Hi, All You Dear Musicians, this is my first submission. I'm needing help, please.
I play with a great little group: harp, bass and me on winds--whistles including D Low, recorders and saxophone. We do quite well.
I'd like to get up to session speed on my whistles. Sometimes I can hold my own, as often can't. So my sax teacher has told me find people who had trouble playing fast and then had success. Ask them how they improved. Are any of you out there? What techniques? I have used incremental increases of metronome and varying patterns: playing notes even, then long, short, then short, long. These help - any other magic out there?
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Hi WindsMan,
The only magic formula is knowing it will happen if you keep at it. A problem that often occurs is that a fast tune is practiced fast all the time, the outcome being the mistakes are practiced as well and as the old saying goes "practice makes perfect"
An obvious way therefore is to take out the bits you fall over on and practice them slowly...if the whole tune falls over then you know where to start.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I strongly suspect this topic has been covered in detail before on this website, but basically it boils down to acquiring coordination. If you can't play something slowly AND accurately then you won't be able to play it fast with accuracy. Playing fast without accuracy sounds a mess. Playing just a little bit slower but with coordination will in fact sound faster and a lot more convincing. So an important part of the secret is slow practice and listening carefully all the time. Another part of the secret of acquiring coordination is muscular relaxation so that the action of one set of muscles isn't opposed by stiffness in another set. This has all worked for me. I expect that others far more expert will come in now with more detailed advice.
Trevor
I would suggest that it's best not to practice difficult bits slowly in isolation. If bars 4 and 5 of the A part are the problem then you should practice the whole of the A part slowly so that bars 4 and 5 are always played in the context of that section, otherwise there is the danger that you'll get a hiccup when you get to those difficult bars.
Trevor
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Re isolating the hard bits: I gently disagree. I find it very helpful to stop and isolate the parts I stumble over by playing them several times--until my fingers understand them--and immediately play the whole section they're in to put them in context.
You're playing from memory, right? I don't think "speed" and "reading" go well together unless you're a very, very good reader.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Marguerite, good point. I was tacitly assuming that fingering was already sorted out, but then the steady slow practice should be done within the context of the phrase or section as a whole.
Trevor
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Don't practice playing fast, practice all the important stuff (tone, rhythm, ornaments etc) also go to sessions, I'm sure you go to a few already. Practicing to play fast only leads to ingrained bad habits that are really hard to straighten out down the road. Plus what's wrong with playing slower anyway? IMHO If the tune is good & there's some funky swingy-ness it doesn't really matter how fast it is.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Yes, as Trev says, we've covered this before, but somebody new to the site might not have the time to go sifting through "tempo" searches, so what the heck? Anyway, my two cents:
1) No, speed isn't everything, and as a matter of fact, it's one of the least important things. Often, if you play something slower but with great lift and feel, you'll get a far better audience reaction than playing it fast and poorly.
This just happened to us last weekend, as a matter of fact, to our shame-faced realization that perhaps we'd been forgetting the feel a bit. We were playing background music at a large gathering. People were talking and laughing while we were playing. We played Castle Kelly/Da New Rigged Ship/Gravel Walk. We played it slower than usual, because it'd been a while since we'd played those tunes, and Gravel Walk is *not* a natural whistle/flute/pipes tune. People stopped talking somewhere around Da New Rigged Ship and we got a huge round of applause out of the set.
But, rationale for not worrying about speed aside...
2) Once you've got fingering and technical stuff figured out, as Trev and Brad both suggest, take out your metronome and set it for a speed that you can play the tune really well at, with lift, feel, and all technical stuff in place, no matter how slow. Play it through three or four times at that speed with the metronome.
Then ratchet the metronome up ONE notch. Don't skip any notches. Not even one. Play it through three or four times at that speed.
Then ratchet the metronome up ONE notch.
You probably get the direction this is going.
3) Most of all, don't stress about speed. It'll get there when it gets there, and trying to push it too much just means you'll tense up, most likely. Until it's there, just play well at the speed you play best at. The speed comes on its own. Honest.
