Welcome
At Ceol Tracks, we believe
everyone learning Irish music deserves to have the best resources available to them.
Our goal is to remove any problematic barriers preventing you from making your musical journey a success. Our learning resources are carefully designed to make learning Irish music as easy as possible. With our easy-to-use resources, you'll be playing Irish music in no time. Whether you're a beginner or an expert player, or a teacher of music, we're excited to help you on your journey!
Ceol Tracks was founded by Denis O’Toole and his wife Carmel (O’Leary). Denis is a qualified schoolteacher, music tutor, and sound engineer, who plays Tin Whistle and Uilleann Piper. He has been involved in traditional music from a very young age and is privileged to have Irish music in his family for generations. Carmel plays Tin Whistle and Uilleann Pipes. She is also a music teacher and music adjudicator, who has been involved in adjudicating. together we have travelled around Ireland and abroad playing, teaching, and promoting Irish Traditional Music.
In 2009 Denis and Carmel were founding board members of Comhaltas Garraí Eoin, Limerick City and were teaching Irish music and dance there for 5 years. Denis noticed that many published tutors and tune books had some problems, especially for the user. Denis and Carmel used their teaching experience to develop a practical and simple way to learn Irish music, a tutor/ tune book that will solve the main problems with other tunes/tutor books, make it easier to read and learn music, and cater for all instruments, students, and teachers of Irish music.
“For me, Irish music is about transporting the player and listener to a different world and getting lost in the music. Learning music should be fun and nothing should hinder that, especially the teaching resources, which is why I established CEOL TRACKS, to take as much of the trouble out of learning Irish traditional music and then to share the music with others”, Denis O’Toole.
Our Story
Today, we're proud to have thousands of people all over the world using our Irish music resources and making their journey that little bit easier.
Everyone learning Irish music deserves to have the best resources available to them.
Milestones
The begging of Ceol Tracks
Founding a Comhaltas Branch
In 2009 Denis and Carmel were founding board members of Comhaltas Garraí Eoin, Limerick City and were teaching Irish music and dance there for 5 years
September 2009
Garryowen, Limerick, Ireland.
Music Teaching Booklet
First Easy To Use Booklet
Denis noticed that many published tutors and tune books had some problems, especially for the user. Denis and Carmel used their teaching experience to develop a practical and simple way to learn Irish music.
2012
Garryowen, Limerick, Ireland.
Irish Session Music Book 1 Published
Ceol Tracks Launch
in 2017 we decided to establish a brand name and officially publish the booklet we produced while teaching in the Limerick City Comhaltas branch. ceoltracks.com was born!
2017
Askeation, Limerick, Ireland.
Irish Session Music Book 2 Published
Second Book Launch
Following the success of session book 1, we got working on another complimentary book, this time with more challenging tunes made easier to learn with our method.
2018
Askeation, Limerick, Ireland.
Primay Tin Whistle Published
Tin Whistle Tutor Launch
The music curriculum for primary schools was changing. This was our next challenge, to produce a tutor that would meet the curriculum, and be easy for young children and adults to use. what turned out was a complete tin whistle tutor that anyone can use, which also follows the Irish music curriculum for primary schools. Fantastic!
Early 2019
Askeation, Limerick, Ireland.
A new base for Ceol Tracks
Relocation to Galicia
Following the success of session book 1, we got working on another complimentary book, this time with more challenging tunes made easier to learn with our method.
Late 2019
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia.
More great things in the pipeline.
The Future and Beyond
We are grateful that so many have been enjoying learning Irish traditional music with us. we can't possibly stop our good work, so presently we are working on a new Uilleann Piping Tutor and looking at the idea of helping independent Irish musicians sell their music. watch this space.
Present
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia.
Helping people to learn Irish music the easy way
Ceol Track’s is different because of the type of publications and products we provide. It is an all-around centre for learning Irish music and gives a method of learning tunes to people who can’t get to formal Irish music lessons or sessions.
Our tune books, the Irish Traditional Session Music series are the key to your success. They are designed to make learning Irish traditional music as easy as possible. Each tune is printed on a single page and laid out using the Irish ABC notation method along with the music score (lines and dots) and chord progressions for accompaniment. The books also have information and finger charts for the most common session instruments. Included with the book is a free reference CD that has all the tunes in the book played at a slow steady pace and you can also download the audio, once you have made an order. The book is wire bound so it can be folded and placed on a music stand or flat surface. To get your copy of the book simply go to the Shop Page and make a purchase.
Addressing today's need for better Irish traditional music resources
"Irish traditional music is among the most popular World Music genres of our time. Performed by Irish and non-Irish musicians throughout the world and patronized by audiences in diverse social and cultural settings, this ancient yet modern art is one of Ireland’s most enduring and defining cultural products." source
Traditionally, learning to play Irish music was an oral tradition where you would go to a teacher, they would teach without any sheet music, and you’d have to remember the tune by writing it down or recording it on a device.
This method of learning is great, but it becomes very difficult when you live halfway across the world and not a teacher in sight. Many resources out there ain’t sufficient for learning Irish music if you can’t read sheet music. we have carefully considered what someone would need if they hadn’t got a teacher in front of them. The solution was a resource that would teach in the easiest way possible. Well, this is where Ceol Tracks comes in. Our resources are easy to use and you can start learning tunes even if you don’t read music. they teach you how to read sheet music in the simplest way possible. with Ceol Tracks, everyone can learn to play Irish traditional music.
