The Moon and Seven Stars
Jenny on the Railroad
Jenny Lynn (cross A)
Chez Seychelles (sort of Cajun)
Georgia Boys (from John Hartford)
Streak o’ Lean, Streak o’ Fat (some 2nd position)
Lady of the Lake (Barry Shultz)
Coleman’s March (aka Lady of the Lake?) #1 (Pete Sutherland)
Coleman’s March (aka Lady of the Lake?) #2 (Pete Sutherland)
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Check out this site: http://comhaltas.ie/music/archive/C62/
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I’m trying to memorize Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie this week. My teacher likes the Frankie Gavin version but I’m having an easier time listening to Martin Hayes slower version, Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie.
Last night I tried to play through most of the Celtic tunes I’d memorized at some point or another. Many needed some refreshing but I was pleased with how quickly they came back with a quick glance at the music or playing of a recording. I’m still trying to memorize an adapted version of Sharon Shannon’s Jean’s Reel though. Some songs just seem to get stuck partway done.
These songs were pretty solid:
So now I should go practice some of those songs that were less than fresh!
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As I was practicing some newer pieces tonight, I realized, anew, that sometimes just getting the right rhythm is far more important than the right notes. And I know this blog is supposed to be about playing fiddle, but I think that’s true in life as well. If you hit at least some note in the right place, it’s better than hitting the right note in the wrong place.
The notes can be adjusted and fine tuned much easier than the rhythm it seems.
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Learning a new tune for St. Paddy’s day, The Moon and Seven Stars.
When John first introduced the backwards building concept I absolutely hated it. But, being me, if I’m paying someone for advice I do try to listen! So I kept trying it out–and lo and behold it works!
It’s now normal, and oddly enjoyable, for me to learn a song by playing it through a few times and then starting to memorize it by learning the final phrase. Then the penultimate phrase and then adding in the final phrase. Then the 3rd from the end phrase, then working in the last big, which I already know.
The result is that I relax as I get to the end since I know it the best.
That’s such a different feeling from when I used to memorize stuff from the front end. I’d get more and more nervous the more I played, since I was getting into less familiar territory. Now I might tense up a bit in the beginning (the newest stuff) but then I’m past that pretty quickly and can relax and just play.
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Just staring up a new blog. I’ve been taking fiddle lessons for just over a year. Wish I’d started this blog from day one, but I’ve still got tons to learn so hopefully it will prove interesting.
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