BTW, don't leave a speed until you can play the tune really well at that speed. Feel free to leave the tune alone for a week after one of these metronome sessions, and then come back to it, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
never felt the need to comment - but a metronome!! what?? that's a thing that starts off in time with you then gets slower..has it really got a place in music as we know it.. and yes, slow with feeling is good, like a well played Shetland reel..
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Well, yeah. Metronomes are perfect for this music! Playing trad is meant to be the accompanyment for dancers and if you screw up the beat, so do they (and I understand they get very angry about it too). Besides, all the best trad musicians have a solid, metronome-like beat in their playing if you listen for it.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Oh, phidler, you know not what can of worms you are opening. *grin* The upshot of the many, many posts on the subject is: if a metronome helps you, use it. If it doesn't help you, don't use it. It's just a tool, and can be used or not used as the player sees fit. Using one doesn't make you a Bad Player. Not using one doesn't make you a Bad Player.
Search for "metronome" before you decide you want to pursue this further! *snort*
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
THANKS TO YOU ALL . . FOR ALL YOUR KIND RESPONSES. SUCH GREAT FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . AND PRACTICE. THERE IS MUCH HERE TO HELP ME ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND TO PUT MY MIND AT EASE AND E n j o y t h e M U S I C! Thank you all again!
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Andee, sure everyone wants to get up to a "session speed" whatever that means it's different from session to session. but if it's just fast for fast's sake it sounds like garbage. I think WindsMan isn't happy with his tunes over a certain speed, I'm sure he can rip through them at a faster tempo but he wasn't happy with the way he thought they sounded. There's a difference between playing fast & playing fast well. There's no sure quick way around it besides playing for a while, some lucky sob's get it in two weeks others never do, but I think the average is at least 5 or so years for someone to play fast, be comfortable & not even realise they're playing "fast".
Everyone here knows the story about some player that everyone said would be really good if they just slowed down. Sometimes someone who's new to DM (Diddly Music ;o) thinks that "session speed' = "light speed" & the fast player is overcompensating for some reason or another (to impress, fit in etc). It's better to play slow & deliberately then to trip over yourself & flub the tune & down the road you'll be playing it "fast" & not even realise it.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I have a cool tool called "TR-1000 digital Music Study Recorder" Got it from Homespun tapes. A little pricy at about 300.00. But what I like about it is you can slow down, cut pieces up and loop them. You can go down to 1/26 of the original speed - it distorts if you try to go that slow. You can transpose on it too but I don't make much use of that myself. But it's been a big help for me. So far I haven't ever made it to 100% speed yet. But it's a neat toy, I like it.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I would rather play in tone with good ornamintation and then work on speed. I think that if you have the basics rythm, tone you need to practice faster to play faster. But it does come naturally if you have the tune solid in your head. If that makes sense.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I have a question. What are you supposed to do if you go to a session and can't play up to speed? Or is it better to wait till you can play up to speed before you try to play at a session?
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Deb, everyone's been there! If a tune is too fast for you, just sit and listen. Fortunately, in most sessions there are plenty of tunes that aren't played at manic speeds, and if a session regularly has no slow(ish) tunes then I would question the wisdom of attending that session. Sometimes a fast tune may have bits that you can play - why not do so, but discretely (this is an option more available to the fiddle than a blown instrument), and then later the other bits will gradually slot into place as you improve.
Trevor
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
There is a lot of great advice in this posting. Emily has it right about the decoration thing. It's important to remember that what we call the decoration is actually not just decorative bits that we tag on to a tune, but integral parts of the tunes themselves. If you find yourself playing at such a speed where you're having to miss out the decoration, then this is too fast for you. And this is Trevor's answer to Deb.
But this whole session speed thing is a bit of an irrelavence anyway. Playing in a session can sometimes feel like heading down the slip road to join the main traffic on the motorway (could a freindly yank translate?). The traffic just blindly carries on at a touch under 73mph.
But in any really good session, this does not happen. The traffic should be able to read your speed, and play some tunes a bit slower for you. Not all though, it's fun to play fast, but enough for you to feel part of it.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Yeah, Michael--like heading down the entrance ramp trying to merge with the traffic whizzing by on the highway!
