I guess it's time to add an update here, I have been a little lax in keeping up the site. When last we met, I had just finished with the classes from Pima Community College and was starting into the Old Time Fiddle book by Wayne Erbsen.
I have pretty much worked through the book, at least the D tunes. I need to keep at them to get them smooth and up to speed, but am enjoying the experience. As usual, my work ethic lags and I don't do a lot of scale practice or technique work as I should. I tend to pick up the fiddle and start playing tunes. I usually work on several each time I play, but tend to concentrate on the ones that really interest me. Along with the book, I have found music and/or tab for several tunes, mostly waltzes or 3/4 time pieces like Tom Bigbee's Waltz, Lorena, Ashokan Farewell and Westphalia Waltz. It is interesting to attempt to play these from the notation and to figure out bowing for them.
Bowing will be my next big step, I think. The slower pieces force me to think about the stroke, because they have a lot of half-notes or longer and are played at a slower tempo, forcing me to consider how to get a nice, long, smooth sound from one bowstroke. I am still at the stage where I get a fair amount of unwanted noises from this.
Fiddling is fun, and I think a little addictive, just as the guitar and banjo are! My goal is to be able to add the fiddle to my live playing within the next year - we'll see!
The on-line magazine "Silver Strings" recently did an interview with me about how I came to Old-Time music and Clawhammer banjo. You can read the interview here: Silver Strings
This was the last session in my 6 classes. There wasn't much to it, the other student and I each played a couple of the tunes we had learned in the class, then played in unison. For a grand finale, we each played anything that we had been working on; I did "Danny Boy," because I had been figuring it out for St Patrick's Day, but hadn't recorded it yet.
Over all impression of the class: I think for someone who is considering learning the violin, this type of class is an excellent introduction. For a nominal fee, you can learn how to hold the instrument and bow, how to use the bow, and learn a few simple songs. The classes were a little too basic for me, but I knew that going in. I got what I wanted from the experience - pointers on technique. Before the last class I had picked up a method book for old-time fiddle, and have been using it to learn a lot more of the type of music I want to play. The book is "Old-Time Fiddle for the Complete Ignoramus" by Wayne Erbsen. It comes with a companion CD, and is a great resource. I would recommend it to anybody starting to play old-time fiddle.
Tonight the instructor helped me figure out that I need to get more down-pressure on my bow to stop the bouncing. We had a discussion about whether I need more or less tension on the frog. I am going to try more tension for a while and see if that helps. We also reviewed the past lessons, then she handed out a version of "Ode to Joy" and started with some theory. Basically, the sheet had finger numbers, and we went over what strings they were meant to be played on. That, along with a quick introduction to note times (whole, half, etc.) comprised the theory section. Next week is the final session, and I guess we will be doing a "mini recital" of the tunes and bowing patterns we have learned. I will kind of be glad that the class is over, I think I am beyond what she is presenting, but I am glad I took it. I will work on my own for awhile, and then think of finding an instructor for occassional lessons. I also will try to find the closest OT Fiddlers' group and many play with them some. One more class, I gotta get to practicing!
Tonight we found out that one of the four has dropped the class. Too bad. One other student did not show up again, either, so I don't know if we are down to 2 for the last classes. After reviewing what we have covered, the instructor taught us "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" by ear. An interesting exercise - I have been doing a little exploring of this myself, since it is one of my long-range goals. I find that knowing the song, I tend to do my own arrangement, even in class, not following the exact noting and timing of the instructor unless I make a conscious attempt to do so. For the last bit of the class, the instructor did a little bit of music-reading teaching, which I don't need, but it was good for the other student.
Ruminations: So far, the class has been beneficial to me in the areas of holding the bow and fiddle, keeping the left wrist straight, and bowing properly. Also, fine points on fingering without touching neighboring strings. I am satisfied that I made a good choice in taking this class, even though I am almost too far ahead. I have recorded my first song using the fiddle, and it is posted on my music page. The timing is awful, but that is something I am working on. No class next week, the instructor has some personal business, so I will use the extra time to get my fiddle into the shop for a set-up.
Tonight there were only 2 students in the class, must be Rodeo Days syndrome. Anyway, we tuned up, ran through the stuff from the past two weeks (bow patterns, Twinkle Twinkle), and started on the basic A scale. Actually, we have been using the A scale from the start, but it was never voiced, as the instructor was just getting us used to bowing and some fingerings. We ran through the scale on the A and E strings, then put that knowledge to use in learning "The Fiddle Song." Actually, this is "Bile Them Cabbage Down," but the instructor is a classically-trained violinist. After a time or two through, the other student played a straight open-stringed double stop while I did the tune, then we switched. Fun. Next we moved over the the D string and did some scales in D using the D and A strings. Finally we attempted some fingered double stops, this is a very weak area for me, I have difficulty with my fingers being a little too big to keep off of the adjoining strings. I will probably try moving the E string over to another notch on the bridge, at the instructor's suggestion. All in all, I think we are moving at a good pace, and can't wait until next week. Well, to practice!
Ok, second class. We reviewed the strokes from the first class, and learned two more rhythms. The instructor also placed fingering tape on the fingerboards of the two students who haven't any experience on the fiddle (violin). We then learned fingering along with the tune "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." I must admit, classes have given me the incentive to practice, and I am close to surpassing the sum total of practice I have done since I got the instrument! Things are progressing nicely, I think, and I look forward to each class.
