On average, I practice playing whistle about ten minutes a week. Two reasons for that are, I am undisciplined, but would love to play better. Secondly, I've recently started a coffee shop. So time is a premium for me. It's a bit embarrassing to practice in front of the big bay windows or have a customer walk in right as I am playing and hit a wrong note. Likewise, It is embarrassing to play in front of my partner who I live with.
What is a good way to practice with out feeling like I am in a fish bowl? And just out of curiosity, how often do you practice? Is there an excessive amount to practice? And at what point does practicing turn into playing and vice versa?
10 mins a week is definitely not enough. I think you just need to get over the embarrassment and play when you can. Otherwise, it's going to be a long, long road to getting better. Good luck!
If you really enjoyed playing you'd make time. The coffee shop's no excuse. I suspect you'll probably be one of those people who learns a couple of tunes, goes to a couple of sessions, gets bored of it and moves on to something else. Could be wrong - something could suddenly make you obsessed by it, but I doubt it. When you say you'd love to play better, you're lying to yourself. If you really wanted to play better, you'd play and play and play until you did get better. Don't want to sound discouraging, but I'm telling it like it is.
I know it's embarassing to make mistakes, but anyone listening will understand that you're learning.
I play fiddle but I'm sure the fine folks here can tell you if it's possible to mute a whistle and how to do it.
I'm also on about two hours a day, but split into smallish chunks of about 20 minutes at most. I'm playing the flute, and I carry it everywhere in the hope of a quick practice, but when I was playing whistle I'd play in the car when gridlocked or waiting for lights or any other small opportunity - the minutes soon mount up.
One useful tip someone gave me is to put the whistle underneath your bottom lip (so that you're blowing over the top of it) then try a tune. You should be able to just hear it - which is handy when others are sleeping. The second octave sounds just like the first, but you get used to it.
I agree with Dow that you have to make time - it's always easier to make excuses not to play I have a full time job, sing in a rock band, have a young family, and I'm still managing 2 hours.
All I can say is it's a good thing I live alone---beginning fiddle is a painful thing to listen to!
Ravyn, surely you can work something out with your partner where you can have 30 minutes a day to yourself? Maybe the partner can watch some tv in the other room and you can be in the bedroom with the door closed?
And you're lucky with the whistle---you can take it with you everywhere and play any time you get a spare ten minutes to yourself.
When I first started learning to play fiddle the sound upset my cat so much that he started pulling out his own hair. Talk about a critic.
I bought a silent fiddle since I was able to borrow an acoustic indefinately from a friend and that was very helpful: I could practice without anyone being able to hear me at all and the cat stopped losing his mind (and hair). That also got me into the habit of pracitcing in public. I fly a lot and would often practice my silent fiddle in the waiting lounge. The crazy part was that people would then come and sit right next to me to hear me play over and over and over again the same scale...wierdos
I've gotten better since--now my cat just hides in the closet when I play. And I even bring my fiddle to work from time to time and people claim they like it. I still think it sounds brutal but I'm listening with a critic's ear. They are just listening to the sounds and for the msot part ignore the errors.
Find a place to practice that you won't worry about being interrupted: like in the car in the driveway. But eventually make yourself play in front of other people, it's the only way to get over stage fright.
Also, I have a rule that every day I have to pick up my fiddle at least once. Even now when I sometimes practice for over three hours in one sitting, I still find the concept of practicing for twenty minutes daunting. Especially when things are hectic. But I always have time to pick it up; then I end up playing a scale, then a tune, then the tune three more times because the B part wasn't quite right and then I want to play this other tune...and oops It's way past my bedtime.
I probably average about 45 minutes a day. I try to get at least some practice (even if it's only playing one tune a couple of times) *every* day, and it's not often that I fail in that objective. I don't often get to play as much as 2 hours in a day, but it's great when I can.
My instrument is harmonica, which I can also carry around with me easily, though I'm not very good about doing that. I must admit to practicing in the bath, though, which is nice and relaxing -- and may well work for the whistle.