And Brad, of course I agree with you, I was the one who started up a thread on just such an issue a while back. And you are right, Winds Man is propably unhappy with some of his tunes over a certain speed. I guess I am too!
Zina--I tried your metronome method--only ONE notch at a time--you hardly realize you are playing faster that way--I think it will help me.
P.S. Welcome Winds Man! (Winds Man is one third of my group, and a great guy!!)
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
You're pootling down the slip road, and the cars on the motorway seem to be whizzing by awfully fast, but once you're in the traffic it doesn't feel like they're speeding at all. It's all relativity.
I haven't visited your archives for a while and found this article bang-on. Your book helped me a lot in the beginning and is helping me again now in different ways. I was very skeptical of the section that said learning tunes by ear is a teachable skill, as I never dreamt that I could do it. With the help of the exercises in the book and some slow-downer software, it is becoming second nature.
Thanks to everyone else who posted in this thread too, as it reinforces a lot of good stuff.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Relaxing is a problem for me especially when trying to play fast. I get this grip on the fiddle like I'm holding on for life - then it's all over cause my hands all tight. My teacher is always telling me to RELAX. I've felt her had when she is playing and it so nice a soft. When you watch some people play they make look so easy and effortless.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Deb, I'm sure this is another topic that's been treated in detail here. I'm going out in a minute so I haven't got time to track it down, but perhaps others will help out. Try searching for "death-grip" - I seem to remember something of that sort. It's worth remembering that a tight grip on the neck of the fiddle (and acoustic guitars for that matter) does deaden the tone of the instrument a little, because the neck is an integral part of the entire vibrating structure.
Trevor
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
The other piece of advice that usually gets bandied about on this topic is not to worry about speed, but do try to sound *effortless.* The idea is to relax and let the music set the tempo for you. As you improve, you will be able to sound effortless at higher speeds. If your playing sounds frantic or out of control, you're probably playing faster than your abilities.
On the other hand, one of the beauties of this music is when an experienced player brings a wildness and "edge of control" feeling to the tunes, all the while doing it effortlessly.....
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
This may have been said already, but... a good rule of thumb is to play a tune only as fast a you can manage the most difficult passage. With a little patience, and endurance, you will be able to increase your speed. Please keep in mind, however, that speed isn't everything. It's possible that you'll lose your rhythmic sense, as well as any ornimentation playing at a breakneck speed.
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Trevor I found a few good topics as you suggested that led to others and so on. What a informative site this is. It's nice to have more experienced player be willing to give their input to new upstart and old new starts. Even if things have been said before it's a reinforcement of a good principle to follow.
I think part of the efforlessness by good players is because for them it is. Not an easy task to accomplish. It's motivating to hear from you 'old heads' , and well worth hearing.
Slightly off topic for just a second. I went to the chriopractor today. I asked what I can do for hand exercises and such. He said to take a rubber band and pull your fingers up. Because that strengthens the opposing tendons .. Thoght it made sense and my fingers feel weak and unstable at first. You wouldn't want to do it too much but maybe 20 times say 3 times a day. He said streaching - elbow out hand up bend fingers back. Then turn the hand over and streach that way.
THEN he took my hand and shook it and I thought he broke every bone in my HAND! I was quite suprised but it feels better.
SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Hi, All You Dear Musicians, this is my first submission. I'm needing help, please.
I play with a great little group: harp, bass and me on winds--whistles including D Low, recorders and saxophone. We do quite well.
I'd like to get up to session speed on my whistles. Sometimes I can hold my own, as often can't. So my sax teacher has told me find people who had trouble playing fast and then had success. Ask them how they improved. Are any of you out there? What techniques? I have used incremental increases of metronome and varying patterns: playing notes even, then long, short, then short, long. These help - any other magic out there?
Thanks so much - for whatever you can offer!
WindsMan
# Posted on June 7th 2003 by WindsMan
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Hi WindsMan,
The only magic formula is knowing it will happen if you keep at it. A problem that often occurs is that a fast tune is practiced fast all the time, the outcome being the mistakes are practiced as well and as the old saying goes "practice makes perfect"
An obvious way therefore is to take out the bits you fall over on and practice them slowly...if the whole tune falls over then you know where to start.
