Learning how to play some of the best-known Manx folk tunes has been made that little bit easier thanks to a series of tutorial videos.

Seven well-known and established musicians have produced a series of online instructional videos to help teach how to play a range of traditional Manx folk tunes.

The musicians were invited to share technical knowledge and their know-how on how to approach playing, singing and performing Manx music and help de-mystify some of the techniques behind playing many of the tunes.

There are Manx tune tutorials for fiddle, whistle and harp, as well as Gaelic songs for children and advanced singers.

The first video, released this month, features local musician Peddyr Cubberly, who has chosen a range of tunes from the highly familiar and relatively simple tune, ’Smuggler’s Lullaby’, along with the familiar reel ’Eunyssagh Vona’ and jig ’Ben Rein y Voaldyn’.

He has also included a step-by-step guide to playing one of his own compositions, ’Nelson’s Tonic’.

An internationally-renowned performer and composer, Peddyr has played with groups Mactullagh Vannin, the Peddyr Trad Trio and Croan y Tead, as well as being a member of the Tarroo Marroo Ceili Band.

One of his more famous tunes, ’Kinnoull’, was performed by the band Barrule and has also been played at the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo.

The videos, which will feature contributions from the likes of Ruth Keggin, Phil Gawne, Beccy Hurst, Isla Callister, Mera Royle and Laura Rowles over the coming weeks, were commissioned and produced by Culture Vannin as part of its ’Treisht’ arts funding initiative, which was created in response to the lockdown.

Dr Chloë Woolley, the Manx music development officer, said that the project enabled Culture Vannin to work alongside musicians to create a range of educational resources.

’Lockdown was an ideal time to draw upon the talents of self-employed musicians while they weren’t busy gigging or teaching and take the opportunity to add to the growing bank of teaching resources for Manx music,’ said Chloë.

’The collection includes a range of tunes and songs for various abilities and ages, and the videos should appeal to anyone interested in adding some Manx music to their repertoire, but also to more advanced students who want to learn tunes by ear to play in sessions or to accompany dancing.

’There is a rising interest in the culture of the Isle of Man internationally and having these bespoke lessons available online will help us take Manx music even further around the globe.’

More Manx song and tune video tutorials, along with other projects, will be released over the coming weeks.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers