I've been playing fiddle for ~15 years, but only started into trad about two years ago. My goal is pretty much to play with the major sessions in town and not embarrass myself. For the last few months I've been trying to learn as many tunes as possible at speed so I can "play along" -- working my way through Dow's infamous list and through recordings I've made of the most common tunes at my regular session. I've been doing fine with tune-learning, but I realized last week when playing by myself that I really haven't got much by way of rhythm, articulation, lift, etc.
For others who have moved from beginning/intermediate into relatively accomplished session playing, what's been your path? (I'd like to get a teacher to help me work on my individual skills, but I'm a student and really can't afford private lessons at this point. Someday!)
I guess my big question is, how does a learner balance knowing lots of session tunes vs. playing them with skill, depth and style?
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Tunes accumulate over your life time. Playing them without rhythm, articulation, lift, and nyah won't get you into the good graces of a session. Better to work on getting the nyah into a few tunes really well.
One option--take two lessons from a good teacher, then go home and incorporate everything you've learned from that teacher. You don't have to take a lesson every week for a year to learn from someone. On the other hand, you could play by yourself for another 15 years and get no where with the nyah.
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Will's so right. Also take the time to look at Jim McCauley's videos he's posted to YouTube...he's a member here ["Fiddle4"] and his links are posted in members section.
Not sure what Will would recommend but I can only tell your from my own personal journey that Matt Crantich's The Irish Fiddle Book in which bowings are marked up and has good cd to accompany tunes. Cathal Hayedn also put out a quite decent cd rom fiddle tutor...again, you can see/hear him play [getting the 'nyah] as well as look at his dot samples in which he too marks up bowing altho it isn't always exactly how he plays it...but about 95% accurate. Crantich's is pretty much 100% how he plays it. Learn some of those bowing patterns by ear. Get them under the fingers. You'll be off to good start.
best,
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
In addition to Will and MTodd's suggestions, I'd recommend buying one or two classic recordings, like Paddy Canny's All-Ireland Champions or Star Above the Garter and listening to them obsessively. I found my playing really started to improve when I began listening to lots of Irish music.
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
I am not one that would be expected to give good advice on playing well, but I have found that playing along with the tunes at the following links has been helpful:
Also, I asked a friend to go on YouTube and collect links for our group of some examples of tunes we play, but played right. Playing with people may not be the best way to get better, indeed, if they are not playing them correctly. I am publishing the list on our website so all can listen and maybe play along.
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Immerse thy ears! Like learning a language, they say the best thing to do is to listen to, and try to speak (play) nothing but, that language. Same with the music.
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Kerry SW
<<I really haven't got much by way of rhythm, articulation, lift, etc.>>
Nither had I but I played guitar in irish music might have helped. a bit - But I had to learn lift and all this - just from from sessions ie -Fleadhs- Way I done it was , In sessions Listen hard to everything -Taped Alot,, maybe seteone player every so often as a goal,, See it a bit like You have a job -But you have to take your work home with you ,,Eg -and go back and forward -like this, Getting more and more Info-
And You Will Get Better-
jim,,,,
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
I like to focus on the tv during our session. the sound is off and sports of some kind is usually on. One of our weekly sessions coincides with some fight league in which guys bash the crap out of each other. This is especially entertaining!
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Copy copy copy,down to last detail.
Copy different players.
Get right down to the nitty gritty with it.
It's not about learning words,it's how you say them.
But always be yourself at the same time,copying is a major part of the process,get a metronome as well and practice with the beat on the on and off beat,swing and (donegal perhaps)straight eights etc.
Goin t bed now,hammered!
Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
I've been playing fiddle for ~15 years, but only started into trad about two years ago. My goal is pretty much to play with the major sessions in town and not embarrass myself. For the last few months I've been trying to learn as many tunes as possible at speed so I can "play along" -- working my way through Dow's infamous list and through recordings I've made of the most common tunes at my regular session. I've been doing fine with tune-learning, but I realized last week when playing by myself that I really haven't got much by way of rhythm, articulation, lift, etc.
For others who have moved from beginning/intermediate into relatively accomplished session playing, what's been your path? (I'd like to get a teacher to help me work on my individual skills, but I'm a student and really can't afford private lessons at this point. Someday!)
