...so I've just started hitting my local session again after about a year and a half off (unemployment and the ensuing relative poverty, alcoholism, and depression will wreak havoc upon one's social life) and the Midwest Fleadh is coming up in my neck of the woods (for a change). Some of the regulars (people whom I respect) have been twisting my arm to show up, but I'm WAY out of practice. I'd like to be able to at least play a bit in some of the lobby sessions and not just attend as a punter, not that there's anything wrong with that. Since I'm, um, "at liberty" at the moment, I'm thinking about digging out my John Doyle DVD and the books and recordings and trying to get somewhat back up to speed by spending as much as my free time practicing as I can.
Has anyone tried this? Does it work? I'd be interested in knowing if anyone's tried the "total immersion" thing and how it turned out.
I dabbled for a few years, with the music my dad liked but after I made the commitment I crammed. Yes, I internalised the famous Dow's list and I internalised styles etcetera. I lived in Leeds with an incredible list of mentors.
Yes, cramming works.
However, what works better is the gentle assimilation. Don't rush it. Let it creep up on you.
It works up until you hurt yourself and have to stop to heal up.
The more practice the better, but if you try to go straight from casual practicing to playing for six hours a day you may injur yourself. Build up to long practice sessions slowly, and don't push it when you start to ache.
Learning theory tells us you learn better, i.e. really assimilate, absorb and know things when you reinforce what you are learning (tunes, music) a little bit every day vs. "cramming". But, it sounds like your soul could really use some playing and sharing of music and that your friends miss you! Jump in! When you get tired take a rest and just enjoy being there and listening.
When people are asking you to join back in, even if you're out of practice, then they're telling you that they miss you. And an hour of "practice" playing with your mates at the local session is worth a good 4 hours of practice alone at home!
"Cramming" works for me in a couple of situations. If I'm working on a specific tune that doesn't feel right, cramming it is useful. When I was a slightly less experienced player, cramming would help me make it through a specific gig or session.
But "practice at home" is not only a great compliment to say to someone after they finish a particularly rousing set, it's also good advice! Feel your way into it...
For me, I can only absorb so much in any given amount of time, regardless of how much I play and practice. But if you never start, you never succeed. So jump in and see how you do. Just remember, as a newbie, you don't have to, and shouldn't try to play along with everything. Give it a try, and best of luck to you!
Thanks, everyone, for the advice and encouragement. I probably knew the answer before I posed the question, but you've confirmed my inclinations.
Methinks that I don't sweat it too much, listen to as much as I can in the meantime (thank you, Clare FM!), and maybe work on trying to remember some chords besides the basic half-dozen or so.
I HAVE noticed that I'm not as uncomfortable sitting in the circle NOT playing as I used to be, so I guess that it's not a completely lost cause (grin...).
BTW, where does one find the (in)famous "Dow's List"? Is that the one on his user page?
Oh God no, Dow's list is not on his member page, instead he has some sort of master's thesis on Northumbrian music, or some such thing posted.
Here is the list, in all its glory. As the originator has pointed out, this is not a list of the 'best' tunes, or even the most commonly played, but merely a list of tunes that people assume that 'everyone' knows. It is a pretty good list for someone starting out in this music.
DOW’S LIST
REELS
The Banshee [James McMahon]
The Bird In The Bush
The Bucks Of Oranmore
The Concertina Reel
The Congress
Cooley’s (Luttrell’s Pass)
The Cup Of Tea
Drowsy Maggie
Farewell To Ireland
Father Kelly’s (Rossmore Jetty)
The Foxhunter’s
The Gravel Walks
The Maid Behind The Bar
The Merry Blacksmith
Miss McLeod’s
The Mountain Road [Michael Gorman]
Rolling In The Ryegrass (The Shannon Breeze)
Saint Anne’s
The Sally Gardens
The Silver Spear
The Star Of Munster
The Wise Maid (All Around The World)
JIGS
The Blackthorn Stick
The Blarney Pilgrim
The Cliffs Of Moher
The Connaughtman’s Rambles
Donnybrook Fair (The Joy Of My Life)
The Irish Washerwoman
The Kesh
The Lark In The Morning
The Lilting Banshee
Morrison’s
My Darling Asleep
Out On The Ocean
The Rakes Of Kildare
Tripping Up The Stairs
HORNPIPES & SET DANCES
The Boys Of Bluehill
Harvest Home
King Of The Fairies
Off To California
The Rights Of Man
SLIP JIGS
The Foxhunter's
The Kid On The Mountain
HOP JIGS
The Butterfly
The Rocky Road To Dublin
SLIDES
Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife
The Road To Lisdoonvarna
POLKAS
Denis Murphy’s
Egan’s
John Ryan’s (The Keadue)
# Posted on March 18th 2007 by Dow
He DID include the Irish Washerwoman, therefore at least he tried to keep his personal taste out of consideration, but your right, there will be nothing more objective than the tunebook-top list
Does "cramming" work?
Does "cramming" work?
Hello to all. . .it's been a while
...so I've just started hitting my local session again after about a year and a half off (unemployment and the ensuing relative poverty, alcoholism, and depression will wreak havoc upon one's social life) and the Midwest Fleadh is coming up in my neck of the woods (for a change). Some of the regulars (people whom I respect) have been twisting my arm to show up, but I'm WAY out of practice. I'd like to be able to at least play a bit in some of the lobby sessions and not just attend as a punter, not that there's anything wrong with that. Since I'm, um, "at liberty" at the moment, I'm thinking about digging out my John Doyle DVD and the books and recordings and trying to get somewhat back up to speed by spending as much as my free time practicing as I can.
