Just had the interesting experience of playing four new reels and having them stick and be playable from memory with a mere two or three repetitions! Obviously nowhere near fast enough, but feel, seqeunce of phrases, ornamentation, everything else just seemed to stick. (I was just trying to match tunes and tune names using sheet music at the time...)
Longford Collector, Sailor's Bonnet, Come West Along the Road and the Tinker's daughter.
So, obviously some influences in my neighbourhood have been pushing these tunes at me without me really being consciously aware of them as specific tunes. The first two I can probably trace to the Tarbolton set by Michael Coleman, which I used a while ago to learn the Tarbolton and although I never really paid attention to the following tunes on the track, I must have listened to them enough for them to worm their way in. I have to presume that the other two are mostly from one of the sessons I go to - I'll have to pay attention and see how often they come up.
Now, if only all the other tunes would take the same route - maybe some are already there but I just don't know it yet?
Whether or not the tunes are good, it's half the battle if you like them yourself and want to learn to play them. No matter how difficult they seem to be, you'll make more effort.
As you suggest yourself, some tunes don't seem very friendly at first either but they are quite nice when they get to know you.
Once in a while, those tunes you don't initally care for and as a result just can't seem to get in line click when you find the 'kernel' or thing about the tune that makes it sing for you.
So sometimes, even if you don't like the tune you need to trudge through it and look for what it is about the tune that caused it to survive the past few centuries.
Oh... and Ilig is always right. Its just when you think he's not, you have to change your assumptions for the question he is anwering, or the issue he is commenting on.
And even if he is wrong....I don't think he would admit it!
llig has plenty of good points. I find myself sneakingly in agreement with a number of them. Others, not so much. With regards to the topic: new tunes should hurt like Hell, for a little while at first; if you want them to make a lasting impression in the memory.
I heard the other day about an eminent classical violin teacher who would teach a pupil how to play a piece* properly only if the pupil had completely memorised it beforehand, his theory (which I agree with) being that playing from the dots distracts the pupil from really understanding the heart of the music. Now where have we heard that before, in some form or other?
* of course, the pieces weren't 16-bar reels or jigs but entire movements from concertos or sonatas - as far as memorising that's a difference of degree, not of kind.
Why buy a pair of shoes if they hurt your feet? Isn't it nice just to "slip into them?
All I meant was that if you've already heard the tunes and enjoy them, you're more likely to want to play them...and you'll learn them more quickly. Of course, there may still be tricky bits you want to work on further.
Of course, there will be some tunes you have to learn which you've never heard before and they will take much more work especially if they are tricky. Thus, they can also be quite rewarding...if they actually "grow on you" that is.
Good gracious! I left a baited hook down several fathoms, then walked away and forgot all about it. May I say how sorry I am about your lip! Couldn't agree with you more, BTW.
Painless Learning of new tunes
Painless Learning of new tunes
Just had the interesting experience of playing four new reels and having them stick and be playable from memory with a mere two or three repetitions! Obviously nowhere near fast enough, but feel, seqeunce of phrases, ornamentation, everything else just seemed to stick. (I was just trying to match tunes and tune names using sheet music at the time...)
Longford Collector, Sailor's Bonnet, Come West Along the Road and the Tinker's daughter.
So, obviously some influences in my neighbourhood have been pushing these tunes at me without me really being consciously aware of them as specific tunes. The first two I can probably trace to the Tarbolton set by Michael Coleman, which I used a while ago to learn the Tarbolton and although I never really paid attention to the following tunes on the track, I must have listened to them enough for them to worm their way in. I have to presume that the other two are mostly from one of the sessons I go to - I'll have to pay attention and see how often they come up.
Now, if only all the other tunes would take the same route - maybe some are already there but I just don't know it yet?
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by Crackpot
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
them being good tunes helps
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by ...
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Llig,
I timed it - three times through the Tinker's daughter, put the kettle on, hit the update button and your response was there!
Respect!.
Chris
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by Crackpot
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Llig's partly correct.
Whether or not the tunes are good, it's half the battle if you like them yourself and want to learn to play them. No matter how difficult they seem to be, you'll make more effort.
As you suggest yourself, some tunes don't seem very friendly at first either but they are quite nice when they get to know you.
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
I am never only partly correct
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by ...
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Except for that one time...
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by Chrishty
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
OK, I partly agree with you.
I wasn't sure how you defined a "good tune" i.e. whether these were the same as those you liked.
The latter(If I enjoyed hearing and playing them) would be more relevant to me, in this instance.
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Liking the tune is about 90%.
Once in a while, those tunes you don't initally care for and as a result just can't seem to get in line click when you find the 'kernel' or thing about the tune that makes it sing for you.
So sometimes, even if you don't like the tune you need to trudge through it and look for what it is about the tune that caused it to survive the past few centuries.
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Oh... and Ilig is always right. Its just when you think he's not, you have to change your assumptions for the question he is anwering, or the issue he is commenting on.
And even if he is wrong....I don't think he would admit it!
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
llig didn't say he was always right. He is precise as usual. He said "I am never only partly correct." To which the congregation says "Amen
Nice line llig
Dan
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by curamach
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
llig has plenty of good points. I find myself sneakingly in agreement with a number of them. Others, not so much. With regards to the topic: new tunes should hurt like Hell, for a little while at first; if you want them to make a lasting impression in the memory.
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Easy if you use the sheet music! Mwahh hah hah hah
# Posted on March 26th 2009 by McDermott
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
I heard the other day about an eminent classical violin teacher who would teach a pupil how to play a piece* properly only if the pupil had completely memorised it beforehand, his theory (which I agree with) being that playing from the dots distracts the pupil from really understanding the heart of the music. Now where have we heard that before, in some form or other?
* of course, the pieces weren't 16-bar reels or jigs but entire movements from concertos or sonatas - as far as memorising that's a difference of degree, not of kind.
# Posted on March 27th 2009 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
"new tunes should hurt like Hell"
Why buy a pair of shoes if they hurt your feet? Isn't it nice just to "slip into them?
All I meant was that if you've already heard the tunes and enjoy them, you're more likely to want to play them...and you'll learn them more quickly. Of course, there may still be tricky bits you want to work on further.
Of course, there will be some tunes you have to learn which you've never heard before and they will take much more work especially if they are tricky. Thus, they can also be quite rewarding...if they actually "grow on you" that is.
# Posted on March 27th 2009 by Johnny Jay
Re: Painless Learning of new tunes
Good gracious! I left a baited hook down several fathoms, then walked away and forgot all about it. May I say how sorry I am about your lip! Couldn't agree with you more, BTW.
# Posted on March 27th 2009 by Atahualpa Quigley