The most important thing to be aware of when practicing is that "practice makes permanent" - something that one of the tutors at the Bristol Hibernia workshops takes great pains to instill in his pupils. If you're not aware of this, and your playing isn't monitored regularly by a teacher or another competent player then it's only too easy to practice bad playing habits, which then get ingrained, and then next to impossible to eradicate when difficult problems arise in the future. This is particularly true of a beginner's playing posture.
As to the amount of practice you need, that depends on a number of things. Time available; inclination - if you don't have any then why bother; and the playing level you aspire to. If you want to get to the top, perhaps as professional who plays in bands and tutors workshops at summer schools, then you'll probably have to put in 4000- 6000 hours of work over the years (a figure, incidentally, not all that dissimilar to the amount of time it takes to qualify as a medical doctor, or to learn a foreign language to a high level of proficiency). If you just want to enjoy playing in sessions, as most of us do, then I would suggest perhaps 20-30 minutes daily - on the athletic training basis that little and often is always better than training at infrequent intervals.
You could try practicing with a play along CD. For fiddle there's Peter Cooper's BK," The complete Irish Fiddle Player" or "The Irish Fiddle Book" by Matt Cranitch. Both very good. They come with CDs. Would probably work for whistle. You have to make yourself get used to playig around people. You'll eventually find that they will LOVE it! Really. To hear you play will lift them out of their hum drum existience.
I find the best thing to do is to make a practice log. I tell all my students to do this.
List the things you need to work on...technique, tunes, scales. etc. Then budget your practice time. If you only have 20 minutes to practice, divide up the goals you are working towards...5 min scales, 5 min technique, 10 min tunes. This way whether your practicing for hours or minutes, you touch base on everything that needs to be practiced. Write it down so you can see on paper what needs more or less time as the weeks go by.
And don't forget that LISTENING is a huge part of practice too. There are things you can practice without the instrument in your hands. Singing tunes to yurself, visualizing fingerings, etc.
Like someone said before. Practice is playing. Even if you are playing scales, play them like its the most beautiful sounding tune in the world! Making everything musical, not just the tunes, is a great habit to develop in your practice time.
There used to be a guy who ran an antique shop in East Dulwich (a district near here) who used to practice the whistle at quieter moments. I used to see him as I'd walk past and would think, fair play to you mate, making good use of a hiatus. I doubt if it did his business any harm and he'd obviously gone beyond the embarrassment bit. Keep doing it if you have the time, I say.
for me practicing is like doing Math homework... you do the problem until it's done... sometimes in a short period of time... sometimes it takes forever.
Since i have a whistle, I'll start carrying it with me where ever I go. As for the embarrassment of playing in front of other people, well, going to need to get over that.
Thanks again,
Ravyn
P.S. Do they make a silent Whistle? (Dog whistles need not apply)
Two hours per day, average. Usually in places where people can and generally do walk in and out or can hear me sounding retarded if I'm learning a new tune or whatever, but f*ck 'em.
One this you could do is play your whistle out in the country, where there is no one for miles around, depending on where you live. That way you could practice without anyone hearing you. Another idea is to play at the beach. In January, I saw a man playing bagpipes at the beach, but the sound didn't carry very far because of the sound of the ocean and the open air. When I first started the fiddle, I didn't feel comfortable playing in front of people, except for my family. Nowadays I see it as giving people a "free concert". Another thing is, many people don't know when you make mistakes. After playing the fiddle for only 6 months, I would play it when I took my car for an oil chance. The mechanics there thought and still think I play excellently. You can also find someone to play with who plays very loud. This would tend to hide mistakes and give you the feeling of playing around other people. As for practicing excessively, I think practicing for more than 6-8 hours a day might be excessive.
A boy I was at school with took to practicing his clarinet in a local park after his early morning newspaper round. Sure enough, there were letters in the local newspaper reporting the first cuckoo in spring.
One thing that works with harmonicas, (so it may just work with whistles) is to go to a very noisy area , like a boiler or generator room, wearing earplugs. The sound will resonate in your head, (the old finger-in-the-ear trick) so you'll hear yourself clearly but no one else will hear much
Practising whistle in the bath probably won't work - water on the fingers gums up the holes / notes. I've tried it. But an echoey bathroom can make a newbie's playing sound like something atmospheric on an album.
