The main reason I decided to take fiddle lessons was that I like fiddle music and wanted to play with other people. So I am also interested in improving my technique because it helps me play better with other people.
You've made huge strides, both in technique (esp. bow arm, intonation, timing) and in finding chances to play with lots of people -- by just going for it, sticking with it, and working at it. Keep it up (I don't think you even need me to say that)! All the best, i hope you find these articles helpful.
I'm interested in all of your poll topics - especially playing well with others, and improving as a musician. But Music in nature and science, and the effects of music on our brains and bodies are the most interesting. I'm particularly interested in how music as a communal activity can have uplifting and healing power. I've read that in Africa - communal drumming and dancing is used to heal depression and other dis/ease. I've experienced uplift after signing/or dancing in groups, and after playing at a good hearted session. The movie of the power of song: Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony has been an important influence for me. As an adult learner of the fiddle, to get to a point that I felt comfortable participating, or might feel comfortable has been a long road and much influenced by quality of instruction.
Music therapy exists but it hasn't been around that long. My mother's piano teacher used to insist on playing weekly concerts at an asylum and was ridiculed for it! Music is certainly healing for player and listener/dancer, and we'll talk more about it. I never heard of that film before and look forward to seeing it, thanks for mentioning it.
I’ll echo what others have said—I really enjoy reading your newsletter and the wide array of topics you cover! I selected musicality/expression as the thing I’m most interested in, but have also really enjoyed/would love to see more posts related to performing and the way we learn. As a newer fiddler some of the conceptual ideas you’ve introduced have been tremendously helpful—especially your series about playing faster and thinking of phrases like words/sentences vs letters. That idea totally shifted things for me! I also appreciate posts with practical exercises to incorporate into my practice routine. Ultimately, I’d say anything you’re willing to write about related to the art of playing fiddle/violin is something I’d eagerly read!
I think the big thing missing from many online fiddle teaching videos/schools is technique; a lot of what I see out there is just teaching new tunes. Personally, I have many tunes in my head already and I can figure out where to put my left hand fingers; I need help on the mechanics of bowing and sometimes the mechanics of the fingering too...as in little finger related things.
Thanks for your thoughts, Andy. I'll keep adding articles about technique including bowing, and I hope you've found the exercises and comments about technique helpful from the articles already posted here. I'm just finishing a 2-month online series of weekly classes about bowing techniques on fiddle-online.com and will be making all the materials and class videos available there after tomorrow, if you're interested. If you can't find something or are looking for something specific, feel free to let me know! --Ed
I will always enjoy playing with others, or for others, and will continue to work on technique, but I believe Musical expression is what differentiates the interesting from the mundane.
This will let me select only one interest, but all of them are of interest. However, as a result of a serious brain injury I incurred 14 years ago, I have a circuitous path to get new concepts into long term memory. I have no short term memory. The only way I can achieve long term learning is to have things in writing, so that I may review them many times. Then, I can back up and focus on doing things by ear. I can hear and comprehend, but then I cannot practice without something to visualize. It is not a discussion appropriate to online class time. However, during class time, I do need to be heard when I request a learning tool that is the only one that has so far worked for me.
Hi Dorothy, please email me so I can better understand what you're referring to! Are you talking about a fiddle-online class? If so, I'm happy to discuss that and offer you options. I had a couple of concussions (thankfully no brain injury), so I have a little bit of an idea what the limitations may be. Usually in class I'm talking about guidelines that work for most people, but you sound like you have a special situation, so let's see what we can do. My apologies if something I said was not helpful -- please let me know what it was so we can go from there. Thanks.
Interested in techniques to learn how to learn / play by ear.
I'll put that in the mix and talk about that soon! Thanks, Gary.
The main reason I decided to take fiddle lessons was that I like fiddle music and wanted to play with other people. So I am also interested in improving my technique because it helps me play better with other people.