Dave.
# Posted on June 7th 2003 by Twiz
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I strongly suspect this topic has been covered in detail before on this website, but basically it boils down to acquiring coordination. If you can't play something slowly AND accurately then you won't be able to play it fast with accuracy. Playing fast without accuracy sounds a mess. Playing just a little bit slower but with coordination will in fact sound faster and a lot more convincing. So an important part of the secret is slow practice and listening carefully all the time. Another part of the secret of acquiring coordination is muscular relaxation so that the action of one set of muscles isn't opposed by stiffness in another set. This has all worked for me. I expect that others far more expert will come in now with more detailed advice.
Trevor
# Posted on June 7th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
SPEED -- Yes, I know it's not everything, but ...
I would suggest that it's best not to practice difficult bits slowly in isolation. If bars 4 and 5 of the A part are the problem then you should practice the whole of the A part slowly so that bars 4 and 5 are always played in the context of that section, otherwise there is the danger that you'll get a hiccup when you get to those difficult bars.
Trevor
# Posted on June 7th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Re isolating the hard bits: I gently disagree. I find it very helpful to stop and isolate the parts I stumble over by playing them several times--until my fingers understand them--and immediately play the whole section they're in to put them in context.
You're playing from memory, right? I don't think "speed" and "reading" go well together unless you're a very, very good reader.
Marguerite
# Posted on June 7th 2003 by mvhplank
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Marguerite, good point. I was tacitly assuming that fingering was already sorted out, but then the steady slow practice should be done within the context of the phrase or section as a whole.
Trevor
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Don't practice playing fast, practice all the important stuff (tone, rhythm, ornaments etc) also go to sessions, I'm sure you go to a few already. Practicing to play fast only leads to ingrained bad habits that are really hard to straighten out down the road. Plus what's wrong with playing slower anyway? IMHO If the tune is good & there's some funky swingy-ness it doesn't really matter how fast it is.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by B Rad
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
But Brad, it does matter if one of your goals is to play at sessions along with everyone else who is playing up to session speed.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Andee
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Yes, as Trev says, we've covered this before, but somebody new to the site might not have the time to go sifting through "tempo" searches, so what the heck?
Anyway, my two cents:
1) No, speed isn't everything, and as a matter of fact, it's one of the least important things. Often, if you play something slower but with great lift and feel, you'll get a far better audience reaction than playing it fast and poorly.
This just happened to us last weekend, as a matter of fact, to our shame-faced realization that perhaps we'd been forgetting the feel a bit. We were playing background music at a large gathering. People were talking and laughing while we were playing. We played Castle Kelly/Da New Rigged Ship/Gravel Walk. We played it slower than usual, because it'd been a while since we'd played those tunes, and Gravel Walk is *not* a natural whistle/flute/pipes tune. People stopped talking somewhere around Da New Rigged Ship and we got a huge round of applause out of the set.
But, rationale for not worrying about speed aside...
2) Once you've got fingering and technical stuff figured out, as Trev and Brad both suggest, take out your metronome and set it for a speed that you can play the tune really well at, with lift, feel, and all technical stuff in place, no matter how slow. Play it through three or four times at that speed with the metronome.
Then ratchet the metronome up ONE notch. Don't skip any notches. Not even one. Play it through three or four times at that speed.
Then ratchet the metronome up ONE notch.
You probably get the direction this is going.
3) Most of all, don't stress about speed. It'll get there when it gets there, and trying to push it too much just means you'll tense up, most likely. Until it's there, just play well at the speed you play best at. The speed comes on its own. Honest.
Have fun!
Zina
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
BTW, don't leave a speed until you can play the tune really well at that speed. Feel free to leave the tune alone for a week after one of these metronome sessions, and then come back to it, you may be pleasantly surprised.
zls
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
never felt the need to comment - but a metronome!! what?? that's a thing that starts off in time with you then gets slower..has it really got a place in music as we know it.. and yes, slow with feeling is good, like a well played Shetland reel..
