How to Build a Celtic Music Collection

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For those who love the lilt and energy of Irish and Scottish music, collecting the music can become a passion. Here are tips for building a first-rate collection of celtic music.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

internet access
money for your hobby
room to store your CDs

Step1

Celtic music goes far beyond "Danny Boy." Educate yourself on the varied aspects of the genre that ranges from reels and jigs to ballads, from traditional music to celtic rock, and ranges from Nova Scotia to Ireland, to Scotland, to Irish-American, to Breton and other regional styles.

Step2

If you have a few songs or performers that really hit the spot for you, use Pandora to introduce you to others similar to those. Just sign up for it (link below) and set up stations with the tunes or performers you like. Pandora does the rest. Click on the like/don't like button as you listen to Pandora's selections. It then adjusts what it plays. You'll discover a wealth of songs and artists you'll love.

Step3

Go to festivals and performances. There are Irish festivals, Scottish festivals, folk music festivals. See the link below for the schedules for these. Find out if there's a local folk music society and when their concerts are. Ask around for Irish pubs or restaurants that have live music.

Step4

Sample top celtic albums on CD Baby website. As you listen to clips from the albums, read the reviews and then follow the links to other artists like the ones that appeal to you.

Step5

Listen to the Thistle and Shamrock weekly program on National Public Radio. Each week Fiona Ritchie features a different aspect of celtic music and gives background information with the tunes.

Step6

Watch for seasonal sales from celtic music labels like Green Linnet. Check on Ebay for good buys too. Look for artists by name or put in key words like Irish music or celtic music. Amazon and other sites have previously owned CDs for sale at a lower price.