You've made huge strides, both in technique (esp. bow arm, intonation, timing) and in finding chances to play with lots of people -- by just going for it, sticking with it, and working at it. Keep it up (I don't think you even need me to say that)! All the best, i hope you find these articles helpful.
Music as an expression of the culture, history, and landscape...a lot like the tours.
Very true! :)
I'm interested in all of your poll topics - especially playing well with others, and improving as a musician. But Music in nature and science, and the effects of music on our brains and bodies are the most interesting. I'm particularly interested in how music as a communal activity can have uplifting and healing power. I've read that in Africa - communal drumming and dancing is used to heal depression and other dis/ease. I've experienced uplift after signing/or dancing in groups, and after playing at a good hearted session. The movie of the power of song: Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony has been an important influence for me. As an adult learner of the fiddle, to get to a point that I felt comfortable participating, or might feel comfortable has been a long road and much influenced by quality of instruction.
Music therapy exists but it hasn't been around that long. My mother's piano teacher used to insist on playing weekly concerts at an asylum and was ridiculed for it! Music is certainly healing for player and listener/dancer, and we'll talk more about it. I never heard of that film before and look forward to seeing it, thanks for mentioning it.
I’ll echo what others have said—I really enjoy reading your newsletter and the wide array of topics you cover! I selected musicality/expression as the thing I’m most interested in, but have also really enjoyed/would love to see more posts related to performing and the way we learn. As a newer fiddler some of the conceptual ideas you’ve introduced have been tremendously helpful—especially your series about playing faster and thinking of phrases like words/sentences vs letters. That idea totally shifted things for me! I also appreciate posts with practical exercises to incorporate into my practice routine. Ultimately, I’d say anything you’re willing to write about related to the art of playing fiddle/violin is something I’d eagerly read!
Thanks, Lily! I'm very glad you've found these articles to be helpful. Always nice to know they're not going out into the void!!
I think the big thing missing from many online fiddle teaching videos/schools is technique; a lot of what I see out there is just teaching new tunes. Personally, I have many tunes in my head already and I can figure out where to put my left hand fingers; I need help on the mechanics of bowing and sometimes the mechanics of the fingering too...as in little finger related things.
Thanks for your thoughts, Andy. I'll keep adding articles about technique including bowing, and I hope you've found the exercises and comments about technique helpful from the articles already posted here. I'm just finishing a 2-month online series of weekly classes about bowing techniques on fiddle-online.com and will be making all the materials and class videos available there after tomorrow, if you're interested. If you can't find something or are looking for something specific, feel free to let me know! --Ed
I will always enjoy playing with others, or for others, and will continue to work on technique, but I believe Musical expression is what differentiates the interesting from the mundane.
This will let me select only one interest, but all of them are of interest. However, as a result of a serious brain injury I incurred 14 years ago, I have a circuitous path to get new concepts into long term memory. I have no short term memory. The only way I can achieve long term learning is to have things in writing, so that I may review them many times. Then, I can back up and focus on doing things by ear. I can hear and comprehend, but then I cannot practice without something to visualize. It is not a discussion appropriate to online class time. However, during class time, I do need to be heard when I request a learning tool that is the only one that has so far worked for me.
Hi Dorothy, please email me so I can better understand what you're referring to! Are you talking about a fiddle-online class? If so, I'm happy to discuss that and offer you options. I had a couple of concussions (thankfully no brain injury), so I have a little bit of an idea what the limitations may be. Usually in class I'm talking about guidelines that work for most people, but you sound like you have a special situation, so let's see what we can do. My apologies if something I said was not helpful -- please let me know what it was so we can go from there. Thanks.
P.S. I may also be able to address this issue in one of my upcoming articles, so I'm especially interested in talking with you.
Also very interested in musicality and expression! Love these column; they usually give me lots to think about!
Thanks, Kate, I appreciate your comments!
They are heartfelt, Ed. You are one of the most careful and articulate musical analysts/teachers I’ve run across in a long time.