Learning Cockles and Mussels in Dublin's Fair City
Our 3rd Year students are diving into the traditional Irish song Cockles and Mussels, also known as Molly Malone. This classic tune holds a special place in many a teacher's heart.
Cockles, And Mussels. Alive, Alive-O!
In Dublin's fair city, where girls are so pretty,
That's where he first met her, sweet Molly Malone.
She wheeled a wheelbarrow, through streets wide and narrow.
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o.
She was a fishmonger, and sure it's no wonder.
For her father and mother were fishmongers too.
They wheeled a wheelbarrow, through streets wide and narrow.
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o.
He asked her to marry, she said 'twould be grand.
But to leave her dear Dublin, she'd not give her hand!
So they both wheel a barrow, through streets wide and narrow,
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o!
This is a story very old of a girl who was his all alone,
She was the one he would not forget and her name was sweet Molly,
sweet Molly Malone...
The song tells the story of sweet Molly Malone, a fishmonger who wheeled her barrow through Dublin’s streets, crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o!" Although it's uncertain if Molly was real, her legacy lives on with a bronze statue on Grafton Street. First published in 1884, Molly Malone has become an iconic folk song of Dublin, capturing the spirit of the city and its people.
Tips for Learning the Right-Hand Rhythm
One of the most challenging rhythms in this piece is found in the right hand: the dotted quarter note followed by an eighth note pattern, like in “Shoot-the-bug!” In this video, any student can be guided through playing this rhythm correctly.
At the end of the song, the word “crying” features eighth notes, which students often miss. To help your child master this part, have them practice that measure several times. Use the counting method “one, two, three-and” to reinforce the rhythm and make it easier to play accurately.
Tips for Learning the Left-Hand Rhythm
This song is great for helping your child understand how to play any chord in root position. Make sure they’re comfortable playing each hand separately before trying to play hands together. In this video, your student is guided through the left hand part by playing a duet with a teacher (you can also sing while playing the left hand alone).
The last two measures can be tricky for the left hand. Watch carefully to ensure the correct notes are played and help your child find the right fingerings (writing a reminder in the book can be helpful). Practice these two measures slowly until they’re secure, then gradually increase the speed to match the rest of the song. This video shows how to guide a student through learning the fingering for these difficult measures.
Focus on the Tricky Parts
To help your child master the song, focus on the most difficult measures first. Spend several minutes practicing just those tricky sections before trying the whole song from the beginning. This targeted practice will help your child play the entire song smoothly, even through the challenging spots.
This approach works for any song—identify the tricky fingering or rhythm and give it extra attention first until it’s mastered.
For Advanced Students
Only about one in twenty students will master this song in a week, but for those who are ready for a challenge, they can try playing the left hand with broken chords. This will create a beautiful interplay with the right hand’s dotted rhythm. Playing two hands with different rhythms is difficult, so praise your advanced student’s efforts—it's truly impressive!
Have fun sharing this song with friends and family!
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