I only manage about 45 minutes or so at teh moment, though i do have great days when i get two whole hours to myself and others when i can't get at the fiddle at all *grr*
I live on a council estate in a tiny house with others on both sides so i practise in the bathroom in winter, and outside in summer, on the days when its dry of course. Playing outside is great, my dad plays sax and he used to practice like that too. You get open air, sunshine and as people are only walking passed, walking their dogs or whatever, they don't have to listen to you for hours so they wont get mad, or realise how bad you are : )
I get up a hour earlier each morning. and play when Herself leaves for work. When the daughter is home visiting, she is less patient nad I have to use your strategy.
I get 45 mins to an hour a day, and can sneak in two hours a day sometimes on weekends.
My cat ran out of the room when I started fiddle!
At least she didn't pull her fur out, though!
I knew my practicing paid off when she finally sat in my lap while I was playing one day.
Practice really works, keep the faith.
If you have a car, park it someplace noisy, or just out-of-the-way, and play all you want. If the high notes are too piercing in that small space, get some foam earplugs.
You wouldn't be the first to do this. I once knew an accordion player whose wife made him practice in the car all the time.
Ravyn, you have to be obsessed with this to get anywhere. Screw the neighbors, cats, and anyone else who "might" be offended. So play the thing if you are going to play the thing. 10 minutes a day is better than an hour once a week. Find a session as soon as you can and go sit there and listen. It will inspire you. And you will internalise tunes. When you have one tune down, go play it in the park on a nice day. Repeat as necessary. After that, take your well-used whistle to said session. You don't have to play, but you will eventually.
I almost stopped playing last year because of work, training, etc., all the usual lame excuses. I wasn't playing at a session, and it all went to h*ll. I was cranky and not having fun. Fortunately, I came to my senses and made the time to have a life again.
By the way, my Number One cat adores my playing. She sits in my lap and purrs happily until I thwack her with the end of my bow by accident. She forgives me...
You can mute the whistle by putting a blob blu-tak or silly putty over the ramp. Experiment until you like the sound/volume.
A book/CD that offers encouragement and musical insight (and fine tunes) is Shannon Heaton's Oil for the Chain. You can find it on CD Baby.
Before it got too cold to play outside or in the car, I'd busk or practice in the car if I couldn't be asked to walk all the way to where I generally practice.
At 64 and just taken up the tenor banjo, (four weeks ago), I have been putting in some three hours a day, every day and it works for sure. Having had a a fifteen year layoff from playing ITM while in Africa, (not many sessions in the bush) there is only one way and that's practice, practice and practice. You either want to learn and are inspired by something you've heard or leave it well alone. Batlady is right, "Screw the neighbors, cats, and anyone else who "might" be offended. So play the thing if you are going to play the thing."
I'm lucky, I have the time now, but even years ago when working, i made the time. You don't get to play in sessions or build a repetoire on 10 mins a day I'm afraid. Obsession has to be the key word and it can be either a "blessing" or a "curse" depending on you.
As well as practise, it is just as important (especially if you don't get to many sessions - or even if you do), to listen to as many different players and styles as you can - using cds, radio and especially the internet radio.
There is so much out there to listen to while you do something else, and its free (once you have payed your broadband).
It is about priorities too. It is all too easy to put your music after the kids, work, the chores, etc. I have for the last few years and am very rusty.
I LIKE the tip about practicing in the car. The family do not enjoy the higher frequencies.
I used to play whistle on all long (>10") car trips as a passenger, which my husband liked as it meant I wasn't talking. But once we had kids,the thought of having brain damage if the brakes went on and a sharp whistle went thru the back of my hindbrain.....
So I play on my Exercise Bike. I cover the speed dial, try and pedal in rhythm, get a bit breathless and don't even notice the time go until various bodyparts have gone numb.
I think being disciplined and having practice goals sounds good, but I tend to play according to my mood, and still love tunes I learnt 30 years ago. And try to learn new ones too.
We did once visit a house where a keen flute player was learning The Lonesome Boatman all night. I dirfted into uneasy slumber about 4 am. Sadly my husband has hated the song ever since, and I can't say I blame him. So it is all very well to say play anyway, but sometimes you might want those around you to enjoy it too!