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by phildler
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Well, yeah. Metronomes are perfect for this music! Playing trad is meant to be the accompanyment for dancers and if you screw up the beat, so do they (and I understand they get very angry about it too). Besides, all the best trad musicians have a solid, metronome-like beat in their playing if you listen for it.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Caoimghgin
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Oh, phidler, you know not what can of worms you are opening. *grin* The upshot of the many, many posts on the subject is: if a metronome helps you, use it. If it doesn't help you, don't use it. It's just a tool, and can be used or not used as the player sees fit. Using one doesn't make you a Bad Player. Not using one doesn't make you a Bad Player.
Search for "metronome" before you decide you want to pursue this further! *snort*
zls
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
THANKS TO YOU ALL . . FOR ALL YOUR KIND RESPONSES. SUCH GREAT FOOD FOR THOUGHT . . . AND PRACTICE. THERE IS MUCH HERE TO HELP ME ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND TO PUT MY MIND AT EASE AND E n j o y t h e M U S I C! Thank you all again!
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by WindsMan
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Andee, sure everyone wants to get up to a "session speed" whatever that means it's different from session to session. but if it's just fast for fast's sake it sounds like garbage. I think WindsMan isn't happy with his tunes over a certain speed, I'm sure he can rip through them at a faster tempo but he wasn't happy with the way he thought they sounded. There's a difference between playing fast & playing fast well. There's no sure quick way around it besides playing for a while, some lucky sob's get it in two weeks others never do, but I think the average is at least 5 or so years for someone to play fast, be comfortable & not even realise they're playing "fast".
Everyone here knows the story about some player that everyone said would be really good if they just slowed down. Sometimes someone who's new to DM (Diddly Music ;o) thinks that "session speed' = "light speed" & the fast player is overcompensating for some reason or another (to impress, fit in etc). It's better to play slow & deliberately then to trip over yourself & flub the tune & down the road you'll be playing it "fast" & not even realise it.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by B Rad
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I have a cool tool called "TR-1000 digital Music Study Recorder" Got it from Homespun tapes. A little pricy at about 300.00. But what I like about it is you can slow down, cut pieces up and loop them. You can go down to 1/26 of the original speed - it distorts if you try to go that slow. You can transpose on it too but I don't make much use of that myself. But it's been a big help for me. So far I haven't ever made it to 100% speed yet. But it's a neat toy, I like it.
Deb
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by deblittle
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I would rather play in tone with good ornamintation and then work on speed. I think that if you have the basics rythm, tone you need to practice faster to play faster. But it does come naturally if you have the tune solid in your head. If that makes sense.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by deblittle
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I feel like ornamentation is the first thing that gets lost on a fast tune, but that's probably b/c ... I suck? No no couldn't be.....
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
I have a question. What are you supposed to do if you go to a session and can't play up to speed? Or is it better to wait till you can play up to speed before you try to play at a session?
Deb
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by deblittle
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Deb, everyone's been there! If a tune is too fast for you, just sit and listen. Fortunately, in most sessions there are plenty of tunes that aren't played at manic speeds, and if a session regularly has no slow(ish) tunes then I would question the wisdom of attending that session. Sometimes a fast tune may have bits that you can play - why not do so, but discretely (this is an option more available to the fiddle than a blown instrument), and then later the other bits will gradually slot into place as you improve.
Trevor
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
There is a lot of great advice in this posting. Emily has it right about the decoration thing. It's important to remember that what we call the decoration is actually not just decorative bits that we tag on to a tune, but integral parts of the tunes themselves. If you find yourself playing at such a speed where you're having to miss out the decoration, then this is too fast for you. And this is Trevor's answer to Deb.
But this whole session speed thing is a bit of an irrelavence anyway. Playing in a session can sometimes feel like heading down the slip road to join the main traffic on the motorway (could a freindly yank translate?). The traffic just blindly carries on at a touch under 73mph.
But in any really good session, this does not happen. The traffic should be able to read your speed, and play some tunes a bit slower for you. Not all though, it's fun to play fast, but enough for you to feel part of it.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by ...