Has anyone tried this? Does it work? I'd be interested in knowing if anyone's tried the "total immersion" thing and how it turned out.
Cheers!
Tom
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by tomw
Re: Does "cramming" work?
well i have been pretty much totally immersed for 25yrs, and i reckon it works ok... but dont forget rest periods...
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by jig
Re: Does "cramming" work?
I dabbled for a few years, with the music my dad liked but after I made the commitment I crammed. Yes, I internalised the famous Dow's list and I internalised styles etcetera. I lived in Leeds with an incredible list of mentors.
Yes, cramming works.
However, what works better is the gentle assimilation. Don't rush it. Let it creep up on you.
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by llig leahcim
Re: Does "cramming" work?
It works up until you hurt yourself and have to stop to heal up.
The more practice the better, but if you try to go straight from casual practicing to playing for six hours a day you may injur yourself. Build up to long practice sessions slowly, and don't push it when you start to ache.
# Posted on May 5th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Does "cramming" work?
Tom:
Learning theory tells us you learn better, i.e. really assimilate, absorb and know things when you reinforce what you are learning (tunes, music) a little bit every day vs. "cramming". But, it sounds like your soul could really use some playing and sharing of music and that your friends miss you! Jump in! When you get tired take a rest and just enjoy being there and listening.
# Posted on May 6th 2008 by rebecca logan
Re: Does "cramming" work?
When people are asking you to join back in, even if you're out of practice, then they're telling you that they miss you. And an hour of "practice" playing with your mates at the local session is worth a good 4 hours of practice alone at home!
"Cramming" works for me in a couple of situations. If I'm working on a specific tune that doesn't feel right, cramming it is useful. When I was a slightly less experienced player, cramming would help me make it through a specific gig or session.
But "practice at home" is not only a great compliment to say to someone after they finish a particularly rousing set, it's also good advice! Feel your way into it...
# Posted on May 6th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Does "cramming" work?
no
# Posted on May 6th 2008 by Hup
Re: Does "cramming" work?
For me, I can only absorb so much in any given amount of time, regardless of how much I play and practice. But if you never start, you never succeed. So jump in and see how you do. Just remember, as a newbie, you don't have to, and shouldn't try to play along with everything. Give it a try, and best of luck to you!
# Posted on May 6th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Does "cramming" work?
Thanks, everyone, for the advice and encouragement. I probably knew the answer before I posed the question, but you've confirmed my inclinations.
Methinks that I don't sweat it too much, listen to as much as I can in the meantime (thank you, Clare FM!), and maybe work on trying to remember some chords besides the basic half-dozen or so.
I HAVE noticed that I'm not as uncomfortable sitting in the circle NOT playing as I used to be, so I guess that it's not a completely lost cause (grin...).
BTW, where does one find the (in)famous "Dow's List"? Is that the one on his user page?
Thanks again!
# Posted on May 7th 2008 by tomw
Re: Does "cramming" work?
Oops! I meant "member" page. . .
# Posted on May 7th 2008 by tomw
Re: Does "cramming" work?
Oh God no, Dow's list is not on his member page, instead he has some sort of master's thesis on Northumbrian music, or some such thing posted.
Here is the list, in all its glory. As the originator has pointed out, this is not a list of the 'best' tunes, or even the most commonly played, but merely a list of tunes that people assume that 'everyone' knows. It is a pretty good list for someone starting out in this music.
DOW’S LIST
REELS
The Banshee [James McMahon]
The Bird In The Bush
The Bucks Of Oranmore
The Concertina Reel
The Congress
Cooley’s (Luttrell’s Pass)
The Cup Of Tea
Drowsy Maggie
Farewell To Ireland
Father Kelly’s (Rossmore Jetty)
The Foxhunter’s
The Gravel Walks
The Maid Behind The Bar
The Merry Blacksmith
Miss McLeod’s
The Mountain Road [Michael Gorman]
Rolling In The Ryegrass (The Shannon Breeze)
Saint Anne’s
The Sally Gardens
The Silver Spear
The Star Of Munster
The Wise Maid (All Around The World)
JIGS
The Blackthorn Stick
The Blarney Pilgrim
The Cliffs Of Moher
The Connaughtman’s Rambles
Donnybrook Fair (The Joy Of My Life)
The Irish Washerwoman
The Kesh
The Lark In The Morning
The Lilting Banshee
Morrison’s
My Darling Asleep
Out On The Ocean
The Rakes Of Kildare
Tripping Up The Stairs
HORNPIPES & SET DANCES
The Boys Of Bluehill
Harvest Home
King Of The Fairies
Off To California
The Rights Of Man
SLIP JIGS
The Foxhunter's
The Kid On The Mountain
HOP JIGS
The Butterfly
The Rocky Road To Dublin
SLIDES
Merrily Kissed The Quaker’s Wife
The Road To Lisdoonvarna
POLKAS
Denis Murphy’s
Egan’s
John Ryan’s (The Keadue)
# Posted on March 18th 2007 by Dow
# Posted on May 7th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: Does "cramming" work?
He DID include the Irish Washerwoman, therefore at least he tried to keep his personal taste out of consideration, but your right, there will be nothing more objective than the tunebook-top list
# Posted on May 9th 2008 by TMB