You could try getting a Generation 'Shush' whistle, which is soooo quiet you can practise without worrying about flatmates/neighbours listening. The only thing is that you have to get used to using practically no breath when you play it & then adjusting back when you play your other whistles, but it's really useful for quiet practise. I got mine from bigwhistle.co.uk but they're out of stock there at the moment.
I play/practice (is there a difference??) on average about 3 hours a day. more if i have a gig or i'm going to a session. i get very difficult to live with if i don't play that much.
Although I play the fiddle, I find that playing one song you love for ages til you get it perfect makes you practise for longer. That makes you determined to get the rest of the songs you know, as perfect. I used to hate practising at first now I can quite easily play for 4 hours without any complaint!
Another trick is to think of the fact that the people around you are listening to you and [ hopefully ] arent complaining, making you think "wow these people are wanting to hear me play!" You almost get a thrill out of it =]
another trick would be make the partner, kids and demanding job vanish into thin air leaving me with a mortageless house and all the time in the world to practice. 1 hour a week if im lucky but love it all. Next week my partner is buying me a soundproof shed it also has a bed in it and a cat flap to pass in food.
Practicing
Practicing
On average, I practice playing whistle about ten minutes a week. Two reasons for that are, I am undisciplined, but would love to play better. Secondly, I've recently started a coffee shop. So time is a premium for me. It's a bit embarrassing to practice in front of the big bay windows or have a customer walk in right as I am playing and hit a wrong note. Likewise, It is embarrassing to play in front of my partner who I live with.
What is a good way to practice with out feeling like I am in a fish bowl? And just out of curiosity, how often do you practice? Is there an excessive amount to practice? And at what point does practicing turn into playing and vice versa?
Ravyn
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Ravyn
Re: Practicing
10 mins a week is definitely not enough. I think you just need to get over the embarrassment and play when you can. Otherwise, it's going to be a long, long road to getting better. Good luck!
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by irishfiddler32
Re: Practicing
Practising *is* playing.
If you really enjoyed playing you'd make time. The coffee shop's no excuse. I suspect you'll probably be one of those people who learns a couple of tunes, goes to a couple of sessions, gets bored of it and moves on to something else. Could be wrong - something could suddenly make you obsessed by it, but I doubt it. When you say you'd love to play better, you're lying to yourself. If you really wanted to play better, you'd play and play and play until you did get better. Don't want to sound discouraging, but I'm telling it like it is.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Dr. Dow
Re: Practicing
I practice about two hours a day.
I know it's embarassing to make mistakes, but anyone listening will understand that you're learning.
I play fiddle but I'm sure the fine folks here can tell you if it's possible to mute a whistle and how to do it.
Good luck
Mary
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Antikhntr
Re: Practicing
I'm also on about two hours a day, but split into smallish chunks of about 20 minutes at most. I'm playing the flute, and I carry it everywhere in the hope of a quick practice, but when I was playing whistle I'd play in the car when gridlocked or waiting for lights or any other small opportunity - the minutes soon mount up.
I have a full time job, sing in a rock band, have a young family, and I'm still managing 2 hours.
One useful tip someone gave me is to put the whistle underneath your bottom lip (so that you're blowing over the top of it) then try a tune. You should be able to just hear it - which is handy when others are sleeping. The second octave sounds just like the first, but you get used to it.
I agree with Dow that you have to make time - it's always easier to make excuses not to play
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Rhod
Re: Practicing
All I can say is it's a good thing I live alone---beginning fiddle is a painful thing to listen to!
Ravyn, surely you can work something out with your partner where you can have 30 minutes a day to yourself? Maybe the partner can watch some tv in the other room and you can be in the bedroom with the door closed?
And you're lucky with the whistle---you can take it with you everywhere and play any time you get a spare ten minutes to yourself.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by kennedy
Re: Practicing
When I first started learning to play fiddle the sound upset my cat so much that he started pulling out his own hair. Talk about a critic.
I bought a silent fiddle since I was able to borrow an acoustic indefinately from a friend and that was very helpful: I could practice without anyone being able to hear me at all and the cat stopped losing his mind (and hair). That also got me into the habit of pracitcing in public. I fly a lot and would often practice my silent fiddle in the waiting lounge. The crazy part was that people would then come and sit right next to me to hear me play over and over and over again the same scale...wierdos
I've gotten better since--now my cat just hides in the closet when I play. And I even bring my fiddle to work from time to time and people claim they like it. I still think it sounds brutal but I'm listening with a critic's ear. They are just listening to the sounds and for the msot part ignore the errors.
