I was just thinking about the replies I got on the Bouzouki thread ,they were great ,people told me where to look and what to buy (and thanks again)but no one told me what I should do.(a tip)
Here is my question .
What tip,tips or advice have you got down through the years that has been a great help to your playing?(any instrument)
1.When I started playing the Bouzouki I asked a friend of mine "Should I be saying the names of the notes to myself when I'm practising scales to help me remember them"
She replied "No You should sing the names of the notes as I practise the scales to help develope an ear for the music"
2.Ringo Mc Donnagh Told me to concintrate on relaxing and moving my shoulder when playing the bodhran. This has been a great help as I can now play different areas of the drum with alot more comfort and control.
From many wise folk, the above and the following ~ Take things easy, don't push it. Don't practice tension. Don't rush things. If you can't play it decently slow, then you're making a hash of it fast and speed is only muddling it further and covering up all the bad playing you are now practicing in ignorance... Don't just play in sessions, some of the worst habits are perpetuated there...
Yes, I can't say it enough, dance, dance, dance, and it don't matter whether you have two left feet or not. Ignore the snobs that might make issue with that. Learn the heart of the music physically, absorb it through listening to it and through answering it in movement and laughter...and other emotions too. Find solace in it, find expression and release.
And, if at all possible, find living sources to learn from, and don't be afraid to ask and query, as you are doing here. Sometimes you'll find someone in a sour mood, but don't let that put you off your pursuits of understanding... A mentor is a great thing, but it has to be the right one for you, so maybe not the first one or more, but don't stop listening, looking and asking...
& don't be afraid of 'dance', give it a go... If there isn't humour where first you try, move on and try again... Bad music and dance are often typified by a stiffness and a lack of humour. When something is taken too seriously you can end up choking the life out of it, and we don't want that do we?
I think they are wonderful, all you ever need to do reverse transcriptase PCR. The 10ml ones are good emergency replacement digits if your fingers happen to fall off whilst picking your nose. Never go to a session without them, that's my tip for the day, on Tips.
* Relax. Watch good players, and you'll see that they generally look relaxed when they're playing. When you're starting out, you can't play very fast, and the natural way to try to get faster is to play harder, but that's the wrong way to go about it.
* Don't rush it. You won't be able to play fast (well) for several years. The way to get faster is to play properly at a speed that you can handle. (You can force your speed up beyond your comfort range when you're practicing, but always bring it back down again afterwards. Eventually, your comfort range will get faster). But if you rush into playing too fast, you'll have all sorts of bad habits that will become apparent over time - and you probably won't sound very good when you're doing it.
* Listen to as much Irish music as you can. Some of the things that make it sound Irish (swing, lift, etc) are pretty subtle. If you play Irish music and Scottish music back to back for an average Joe, he won't be able to tell the difference. It is almost impossible to actually teach someone how to sound Irish. They need to hear it enough to internalize what they're hearing. The more you listen to, the more you will internalize it, and eventually you'll understand what it is that makes it sound Irish.
Tips anyone........
Tips anyone........
I was just thinking about the replies I got on the Bouzouki thread ,they were great ,people told me where to look and what to buy (and thanks again)but no one told me what I should do.(a tip)
Here is my question .
What tip,tips or advice have you got down through the years that has been a great help to your playing?(any instrument)
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Saint
Re: Tips anyone........
1.When I started playing the Bouzouki I asked a friend of mine "Should I be saying the names of the notes to myself when I'm practising scales to help me remember them"
She replied "No You should sing the names of the notes as I practise the scales to help develope an ear for the music"
2.Ringo Mc Donnagh Told me to concintrate on relaxing and moving my shoulder when playing the bodhran. This has been a great help as I can now play different areas of the drum with alot more comfort and control.
Thats two of mine I hope ye can add to this.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Saint
Re: Tips anyone........
Every bodhran player should have these.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFParGNENmA&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SahWPo3cis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWXUEiFKUQ8
Three of the best.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Saint
Re: Tips anyone........
For the sake of making this a discussion rather than keeping it a monologue, I'm going to quote a wise man.....
Listen
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Tips anyone........
Damn, I'm being quoted...
~ & "RELAX!!!!"
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Tips anyone........
From many wise folk, the above and the following ~ Take things easy, don't push it. Don't practice tension. Don't rush things. If you can't play it decently slow, then you're making a hash of it fast and speed is only muddling it further and covering up all the bad playing you are now practicing in ignorance... Don't just play in sessions, some of the worst habits are perpetuated there...
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Tips anyone........
Dance! ~ This is dance music...
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Tips anyone........
Yes, I can't say it enough, dance, dance, dance, and it don't matter whether you have two left feet or not. Ignore the snobs that might make issue with that. Learn the heart of the music physically, absorb it through listening to it and through answering it in movement and laughter...and other emotions too. Find solace in it, find expression and release.
And, if at all possible, find living sources to learn from, and don't be afraid to ask and query, as you are doing here. Sometimes you'll find someone in a sour mood, but don't let that put you off your pursuits of understanding... A mentor is a great thing, but it has to be the right one for you, so maybe not the first one or more, but don't stop listening, looking and asking...
& don't be afraid of 'dance', give it a go... If there isn't humour where first you try, move on and try again... Bad music and dance are often typified by a stiffness and a lack of humour. When something is taken too seriously you can end up choking the life out of it, and we don't want that do we?
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Tips anyone........
Almost everything sounds better through a flange-modulated wah-wah pedal. And don't let those 'purists' tell you otherwise......
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by plinkeyplonkey
Re: Tips anyone........
Kilkenny to win the hurling, again. That's a tip.One "T" note. The other Tipp have no chance.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Tips anyone........
Ignore everything I tell you.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by ragaman
Re: Tips anyone........
kilkenny will beat waterford by 10pts sunday . kerry/kilkenny double for the all irelands
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Saint
Re: Tips anyone........
Starlab do cheap pipette tips
http://www.starlab.de/uk/corp/starlab.php
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Tips anyone........
Yes, gosh, and they also do Repeat positive displacement tips, Danny. Those pipette tips look a bit green, though, don't they?
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by maxF
Re: Tips anyone........
I think they are wonderful, all you ever need to do reverse transcriptase PCR. The 10ml ones are good emergency replacement digits if your fingers happen to fall off whilst picking your nose. Never go to a session without them, that's my tip for the day, on Tips.
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Tips anyone........
Some good tips I've had:
* Relax. Watch good players, and you'll see that they generally look relaxed when they're playing. When you're starting out, you can't play very fast, and the natural way to try to get faster is to play harder, but that's the wrong way to go about it.
* Don't rush it. You won't be able to play fast (well) for several years. The way to get faster is to play properly at a speed that you can handle. (You can force your speed up beyond your comfort range when you're practicing, but always bring it back down again afterwards. Eventually, your comfort range will get faster). But if you rush into playing too fast, you'll have all sorts of bad habits that will become apparent over time - and you probably won't sound very good when you're doing it.
* Listen to as much Irish music as you can. Some of the things that make it sound Irish (swing, lift, etc) are pretty subtle. If you play Irish music and Scottish music back to back for an average Joe, he won't be able to tell the difference. It is almost impossible to actually teach someone how to sound Irish. They need to hear it enough to internalize what they're hearing. The more you listen to, the more you will internalize it, and eventually you'll understand what it is that makes it sound Irish.
Pete
# Posted on April 27th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tips anyone........
I think this says it all about this site
# Posted on April 28th 2007 by Saint