Tonight was my first violin class. I have been trying to learn how to play the fiddle, and finally broke down and signed up for a group class of introductory lessons on the violin. Over the next few weeks, I will be adding to this log of my experience and (hopefully) advancement in playing the fiddle. This was a good decision! The first thing I learned is that I definitly will be purchasing a shoulder rest. The instructor allowed me to try hers on my instument, and I discovered that it is a great help in holding the fiddle properly under the chin. My biggest weakness is my left wrist. It wants to flex to allow the neck of the fiddle to rest in the palm of my hand. So that is my practice target for this week.
Reflections on my first public performance at the Oro Valley Farmers' Market on 22 October 2005:
Whew! I'm still alive, and my shorts are still white! 
OK, where to start?
I spent most of yesterday putting some practice into the songlist and attempting to arrange it in some kind of logical order (I didn't want to retune between every song, or do all the G tuning songs, then all the C tuning, etc.). Then I drew up a checklist so I wouldn't forget anything when I packed this morning.
Left the house just after 0930, and arrived at the market around 15 minutes later. I checked with the manager, and was told to pick a spot and set up. I found a nice shaded place just on the outskirts of the market, and put up my chair, put out the tip jar (and some business cards), pulled out the Good Time and checked the tuning (I had tuned before leaving the house, so just a little touchup).
Then, my mind went blank 
. Keeping my cool, I dug out my playlist and looked at the first song on the list. Oh, yeah, I picked "Cripple Creek" to open with. I figured it was the first song I learned, so it should lead off. It also is simple and fairly fast while requiring just enough concentration to take my mind off of the surroundings.
"Well, that went alright! Nobody is running screaming from the area, there are a couple of folks over there still eating their pastries, so I can't be that bad!" I thought.
I started playing my way through the list, and was enjoying myself! Not too self-conscious, but not as comfortable as I am at home playing in the bedroom or on the porch (that was expected). I found that I was flubbing up a little more often than I usually do, but that, too, I had expected.
After about 30-45 minutes, the manager came by and told me I should have set up more into the market. We had a good discussion about why I had picked the spot I did, and agreed that next time I will be more in the market. He said that they pay musicians to perform, and I would be heard by more people if I moved into the market. I explained that this was the first time I had played in public, and felt comfortable where I was today, but next time I will set up inside. I told him that I was not expecting to be paid this time, and would make arrangement to come back. When I next glanced at the watch, I had been pickin' for an hour and a half! My how time flies!
All in all, I enjoyed the morning, had a few people actually come by to hear me, and gained a lot of confidence! I'm looking forward to going back (But I will be practicing a lot harder).
I recently was asked how much I practice with the fiddle. It got me to thinking about my practice habits, and wondering how others go about this essential part of making music. Below I am going to describe what I consider my practice habits. Please be aware that I play music for my own enjoyment, and do not expect to become an expert on any instrument, so for anybody looking to become a professional musician, your practice requirements will probably be much more rigid than mine.
First, I do not think of what I do as "practicing." I like to make music and so I "play" rather than follow a strict routine. I know I should spend more time on scales and position work and theory and all of that good (and necessary) stuff, but I don't! Sure, sometimes guilt (or probably a rough spot I need to get over) overwhelms me and I haul out the scale and interval exercises, but not often. I am not taking lessons currently, so I have no assigned time-frame goals.
Usually, after lunch I pick up my banjo and sit down to play for awhile (here in Tucson it's a great excuse to keep out of the midday sun!). If I have a banjo lesson upcoming, I will first run over what I have previously presented, making sure that I can know it well enough to feel comfortable. I then decide what I am going to present next and gather material for that: a tune or two, info on new tunings for the material, and tabs.
If I am not preparing for a lesson, I normally just start playing some of the tunes I know. If I feel that a tune needs work, I will play it over and over until I feel that I have made progress in the area I was working on. I probably wind up playing 4 to 6 tunes, with 2 or 3 of them having the majority of time spent.
Sometimes I get a notion that I can work out a tune by ear. Quite often this tune is something I have been working on learning on the fiddle. So I may take the tune and put it onto the banjo fretboard. Once I can pick out the melody, I start trying to add the bump-dittys and double- and drop-thumbs. Sometimes I can do it, sometimes not, but the positive attempts are coming more often.
Sometimes I pick up the fiddle instead of the banjo. With this instrument, I normally start by playing through one or two tunes that I have in my head, then open Wayne Erbsen's O-T Fiddle book and start playing the tunes there that I haven't gotten into my hands yet. Sometimes I will play along with the CD, lately more for timing purposes that anything else. I also have several notated tunes that I am learning. With the fiddle, I find that I need the notes until I get the melody down, then I can work on bowing and intonation.
The above sessions will normally run anywhere between 1 and 4 hours, pretty much solid playing. I will pick up the guitar sometimes to play through some tunes, but unless I have a specific reason to work on it, I usually just play it for 20 - 30 minutes. This might be one of the days when I don't get a session in otherwise. Often the guitar is merely played on the patio in the evenings after dinner.
The 'ukulele, I am sorry to say, usually sits in its case beside the computer waiting patiently for me to pull it out in response to some posting on ezFolk that piques my interest.
So, short story, I normally practice (play) 4 to 6 days a week, for 1 to 4 hours a day.
Bravenet Blog 
Blog Community
Get a Free Blog
Manage your Blog
bravenet.com