Find a place to practice that you won't worry about being interrupted: like in the car in the driveway. But eventually make yourself play in front of other people, it's the only way to get over stage fright.
Also, I have a rule that every day I have to pick up my fiddle at least once. Even now when I sometimes practice for over three hours in one sitting, I still find the concept of practicing for twenty minutes daunting. Especially when things are hectic. But I always have time to pick it up; then I end up playing a scale, then a tune, then the tune three more times because the B part wasn't quite right and then I want to play this other tune...and oops It's way past my bedtime.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by matan_fiddler
Re: Practicing
I probably average about 45 minutes a day. I try to get at least some practice (even if it's only playing one tune a couple of times) *every* day, and it's not often that I fail in that objective. I don't often get to play as much as 2 hours in a day, but it's great when I can.
My instrument is harmonica, which I can also carry around with me easily, though I'm not very good about doing that. I must admit to practicing in the bath, though, which is nice and relaxing -- and may well work for the whistle.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by robharper
Re: Practicing
The most important thing to be aware of when practicing is that "practice makes permanent" - something that one of the tutors at the Bristol Hibernia workshops takes great pains to instill in his pupils. If you're not aware of this, and your playing isn't monitored regularly by a teacher or another competent player then it's only too easy to practice bad playing habits, which then get ingrained, and then next to impossible to eradicate when difficult problems arise in the future. This is particularly true of a beginner's playing posture.
As to the amount of practice you need, that depends on a number of things. Time available; inclination - if you don't have any then why bother; and the playing level you aspire to. If you want to get to the top, perhaps as professional who plays in bands and tutors workshops at summer schools, then you'll probably have to put in 4000- 6000 hours of work over the years (a figure, incidentally, not all that dissimilar to the amount of time it takes to qualify as a medical doctor, or to learn a foreign language to a high level of proficiency). If you just want to enjoy playing in sessions, as most of us do, then I would suggest perhaps 20-30 minutes daily - on the athletic training basis that little and often is always better than training at infrequent intervals.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Practicing
You could try practicing with a play along CD. For fiddle there's Peter Cooper's BK," The complete Irish Fiddle Player" or "The Irish Fiddle Book" by Matt Cranitch. Both very good. They come with CDs. Would probably work for whistle. You have to make yourself get used to playig around people. You'll eventually find that they will LOVE it! Really. To hear you play will lift them out of their hum drum existience.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Mandolynist
Re: Practicing
I find the best thing to do is to make a practice log. I tell all my students to do this.
List the things you need to work on...technique, tunes, scales. etc. Then budget your practice time. If you only have 20 minutes to practice, divide up the goals you are working towards...5 min scales, 5 min technique, 10 min tunes. This way whether your practicing for hours or minutes, you touch base on everything that needs to be practiced. Write it down so you can see on paper what needs more or less time as the weeks go by.
And don't forget that LISTENING is a huge part of practice too. There are things you can practice without the instrument in your hands. Singing tunes to yurself, visualizing fingerings, etc.
Like someone said before. Practice is playing. Even if you are playing scales, play them like its the most beautiful sounding tune in the world! Making everything musical, not just the tunes, is a great habit to develop in your practice time.
Hope that helps!
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by vindownes
Re: Practicing
There used to be a guy who ran an antique shop in East Dulwich (a district near here) who used to practice the whistle at quieter moments. I used to see him as I'd walk past and would think, fair play to you mate, making good use of a hiatus. I doubt if it did his business any harm and he'd obviously gone beyond the embarrassment bit. Keep doing it if you have the time, I say.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Practicing
for me practicing is like doing Math homework... you do the problem until it's done... sometimes in a short period of time... sometimes it takes forever.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by pastrings
Re: Practicing
Thanks guys. (And ladies)
Since i have a whistle, I'll start carrying it with me where ever I go. As for the embarrassment of playing in front of other people, well, going to need to get over that.