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Yeah, Michael--like heading down the entrance ramp trying to merge with the traffic whizzing by on the highway!
And Brad, of course I agree with you, I was the one who started up a thread on just such an issue a while back. And you are right, Winds Man is propably unhappy with some of his tunes over a certain speed. I guess I am too!
Zina--I tried your metronome method--only ONE notch at a time--you hardly realize you are playing faster that way--I think it will help me.
P.S. Welcome Winds Man! (Winds Man is one third of my group, and a great guy!!)
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Andee
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
You're pootling down the slip road, and the cars on the motorway seem to be whizzing by awfully fast, but once you're in the traffic it doesn't feel like they're speeding at all. It's all relativity.
# Posted on June 8th 2003 by Ottery
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Folx:
A couple of essays on interface of speed technique are at
http://geocities.com/coyotebanjo/instruction/
See especially "speed.txt"
cjs
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by coyotebanjo
Thanks Chris
I haven't visited your archives for a while and found this article bang-on. Your book helped me a lot in the beginning and is helping me again now in different ways. I was very skeptical of the section that said learning tunes by ear is a teachable skill, as I never dreamt that I could do it. With the help of the exercises in the book and some slow-downer software, it is becoming second nature.
Thanks to everyone else who posted in this thread too, as it reinforces a lot of good stuff.
Cheers,
Greg
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by octogreg
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Relaxing is a problem for me especially when trying to play fast. I get this grip on the fiddle like I'm holding on for life - then it's all over cause my hands all tight. My teacher is always telling me to RELAX. I've felt her had when she is playing and it so nice a soft. When you watch some people play they make look so easy and effortless.
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by deblittle
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Thanks Trevor and Michael for you words of wisdom.
Deb
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by deblittle
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Deb, I'm sure this is another topic that's been treated in detail here. I'm going out in a minute so I haven't got time to track it down, but perhaps others will help out. Try searching for "death-grip" - I seem to remember something of that sort. It's worth remembering that a tight grip on the neck of the fiddle (and acoustic guitars for that matter) does deaden the tone of the instrument a little, because the neck is an integral part of the entire vibrating structure.
Trevor
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Oops sorry bout the typo - I ment felt he hand and it's nice and soft.
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by deblittle
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
The other piece of advice that usually gets bandied about on this topic is not to worry about speed, but do try to sound *effortless.* The idea is to relax and let the music set the tempo for you. As you improve, you will be able to sound effortless at higher speeds. If your playing sounds frantic or out of control, you're probably playing faster than your abilities.
On the other hand, one of the beauties of this music is when an experienced player brings a wildness and "edge of control" feeling to the tunes, all the while doing it effortlessly.....
# Posted on June 9th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
This may have been said already, but... a good rule of thumb is to play a tune only as fast a you can manage the most difficult passage. With a little patience, and endurance, you will be able to increase your speed. Please keep in mind, however, that speed isn't everything. It's possible that you'll lose your rhythmic sense, as well as any ornimentation playing at a breakneck speed.
# Posted on June 10th 2003 by Imnotirish
Re: SPEED--Yes, I know it's not everything, but . . .
Trevor I found a few good topics as you suggested that led to others and so on. What a informative site this is. It's nice to have more experienced player be willing to give their input to new upstart and old new starts. Even if things have been said before it's a reinforcement of a good principle to follow.
I think part of the efforlessness by good players is because for them it is. Not an easy task to accomplish. It's motivating to hear from you 'old heads' , and well worth hearing.
Slightly off topic for just a second. I went to the chriopractor today. I asked what I can do for hand exercises and such. He said to take a rubber band and pull your fingers up. Because that strengthens the opposing tendons .. Thoght it made sense and my fingers feel weak and unstable at first. You wouldn't want to do it too much but maybe 20 times say 3 times a day. He said streaching - elbow out hand up bend fingers back. Then turn the hand over and streach that way.
THEN he took my hand and shook it and I thought he broke every bone in my HAND! I was quite suprised but it feels better.
end of ramble
# Posted on June 10th 2003 by deblittle