I guess my big question is, how does a learner balance knowing lots of session tunes vs. playing them with skill, depth and style?
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Kerry SW
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Tunes accumulate over your life time. Playing them without rhythm, articulation, lift, and nyah won't get you into the good graces of a session. Better to work on getting the nyah into a few tunes really well.
One option--take two lessons from a good teacher, then go home and incorporate everything you've learned from that teacher. You don't have to take a lesson every week for a year to learn from someone. On the other hand, you could play by yourself for another 15 years and get no where with the nyah.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Will's so right. Also take the time to look at Jim McCauley's videos he's posted to YouTube...he's a member here ["Fiddle4"] and his links are posted in members section.
Not sure what Will would recommend but I can only tell your from my own personal journey that Matt Crantich's The Irish Fiddle Book in which bowings are marked up and has good cd to accompany tunes. Cathal Hayedn also put out a quite decent cd rom fiddle tutor...again, you can see/hear him play [getting the 'nyah] as well as look at his dot samples in which he too marks up bowing altho it isn't always exactly how he plays it...but about 95% accurate. Crantich's is pretty much 100% how he plays it. Learn some of those bowing patterns by ear. Get them under the fingers. You'll be off to good start.
best,
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by mtodd
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
In addition to Will and MTodd's suggestions, I'd recommend buying one or two classic recordings, like Paddy Canny's All-Ireland Champions or Star Above the Garter and listening to them obsessively. I found my playing really started to improve when I began listening to lots of Irish music.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by airport
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
I am not one that would be expected to give good advice on playing well, but I have found that playing along with the tunes at the following links has been helpful:
http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_book_volume_1/
http://comhaltas.ie/shop/detail/foinn_seisiun_book_volume_2/
http://comhaltas.ie/music/audio/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions/
Also, I asked a friend to go on YouTube and collect links for our group of some examples of tunes we play, but played right. Playing with people may not be the best way to get better, indeed, if they are not playing them correctly. I am publishing the list on our website so all can listen and maybe play along.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by feardearg
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Star Above the Garter.
Sliabh Luachra Fiddle Master.
Kerry Fiddles.
Music from Sliabh Luachra.
Kitty Lie Over.
NYAHFEST! Instant lift lessons for life.
--DtM
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Dan the Man
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Immerse thy ears! Like learning a language, they say the best thing to do is to listen to, and try to speak (play) nothing but, that language. Same with the music.
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
What about using sheet music? is that ok?
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by Karate Wocky Tocky
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
sure, sheet music can be useful, but the only way you'll get lift out of it is to make one of these:
http://www.funpaperairplanes.com/
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by airport
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
don't let this guy catch you with sheetmusic though:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cpg844WidXw
(notice how it starts to sound better after he knocks it off their stands)
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by airport
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Kerry SW
<<I really haven't got much by way of rhythm, articulation, lift, etc.>>
Nither had I but I played guitar in irish music might have helped. a bit - But I had to learn lift and all this - just from from sessions ie -Fleadhs- Way I done it was , In sessions Listen hard to everything -Taped Alot,, maybe seteone player every so often as a goal,, See it a bit like You have a job -But you have to take your work home with you ,,Eg -and go back and forward -like this, Getting more and more Info-
And You Will Get Better-
jim,,,,
# Posted on June 13th 2008 by FIDDLE4
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
listen carefully and repeatedly to the cd "contentment is wealth" by Sean Keane and Matt Molloy. It's got more lift than a jet plane,
# Posted on June 14th 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
I like to focus on the tv during our session. the sound is off and sports of some kind is usually on. One of our weekly sessions coincides with some fight league in which guys bash the crap out of each other. This is especially entertaining!
# Posted on June 14th 2008 by leoj
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
Copy copy copy,down to last detail.
Copy different players.
Get right down to the nitty gritty with it.
It's not about learning words,it's how you say them.
But always be yourself at the same time,copying is a major part of the process,get a metronome as well and practice with the beat on the on and off beat,swing and (donegal perhaps)straight eights etc.
Goin t bed now,hammered!
P
# Posted on June 14th 2008 by P.browne
Re: Learning to play at sessions -- what to focus on?
for me the two came sort of simultaneously as I have "stylized" all the toons to fit my fiddle style.
# Posted on June 15th 2008 by hauke