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New from Adam Neely, this was really kinda directed at Music Schools - but he makes important points that I feel especially poignant for some of us later-in-life-self-taught Fiddlers.
Great perspective on sight-reading!
I, for one, see how different ways of learning music relates to goals & music careers. So, folks who want to join an orchestra, without a formal music education (which can help students gain really good 'Kinesthetic' & 'Audiation' responses to Western notation early on), are really at a disadvantage if they don't learn to read standard notation well.
I never had enough of any kind of formal music education to help me acquire these 'automated' responses, plus orchestra playing has never been a goal of mine. I would love to be able to just look at a piece of sheet music and automatically hear it accurately in my head... without needing to play it, or hear it once. I'm just not self-disciplined enough to drop my other priorities & commit to learning this - still, slowing making progress. ...plus, I feel I'm just starting to learn about interpretations of notation that string players deal with, anyway.
All this makes me hesitate to jump into helping my Grandkids learn to play the fiddle. It's important to me, if I do try to help them, that they don't become little robots. I'm concerned, because I haven't been able to entice any of them with the idea of trying formal lessons.
Wikipedia has a little info on the psychology involved in "Sight-reading"... so glad we don't have a transposing instrument!
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i remember watching that a few days after it came out. the last time i had any sort of formal music class was the 7th grade, a good 24 years ago now lol, and that was only for a single semester.
as much as i'd love to just be taught the old school fiddle and learn to play by ear, being in my 30's with kids means i just don't have the time to go to sessions and join in that way so i have to learn by some sort of notation, either tablature on some YT videos or, more often, sheet music. Trying to learn it plus learn bowing, intonation, remember the music itself... it's been an uphill battle but i've been making progress.
i'm having to rely a lot more on theory than feel and intuition on why certain things fit together the way they do, though, and i feel like it's made it harder for me to start writing things on my own.
i guess, what i'm trying to say it, strikes and gutters either way you start and, imo, the end goal should be to be able to learn and play both ways decently enough, even if you're better with one or the other.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Sharon Begley
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Welcome to the forum, cajun. I just sent you a Welcome Email. It contains forum information for you.
Why not introduce yourself in the New Members section with as little or as much about yourself as you wish. Your Profile is very nice. It will be easier for members to connect with a formal, intro, if you feel comfortable with it.
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The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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@Cajun -
Congratulations on getting back to the fiddle & sticking with it for over a year!
You've been composing music, too?
- Emily
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@Mouse - will definitely do! I just saw this thread first and got a bit distracted lol
@Emily - "try" is the operative word. Nothing I'd call "composing" in the classical sense by any means, I've written the lyrics to a song my band back in high school played and I've dabbled in taking one called "merry jig" and expanding on it. I'd posted it over on The Sessions last year. I was getting feedback from a more experienced user and doing some revisions until I was informed that original compositions aren't allowed to be posted there. I found my initial draft and some notes I'd written down but since the song and I are both no longer on that forum and I don't have anyone local able to assist, it's sat as a "one day I'll get back to it" sort of thing.
I'll get there, I still have a lot of fundamentals to playing to get down first, like managing even a rough level of vibrato lol
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Sharon Begley
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@Cajun -
Your enthusiasm is contagious (love it)!
I've noticed some prickly comments about posting new compositions at 'The Session' - they're pretty particular. I think they want (at least in part) to present tunes that have been picked up by session groups & circulated a bit - unfortunately, a new composition doesn't fit the bill without some proof of that.
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I'll try to keep this as my last post on the matter (and don't expect much of a reply) because, frankly, I am a bit bitter about it, but fiddling and folk music isn't exactly the dominant genre these days. I don't have the time to go to a lot of events (of anything) with kids and work and whatnot, I struggle to even get time to join in to Zoom sessions (considering most are either while I'm at work or trying to get the kids in bed). My church hosts an annual "jamboree"... from around 11-2 or 3 on a Thursday. The only people who can really make that are retirees.
I'm not saying I expect the world to bend to my schedule but at the same time, it hurts hearing/reading people talking "oh I've only been playing for 25 years..." and then scheduling things that make it harder or impossible for us younger learners/players to even get our first year under our belts. I missed learning as a kid and I'd like to be able to before I reach retirement age, especially since I don't think I'll ever get that privilege. Far from being a virtuoso, I'd at least like to graduate from Suzuki Book 1, you know?
I guess that's why I'm here, though, to improve and get to Year 2
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Sharon Begley
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I think I mentioned this to you before, don't forget the many tutorials and simple sheet music downloads Fiddlerman has provided, located using the menu bar above the main forum. These will be great to augment your Suzuki, especially in an area that needs more.
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The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
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@Cajun -
It's really hard to try to understand why such an event would be held at that time of the week. I'd like to think people still go to school, or work, and that retirees aren't the only folks who attend Church functions. 😳
Sometimes BIG events have to start during the week, just because there is too much to fit into a single weekend - these are usually worth taking a few 'vacation days'.
In your case, I'd certainly feel left out if I were you. Is there any way to remind the folks who schedule your Church events?
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@Mouse - Oh trust me, I've been raiding the archives lol. My only problems are my (currently) limited skill and limited practice time! one of those "eyes are bigger than the stomach" situations for me hahaha
@ELCBK - unfortunately it's something that my church takes a turn in hosting rather than something they organize. not that our former music director, who i've spoken with about it, is any help. i've entirely given up on anything more than a polite "hello" or "good morning" with him since any time i've brought up music, his demeanor changes into "i don't have time for this" and it feels like he's humoring me purely out of politeness. and yeah, based on conversation with him, retirees are the only demographic the jamboree is geared towards. i do appreciate your comment about it, though. it genuinely helps me feel a bit validated with my frustration.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Sharon Begley
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@cajun you probably already know but if not and for anyone else...
Theres regional type events that happen every year. That could be a thing to try. From that maybe get some contacts for other things. Ive noticed over time the people that attend dont change much...the faces showup here and there across different events. even from online in some cases. Ive met some of the people I subscribe to on youtube...which always causes this awkward moment for them when. Im like...OMG...i watch you on youtube!! i liked that one time in such and such video.... 😊.
heres an event in Texas. may not be your style of music and may still be to far to attend. depending on where in Texas you are could make it like me driving to Miami.
https://oflahertyretreat.org/a.....ut/faqs-3/
Ive wanted to get to this one for a couple of years now but the month it falls in has made it a problem
looks like a good one though.
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That's about 5-7 hours from me, Rusty, depending on the infamous Houston traffic of course lol.
The perk of the church one is that it's only about 5 minutes from my driveway, driving, parking, and walking in. I've had my eye on some in Houston but I'm waiting on both the kids being a bit older and building up my skills/playlist so I can join in more.
I'm on the AmeriCeltic weekly online sessions email list and check their site for events every couple of weeks since they have about a month of events listed at a time.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Sharon Begley
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