Thanks again,
Ravyn
P.S. Do they make a silent Whistle? (Dog whistles need not apply)
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Ravyn
Re: Practicing
Two hours per day, average. Usually in places where people can and generally do walk in and out or can hear me sounding retarded if I'm learning a new tune or whatever, but f*ck 'em.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Practicing
One this you could do is play your whistle out in the country, where there is no one for miles around, depending on where you live. That way you could practice without anyone hearing you. Another idea is to play at the beach. In January, I saw a man playing bagpipes at the beach, but the sound didn't carry very far because of the sound of the ocean and the open air. When I first started the fiddle, I didn't feel comfortable playing in front of people, except for my family. Nowadays I see it as giving people a "free concert". Another thing is, many people don't know when you make mistakes. After playing the fiddle for only 6 months, I would play it when I took my car for an oil chance. The mechanics there thought and still think I play excellently. You can also find someone to play with who plays very loud. This would tend to hide mistakes and give you the feeling of playing around other people. As for practicing excessively, I think practicing for more than 6-8 hours a day might be excessive.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by enirehtac
Re: Practicing
A boy I was at school with took to practicing his clarinet in a local park after his early morning newspaper round. Sure enough, there were letters in the local newspaper reporting the first cuckoo in spring.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Practicing
One thing that works with harmonicas, (so it may just work with whistles) is to go to a very noisy area , like a boiler or generator room, wearing earplugs. The sound will resonate in your head, (the old finger-in-the-ear trick) so you'll hear yourself clearly but no one else will hear much
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Bren
Re: Practicing
Practising whistle in the bath probably won't work - water on the fingers gums up the holes / notes. I've tried it. But an echoey bathroom can make a newbie's playing sound like something atmospheric on an album.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Practicing
I only manage about 45 minutes or so at teh moment, though i do have great days when i get two whole hours to myself and others when i can't get at the fiddle at all *grr*
I live on a council estate in a tiny house with others on both sides so i practise in the bathroom in winter, and outside in summer, on the days when its dry of course. Playing outside is great, my dad plays sax and he used to practice like that too. You get open air, sunshine and as people are only walking passed, walking their dogs or whatever, they don't have to listen to you for hours so they wont get mad, or realise how bad you are : )
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by velvet
Re: Practicing
Sort of Silver Spear.
I get up a hour earlier each morning. and play when Herself leaves for work. When the daughter is home visiting, she is less patient nad I have to use your strategy.
I get 45 mins to an hour a day, and can sneak in two hours a day sometimes on weekends.
Ten minutes a week does not much good.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by zippydw
Re: Practicing
My cat ran out of the room when I started fiddle!
At least she didn't pull her fur out, though!
I knew my practicing paid off when she finally sat in my lap while I was playing one day.
Practice really works, keep the faith.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by morning star
Re: Practicing
Don't kid yourself, she'd just got acclimatised. ( only joking ).
I can still drive the cats from the room with my concertina. Must be the tone.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Practicing
To get back to the original question ?
How do you get to the Carnegie/Albert Hall ?
Practise, kid, practise.
( The old ones are the best ).
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Practicing
Silent Whistle:
Put the mouthpiece against your lower lip and blow across the fipple. Your breath won't go through the tube, but you will still hear the pitch.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by rogfox
Re: Practicing
If you have a car, park it someplace noisy, or just out-of-the-way, and play all you want. If the high notes are too piercing in that small space, get some foam earplugs.
You wouldn't be the first to do this. I once knew an accordion player whose wife made him practice in the car all the time.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by John Galt
Re: Practicing
Ravyn, you have to be obsessed with this to get anywhere. Screw the neighbors, cats, and anyone else who "might" be offended. So play the thing if you are going to play the thing. 10 minutes a day is better than an hour once a week. Find a session as soon as you can and go sit there and listen. It will inspire you. And you will internalise tunes. When you have one tune down, go play it in the park on a nice day. Repeat as necessary. After that, take your well-used whistle to said session. You don't have to play, but you will eventually.
I almost stopped playing last year because of work, training, etc., all the usual lame excuses. I wasn't playing at a session, and it all went to h*ll. I was cranky and not having fun. Fortunately, I came to my senses and made the time to have a life again.
