to join the Play Cello Music School Facebook group where you can post videos of yourself playing, ask questions, and I will give you feedback
I started learning the cello a few years ago and early on discovered Ilse's YouTube channel. I have always had a soft spot for the haunting nature of Celti...
Read MoreI started learning the cello a few years ago and early on discovered Ilse's YouTube channel. I have always had a soft spot for the haunting nature of Celtic music and was delighted when I bought a copy of her Airs for Solo Cello book that it came with a lovely personal note from Ilse. I have attempted to play most of the airs since then (some more successfully than others) and last year (2017) I contacted Ilse as I was visiting Ireland and asked to have a lesson. She was incredibly welcoming and both perceptive and supportive in her teaching. It was a real pleasure to meet and spend time with her, cello in hand. Her new online course is really well designed and presented, and I so wish this had been available when I first bought her book! The course starts with a couple of pages of introduction and then each air is presented in a standard multi-part format. First there is an introduction to each air which gives and introduction to style and some background. Then the sheet music is presented in PDF format so that you can play from screen or download and print it. Ilse then has a standard approach to teaching each air through video. First a full play through with score clearly visible and highlighted as she plays to make it easy to follow and full fingering. The highlighted score is a feature of all the videos and is very useful - especially as the airs are difficult to notate and so you can see the rhythmic and ornamental flexibility required as she plays. Her play though is followed by detailed tutorial videos demonstrating how to play each piece in short sections which contain lots of suggestions for practising and clear demonstrations of how to play the trickier bits. Each section is presented at least twice once focusing on the left hand and the other on bowing. Each video starts with a tuning note so you can play along and work through the tutorials. FInally there is an MP3 download of each tune. There is a lot of detail and hard work gone into this course. The videos are in HD and very well made on a black background making the illustrations very clear to follow. Not only is this a great way to get to grips with these airs but there is a lot of really useful advice on practising generally and effective examples of excellent cello technique that could help any advancing cellist. I particularly enjoy watching Ilse's beautifully fluid bow hand and arm - lots for me to work on! The course ends with a brief conclusion and links and finally a download link for the entire Airs for Solo Cello book - which includes written material and source tunes not included in the music downloads as you work through the course. I have to say the book is worth buying in hard copy - it is beautifully produced. Highly recommended and I do hope Ilse has success with this venture and is able to add new content from time to time. Thank you for the inspiration. Oh ... and by the way I also highly recommend her DVD "Living the Tradition" where Ilse travels Ireland finding out about the origins of these airs and playing them beautifully in the places they came from - lots of stunning photography too. She meets and interviews some amazing people and there are lots of interesting extras.
Read LessIlse’s arrangements of these wonderful airs fit extremely well for the cello. The way they are set is very cellistic, they use all registers and effects of t...
Read MoreIlse’s arrangements of these wonderful airs fit extremely well for the cello. The way they are set is very cellistic, they use all registers and effects of the instrument and they bring the best out of it. These arrangements contain different levels of technical challenges. It’s a great repertoire for cellists with different skills from moderate to advanced, there is something for everyone. In the videos Ilse has a very charming and motivating way explaining how to play these airs, step-by-step, also with very helpful hints, how to practice technically demanding parts. This really helps to find a quick access to this nice and pieceful music. For a non-Irish musician it’s also very helpful and intersting to listen to a native musician, who grew up in this tradition, talking about this music. I don’t know any other source where these airs became arranged for cello, Ilse is probably the first. I highly reccomend this course to all cellists, who like Irish music, either for playing for their own pleasure or in sessions.
Read LessHaving first purchased the book and CD, I was eager to purchase the course when it became available. Ilse has done an excellent job on the tutorials. Her e...
Read MoreHaving first purchased the book and CD, I was eager to purchase the course when it became available. Ilse has done an excellent job on the tutorials. Her explanations of the arrangements and demonstrations are very easy to follow. I also find the additional material such as the history of the airs to be very interesting. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in Irish Airs. FIVE STARS *****
Read LessThe video lessons are outstanding. Ilsa demonstrates all the steps clearly to learn each tune, and teaches ways to add ornamentations and variety. I loved th...
Read MoreThe video lessons are outstanding. Ilsa demonstrates all the steps clearly to learn each tune, and teaches ways to add ornamentations and variety. I loved the course!
Read Lessloving this cello course...high standard and great resources with online support.
loving this cello course...high standard and great resources with online support.
Read LessWhat great lessons! Step by step through three great styles of Irish Music with the both melody and accompaniment clearly explained and demonstrated. If y...
Read MoreWhat great lessons! Step by step through three great styles of Irish Music with the both melody and accompaniment clearly explained and demonstrated. If you ever wanted to learn something besides the Prelude to entertain your friends then dig in here!
Read LessWelcome!
How to and Links
Introduction to Polka Set 1
Learn Polka Set 1
Polka Tunes - Melody line
Polka Tunes - Cello Accompaniment
I'll Buy Boots for Maggie sheet music
Marie's Wedding sheet music
How did you go?
Introduction to Polka Set 2
Learn Polka Set 2
Polka Tunes - Melody line
Polka Tunes - Cello Accompaniment
The Ballyvourney sheet music
The Rattlin' Bog sheet music
How did you go?
Introduction to Slide Set
Learn the Slide Set
Slides - Melody line
Slides - Cello accompaniment
The Brosna sheet music
Denis Murphy's sheet music
How did you go?
Introduction to Jig Set
Learn Jigs
Jigs - Melody line
Jigs - Cello accompaniment
The Swallowtail sheet music
Ship in Full Sail sheet music
Haste to the Wedding sheet music
How did you go?
Final Word and Links
Trad on Cello complete book