I had the great pleasure of sitting down for a chat with Matt Cranitch, who is perhaps most well-known in the States for his Irish Fiddle method book as well as live and online workshops he has offered. This interview is your opportunity to "take a class" with Matt and hear a mix of his story, his teaching approaches, and his current projects in the summer of 2026.

Matt's website

ITMA Padraig O' Keeffe Collection

Colleen Freeman playing her ancestor Julia Clifford's Stroh Fiddle

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With the recent release of her 3rd tune collection, Liz Carroll shares the evolution of her tune books, insights on Irish music, and how she's finding her lilt these days. This conversation covers her creative process, the importance of listening and experimentation, and tips for musicians at all levels.

Get your copy of Collected III here!

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Mary Vanorny shares her journey from classical training to Irish fiddling, her innovative approach to teaching through her books, and the importance of community and style in learning Irish music.

Learn more about Mary and purchase her book collection here:

• https://www.fiddlermary.com/
• https://www.learningfiddlewithirishmusic.com

Want to support the Find Your Lilt podcast and learn some new tunes by ear? Become a Tune Library member!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Suzuki Method and Irish Fiddling

03:10 Creating Resources for Young Musicians

05:59 The Importance of Listening and Training in Music

08:56 The Transition from Classical to Irish Fiddling

11:59 Understanding Songs vs. Tunes in Irish Music

14:58 Teaching Approaches for Different Age Groups

17:49 The Role of Bowing Techniques in Fiddling

21:03 Personal Journey in Fiddling and Learning from Mentors

33:49 Navigating the Challenges of Teaching Music

34:50 The Impact of Encouraging Teachers

35:56 Bridging Classical and Irish Music

36:58 The Importance of Skill Development

39:25 Teaching Techniques and Learning by Ear

41:21 The Role of Sheet Music in Learning

43:03 Understanding Irish Music's Unique Characteristics

45:57 The Journey of Learning Fiddle Techniques

48:25 Creating a Community Through Music

50:43 The Importance of Consistent Practice

52:52 Exploring Cape Breton and Irish Music

56:37 Building Connections Through Tunes

01:00:18 The Role of Resources in Music Education

Liz Knowles and Hannah chat about insights on effective practice strategies for musicians, emphasizing the concept of 'pistons' firing simultaneously to achieve mastery. In this interview, you'll walk away with a treasure trove of practical tips on memory, repertoire, and self-assessment to further improve your practicing skills and develop your Irish fiddling lilt!

Resources mentioned:

• Seeing is Forgetting by Robert Irwin
• Liz Carroll's three tunes: The Source air, Hopping from West to East hop jig, Clonakilty reel (from Collected III)
• Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing by Molly Gebrian

Connect with Liz and join her LizNotes newsletter here:

• LizNotes
• https://www.lizknowles.com/

Want to support the Find Your Lilt podcast and learn some new tunes by ear? Become a Tune Library member!

Chapters

• 00:00 Reconnecting with Liz Knowles
• 06:09 Teaching and Developing Practice Skills
• 16:51 Memory and Spaced Repetition
• 24:58 Extended Repetition and Memory
• 30:27 The Illusion of Mastery and Continuous Learning
• 36:25 Assessing Progress and Self-Trust
• 47:33 The Passage of Time and Evolution of Skills

Join me for an inspiring chat with Claire Shirey, the founder of the Nashville Irish Music School. We delve into the music and dance connection in the Irish traditional scene. Highlights include Claire's journey from dancer to musician, the evolution of the Nashville Irish scene, and fostering a love for Irish music among youth.

• Claire’s transition from Irish dance to focusing on music
• Insights on playing for Irish dance competitions
• Importance of leading sessions within the music community
• The unique connection between dance and music
• Growth of Nashville Irish Music School
• Building a supportive community through music and dance
• Claire's experiences at various music festivals and dance competitions
• The influence of traditional Irish tunes in performances
• Future plans for collaboration and performance

If you would like to learn more about Claire, you can check her out at https://claireshireymusic.com/.

Tennessee residents can learn more about participating in Claire's school at https://middletnirish.org/

Want to support the show? Consider becoming a Tune Library member! For $10/month you get access to my entire library of tune tutorials + bonus videos to help you further develop your ear training skills.

I'd also love to keep in touch with you via my Sunday Irish fiddle newsletter -- sign up for free here!

This episode explains the different types of music practice—naive, purposeful, and deliberate—and how they impact skill development in Irish fiddling. Hannah discusses practical strategies for each type, encouraging listeners to engage in better practices to achieve their musical goals.
• Exploring naive practice and its pitfalls
• Recognizing the shift to purposeful practice
• Importance of feedback in practice sessions
• Deliberate practice and pushing through challenges
• Building mental representations for memorizing music
• Encouraging a balanced approach to practice and enjoyment

This episode was inspired by the book Peak by K. Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool.

Want to support the show? Consider becoming a Tune Library member! For $10/month you get access to my entire library of tune tutorials + bonus videos to help you further develop your ear training skills.

I'd also love to keep in touch with you via my Sunday Irish fiddle newsletter -- sign up for free here!

In this episode, Hannah Harris discusses her experience of combining classical music and traditional Irish music in a concert. She reflects on the success of the collaboration and explores the factors that contributed to its success. She emphasizes the importance of having musicians who are familiar with both genres and can adapt to different styles. She also highlights the significance of well-crafted arrangements and the ability to go beyond the sheet music to capture the essence of the music. Hannah acknowledges the potential challenges of combining these genres, such as ego clashes and the risk of overshadowing the rhythm players. She concludes that while the combination can work well in certain situations, it should be done in limited quantities to allow each genre to shine on its own.

Links to musicians: Cillian Vallely, David Doocey and Alan Murray
Morning Nightcap set with orchestra + without orchestra

Want to support the show? Consider becoming a Tune Library member! For $10/month you get access to my entire library of tune tutorials + bonus videos to help you further develop your ear training skills.

I'd also love to keep in touch with you via my Sunday Irish fiddle newsletter -- sign up for free here!

In this episode of the Find Your Lilt Podcast, host Hannah Harris engages in a lively discussion with fiddle legends + mentors Liz Carroll and Liz Knowles. The conversation delves into the intricacies of Irish music, focusing on teaching techniques, the importance of call and response, and the exploration of tunes. Both Lizzes share their insights on how to select tunes for workshops, the significance of improvisation, and the balance between tradition and modernity in music. They also discuss the concept of authenticity in Irish music and how it relates to personal expression and community acceptance. Throughout the episode, listeners gain valuable perspectives on the journey of learning and playing Irish music, emphasizing the joy of exploration and the importance of finding one's unique voice within the tradition.

To listen to and support The Lizzes Podcast, you can find their Patreon page here!

Want to support the show? Consider becoming a Tune Library member! For $10/month you get access to my entire library of tune tutorials + bonus videos to help you further develop your ear training skills.

I'd also love to keep in touch with you via my Sunday Irish fiddle newsletter -- sign up for free here!