By the way, my Number One cat adores my playing. She sits in my lap and purrs happily until I thwack her with the end of my bow by accident. She forgives me...
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Michele Sims
Re: Practicing
By the way, how would someone know if you hit a wrong note? It's a Variation, honey.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Michele Sims
Re: Practicing
One caveat for playing in the park: Get a busking license. Sometimes you end up making a penny or two.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by matan_fiddler
Re: Practicing
You can mute the whistle by putting a blob blu-tak or silly putty over the ramp. Experiment until you like the sound/volume.
A book/CD that offers encouragement and musical insight (and fine tunes) is Shannon Heaton's Oil for the Chain. You can find it on CD Baby.
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by mcswiss
Re: Practicing
Before it got too cold to play outside or in the car, I'd busk or practice in the car if I couldn't be asked to walk all the way to where I generally practice.
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Practicing
At 64 and just taken up the tenor banjo, (four weeks ago), I have been putting in some three hours a day, every day and it works for sure. Having had a a fifteen year layoff from playing ITM while in Africa, (not many sessions in the bush) there is only one way and that's practice, practice and practice. You either want to learn and are inspired by something you've heard or leave it well alone. Batlady is right, "Screw the neighbors, cats, and anyone else who "might" be offended. So play the thing if you are going to play the thing."
I'm lucky, I have the time now, but even years ago when working, i made the time. You don't get to play in sessions or build a repetoire on 10 mins a day I'm afraid. Obsession has to be the key word and it can be either a "blessing" or a "curse" depending on you.
Have fun and enjoy and s*d the rest.
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by tctelboy
Re: Practicing
As well as practise, it is just as important (especially if you don't get to many sessions - or even if you do), to listen to as many different players and styles as you can - using cds, radio and especially the internet radio.
There is so much out there to listen to while you do something else, and its free (once you have payed your broadband).
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Practicing
It is about priorities too. It is all too easy to put your music after the kids, work, the chores, etc. I have for the last few years and am very rusty.
I LIKE the tip about practicing in the car. The family do not enjoy the higher frequencies.
I used to play whistle on all long (>10") car trips as a passenger, which my husband liked as it meant I wasn't talking. But once we had kids,the thought of having brain damage if the brakes went on and a sharp whistle went thru the back of my hindbrain.....
So I play on my Exercise Bike. I cover the speed dial, try and pedal in rhythm, get a bit breathless and don't even notice the time go until various bodyparts have gone numb.
I think being disciplined and having practice goals sounds good, but I tend to play according to my mood, and still love tunes I learnt 30 years ago. And try to learn new ones too.
We did once visit a house where a keen flute player was learning The Lonesome Boatman all night. I dirfted into uneasy slumber about 4 am. Sadly my husband has hated the song ever since, and I can't say I blame him. So it is all very well to say play anyway, but sometimes you might want those around you to enjoy it too!
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by mrs.b
Re: Practicing
You could try getting a Generation 'Shush' whistle, which is soooo quiet you can practise without worrying about flatmates/neighbours listening. The only thing is that you have to get used to using practically no breath when you play it & then adjusting back when you play your other whistles, but it's really useful for quiet practise. I got mine from bigwhistle.co.uk but they're out of stock there at the moment.
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by Pollyanna
Re: Practicing
I play/practice (is there a difference??) on average about 3 hours a day. more if i have a gig or i'm going to a session. i get very difficult to live with if i don't play that much.
# Posted on March 20th 2007 by BE
Re: Practicing
Although I play the fiddle, I find that playing one song you love for ages til you get it perfect makes you practise for longer. That makes you determined to get the rest of the songs you know, as perfect. I used to hate practising at first now I can quite easily play for 4 hours without any complaint!
Another trick is to think of the fact that the people around you are listening to you and [ hopefully ] arent complaining, making you think "wow these people are wanting to hear me play!" You almost get a thrill out of it =]
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by creathana
Re: Practicing
another trick would be make the partner, kids and demanding job vanish into thin air leaving me with a mortageless house and all the time in the world to practice. 1 hour a week if im lucky but love it all. Next week my partner is buying me a soundproof shed it also has a bed in it and a cat flap to pass in food.
# Posted on March 25th 2007 by dizzyrascal