Did anyone go to Jerry Holland's class at the Milwaukee Irish Fest, or anywhere else? I heard he was talking about a way to learn tunes well and quickly. We all want to do that - what's the idea behind it?
He does play fantastic. Just heard him play Boo Baby's Lullaby on an old Fiddle Magazine CD compilation I ran across. Amazing stuff. I hope someone answers your question. I'd love to learn tunes well and quickly.
Learning tunes well and quickly is kind of a contradiction, but of course it depends on what one considers "quickly", and what one considers "well". It's all relative.
I was at recent class of his and although I have neither learnt the tunes or can play them well (think thats more a reflection on me than that nice Mr Holland) I think I understood what he was getting at. Feel free to correct me if I am barking up the wrong dreel.
He broke the tune down into simple phrases, and made sure that each phrase was bowed and ornamented correctly before moving on to the next one. Each phrase was repeated in a loop untill it was correct, over and over again, slowley.
Having said that, have also been to workshops where the tutor said that the bowing was up to your own interpretation.
I would tend to agree with McGregor, in that a tune can be learnt quickly but no matter who you are its not going to be good at that same rate as its learnt
He said this could be done when learning a tune by ear or with sheet music (steady, hold your fire ) ie instead of playing through the whole tune slowly you just play each phrase in a loop adding what you want to it that is not on the dots untill happy with it, then move onto the next phrase.
I love how Jerry teaches!!! It's often a little slow, but in the end, it's always his tunes I remember. Yep, he always teaches in phrases, repeating them until it's completely drilled into my brain,and then adds a bit
and repeates that. Not how I learn my tunes at home-
(I generally dive into the whole thing,and learn it as a whole instead of breaking it down) but it certaintly works great as well!
I was at that class and Jerry's biggest admonition was to have a recorder ("The recorder is your friend.") He taught two tunes a day with his by-the-phrase method and most (but not all) seemed to get the tune when played in a group. Each phrase was taught with ornaments in place. I don't think he expected the class to be masters of the tunes when he was finished, but listening to him (I don't play the fiddle, but when you are within a mile of Jerry Holland, you have to attend the class) and hearing how he ornaments his tunes was well worth it. He is a master fiddler on top of being a world class composer. Matt Cranitch said the same thing about Jerry and if you ever see him play up close, you wonder how he gets all of those notes out he is so efficient.
I had the pleasure of watching Jerry and JP Cormier playing in the empty restaurant of the hotel they were staying in as they played for their own pleasure for three hours one morning. They produced one tune after another, each a masterpiece. If you ever get a chance to see either one of them (or David MacIsaac), do so.
I saw Mr. Holland at a Lowell Folk Festival a few years ago, he is a national treasure. Not surprised to hear that he is an excellent teacher--and the way you describe his teaching, that is the kind of environment that I learn best in. I have been in workshops before where they throw tune after tune at you, and I end up retaining nothing.
Speaking of the Milwaukee Fest, does anyone know who the banjo player was that joined them on stage? He was wearing red and black I think, and... well, I probably don't have to describe him, there was only one banjo player playing spectacular cape breton music on stage with him.
I'm listening to his 'Fiddler's Choice' CD right now actually... marvelous stuff!
They play a gajillion tunes up in CB - need them for long sets, X amount of tunes in key of Y. Hence all the out-of-control composers. Don't know if this is so critical in Irish music, which is still a bit more laid-back. Would Patrick Kelly have been any better if he knew thousands of tunes?
Great fiddler, Jerry. He happened on a really nice German instrument in his youth, it's worth six figures - maybe seven in Canadian dollars. That probably helps the tone a bit.
Yeah I took Jerry's class at Swannanoa....if anyone ever gets the opportunity to do so anywhere, take it...he has you record things and he breaks them up, as people have said...he didn't really discuss any technique for learning fast and well...he just breaks up and repeats, and I always remember the tunes (for me, it takes a while to remember beginnings!) Plus, the class was a great experience, lots of laughs, he's such a sweetie. (But I overdosed on elephant!hahahaha)
Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Did anyone go to Jerry Holland's class at the Milwaukee Irish Fest, or anywhere else? I heard he was talking about a way to learn tunes well and quickly. We all want to do that - what's the idea behind it?
I heard him on stage too - lovely.
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by ewallace
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
He does play fantastic. Just heard him play Boo Baby's Lullaby on an old Fiddle Magazine CD compilation I ran across. Amazing stuff. I hope someone answers your question. I'd love to learn tunes well and quickly.
