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Regulars
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Hi folks! It has been a while. I have not stopped playing the fiddle everyday. I am working on the 10,000 hours to proficiency, 1,460 hours in and only 8,540 to go!!
Anyway a friend and I have started an Irish Slow Session. We meet at our local library once a month for 3 hours. We have completed 3 sessions and learned a few tunes. We listen to videos and teach each other the tunes we know.
We are keeping it small for right now - just 4 of us. Once we feel more comfortable with might advertise to get more players. We have 2 fiddles, a guitar and a mandolin.
Everyone should start their own!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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Great suggestion. Meeting up with others who play and share the same interest is a great motivator and tons of fun.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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Oh how fun! I think that's a great thing to do 
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World's Okayest Fiddler
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Finding courage to do something that you are not used to doing is never an easy thing but it tends to pays off.
Exactly what is it that makes it so difficult for us to perform in front of others?
Most likely, fear of what others will think and how they will judge us.
If you can determine that you really don't care what they think, and that they (strangers) probably don't have an opinion of you to begin with, it might really not matter at all.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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@damfino I met these people through the bluegrass jam. Well actually I met 1 through the Pete Wernick jam classes. Are you taking lessons? Maybe your teacher knows a few people that would join you.
If I remember correctly you are just on the other side of the Indiana Ohio state line? Maybe these folks could help you get one going -http://www.rileyirishmusic.com/modules/content/index.php?id=4
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
Regulars
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@Schaick My teacher has suggested one Irish jam for me to join, but they meet on Thursday nights over a half hour highway driving and country roads from me. It would be fine if it were closer, but right now it doesn't work for me 
I'll check the link and see where they are
☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
Regulars
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@Schaick I like your idea of meeting up with a few people only, small group to start. I have a girlfriend who took up the double bass so we are going to find a few more like-minded individuals and we will practice a few songs during the month. Then the plan is meet up monthly and play and drink wine. Not necessarily in that order.
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@Schaick great plan ! One of the most difficult things for me is playing along to other people - I guess largely because I've had so little exposure to it. However, we have almost completed our house-move to the east coast and there are quite a number of active musicians in this area ( just down to the much greater population ). Already met up with another two fiddlers, banjo and uke player and a clarinetist - and I know there are a lot more around! Looking forward to working with some of them occasionally.
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
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Oh man, I have a hard time playing along with other people, too. I can play along with my teacher just fine when we are both playing the exact same thing, but when she pulls out her guitar, I am so busy thinking about my playing that I forget to listen to what she's playing and where she's at so we sound right. With my last recital tune I got pretty comfortable with it all and was able to hear where she was at and keep my rhythm to match, which felt pretty good to finally do. But overall it's a struggle for me.
☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
World's Okayest Fiddler
☆•*¨*•.¸¸¸.•*¨* •☆•*¨*¨*•¸¸¸.•*¨*•☆
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Yeah - sometimes it can be down to the subtle differences in rhythm and/or timing - well - that's what gets me. Problem for me is when I solo something I will, very intentionally, alter some of the timing for "effect" ( and whether that is good or bad - well that's another question entirely ). But then of course - THAT is how I now have it in my head - and it gets even worse if there are other instruments going on - like a drum-kit with an underlying separate but fitting rhythm.... THEN it (my playing) goes to hell in a handcart.... hahaha
There are some good backing tracks out there which can be a lot of fun (and PAIN) to mess with though - I do find them useful... might be of interest to some players - here - http://www.oldtimejam.com/wordpress/
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
Regulars
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JAM on all!! Or I should say Session on!!
Playing with a metronome is good for all of us BUT playing with people really makes you listen.
Even though the folks I session with have played longer than me - 20+ and 5+ years we are at about the same level playing Irish music. It is so rewarding to each of us when we end on the same note at the same time!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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Schaick said
...............Even though the folks I session with have played longer than me - 20+ and 5+ years we are at about the same level playing Irish music. It is so rewarding to each of us when we end on the same note at the same time!!
I can imagine. I'm really happy that you are having fun!
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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This is a GREAT Thread!
WONDERFUL IDEA - TO START YOUR OWN SMALL SLOW SESSION!
Now with covid restrictions loosened - why not check out local Libraries & establishments if you don't want to offer your Home up?
Betcha word-of-mouth would be all it takes.
...if I could get around better, I'd do it! 🤗
- Emily
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