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by nofrets
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Learning tunes well and quickly is kind of a contradiction, but of course it depends on what one considers "quickly", and what one considers "well". It's all relative.
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by Beheader
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
I was at recent class of his and although I have neither learnt the tunes or can play them well (think thats more a reflection on me than that nice Mr Holland) I think I understood what he was getting at. Feel free to correct me if I am barking up the wrong dreel.
He broke the tune down into simple phrases, and made sure that each phrase was bowed and ornamented correctly before moving on to the next one. Each phrase was repeated in a loop untill it was correct, over and over again, slowley.
Having said that, have also been to workshops where the tutor said that the bowing was up to your own interpretation.
I would tend to agree with McGregor, in that a tune can be learnt quickly but no matter who you are its not going to be good at that same rate as its learnt
He said this could be done when learning a tune by ear or with sheet music (steady, hold your fire ) ie instead of playing through the whole tune slowly you just play each phrase in a loop adding what you want to it that is not on the dots untill happy with it, then move onto the next phrase.
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by clunk999
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
I love how Jerry teaches!!! It's often a little slow, but in the end, it's always his tunes I remember. Yep, he always teaches in phrases, repeating them until it's completely drilled into my brain,and then adds a bit
and repeates that. Not how I learn my tunes at home-
(I generally dive into the whole thing,and learn it as a whole instead of breaking it down) but it certaintly works great as well!
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by BE
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
I was at that class and Jerry's biggest admonition was to have a recorder ("The recorder is your friend.") He taught two tunes a day with his by-the-phrase method and most (but not all) seemed to get the tune when played in a group. Each phrase was taught with ornaments in place. I don't think he expected the class to be masters of the tunes when he was finished, but listening to him (I don't play the fiddle, but when you are within a mile of Jerry Holland, you have to attend the class) and hearing how he ornaments his tunes was well worth it. He is a master fiddler on top of being a world class composer. Matt Cranitch said the same thing about Jerry and if you ever see him play up close, you wonder how he gets all of those notes out he is so efficient.
I had the pleasure of watching Jerry and JP Cormier playing in the empty restaurant of the hotel they were staying in as they played for their own pleasure for three hours one morning. They produced one tune after another, each a masterpiece. If you ever get a chance to see either one of them (or David MacIsaac), do so.
MIke Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by mikeyes
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
I saw Mr. Holland at a Lowell Folk Festival a few years ago, he is a national treasure. Not surprised to hear that he is an excellent teacher--and the way you describe his teaching, that is the kind of environment that I learn best in. I have been in workshops before where they throw tune after tune at you, and I end up retaining nothing.
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Just don't try to emulate his bow hold - how the heck does he generate that great sound with such a tenuous-looking grip?
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by drone
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Speaking of the Milwaukee Fest, does anyone know who the banjo player was that joined them on stage? He was wearing red and black I think, and... well, I probably don't have to describe him, there was only one banjo player playing spectacular cape breton music on stage with him.
I'm listening to his 'Fiddler's Choice' CD right now actually... marvelous stuff!
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by Nathan G
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
That was JP Cormier.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by mikeyes
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
They play a gajillion tunes up in CB - need them for long sets, X amount of tunes in key of Y. Hence all the out-of-control composers. Don't know if this is so critical in Irish music, which is still a bit more laid-back. Would Patrick Kelly have been any better if he knew thousands of tunes?
Great fiddler, Jerry. He happened on a really nice German instrument in his youth, it's worth six figures - maybe seven in Canadian dollars. That probably helps the tone a bit.
# Posted on August 22nd 2006 by KLR
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Yeah I took Jerry's class at Swannanoa....if anyone ever gets the opportunity to do so anywhere, take it...he has you record things and he breaks them up, as people have said...he didn't really discuss any technique for learning fast and well...he just breaks up and repeats, and I always remember the tunes (for me, it takes a while to remember beginnings!) Plus, the class was a great experience, lots of laughs, he's such a sweetie. (But I overdosed on elephant!hahahaha)
# Posted on August 23rd 2006 by possumawesome
Re: Jerry Holland and Learning Tunes
Thanks all, this is great.
McGregor, I think the idea is to learn tunes well, in the shortest reasonable time. That's my idea, at least.
I'm off to learn Hughie Jim Paul's then.
# Posted on August 24th 2006 by ewallace