I had a very strange experience on the Sunday night session I attend. After a few pints (ovbviously) someone suggested I hold my fiddle with my other hand and try playing that way just for a laugh, back to front.
Oh the noise!!!! it was hideous, hello kitty! And all of a sudden it all came flooding back.....the feeling of being a complete beginer on the fiddle. The way it feels so abnormal and uncomfortable and just wrong.
I had totally forgotten, its been such a long time. And ask Dow and Sir Nose, I am *always* complaining that I'm not good enough and that I'm mediocre. That I'll never get to an acceptable level. I usually feel pretty much inferior - especially around my very talented peers and friends.
I found that doing this became a really positive thing because it shows how far I've come. I think everyone should try it, particularly if you are a big ole session snob. It really puts things in perspective again both what it feels like to be a beginer and also realising how far you've come! Concertina players could turn them upside down. Would that work? Flute players, turn the flute the other way around. And then post a comment here and let me what you think.
Cheers, bb
God Beebs what's your problem? I turned my concertina upside down and could play it perfectly, and I'm getting better at doing it with my feet and a combination of hands and feet too. I'm working on playing with one hand or foot only. You just need to open your mind girl
Yeah you Aussies talk about "whingeing Poms", well sorry but I've never heard a more whining complaining group of people than the Aussies.
This is to all the Poms out there: what we suspected was true - they seem laid-back and uncomplaining yeah, but that's only because the weather here is fantastic every single day of the year. If Poms had that weather they'd be the happiest people on earth. As it is, Sydneysiders start complaining about it being "chilly" when the temperature goes below 20 degrees C. Time to get out your "winter woollies".
And Tish, if I'm well enough to come and play on Thursday night you might just be surprised at what is possible with concertinas
[I'll give you a clue: "make a hoop with your arms and step through it]
I'll look forward to that, Dow, and hope you are feeling well enough soon. Kinda like Zina said, with food poisoning, first you worry you're going to die and then you worry that you might not...
Yeah well I'm into my 3rd day of misery now, and I'm definitely seeing what Zina meant. I have put off going to the doctor's thinking that I couldn't afford the check-up + drugs, and that I'd need the money for alcohol. It's like: get your priorities right! I think I've caved in today tho'. It might mean that I'm better by tomorrow, but I won't have any money for beer so you and bb will have to shout me Anyway, off to the doc's {:-\
You've got my sympathies, Mark, if only because I'm not feeling very good myself. Either something disagreed with me or I've got West Nile virus! I'm headed off for bed...again (third time today)...
ooo ooo Zina did you get my package yet? I know what it might be! Hope you & Dow both feel better, yikes.
Pertaining to the thread though, did you know Seamus Egan plays flute the 'conventional way' but he switches hands on whistle b/c he started learning whistle before anyone could 'correct' him? I think that's astonishing. But it's a good exercise in humility, thanks bb.
Yikes, Zina, you're supposed to bathe in Deet before working in your organic garden. Northern Colorado has one of the highest incidences of West Nile in the US right now. Play it safe.
Mark, about the time your stomach clears up, it'll be tossing again from all that humble pie (if you can't make good on the concertina .
PS Will sorry to hear about your tumble too, hope you are feeling better as well.
bb it's a mosquito born illness that causes flu-like symptoms I believe, but has also been known to cause death in children, the elderly & those with lowered immunse responses. :(
Back to the subject at hand.
I think that is a fascinating insight bb.
Both humbling and positive.
I know a few trad musicians who would benefit from this technique.
Listening to recordings of your playing can have a similar effect
TTFN
PP
Some while ago a left-handed guitarist/singer turned up at a session with his left-hand guitar. Left-handed fret-instrument players aren't all that uncommon, but this fellow borrowed a right-handed strung guitar and played it left-handed as if it made no difference, all the chords and tune notes were correct. We were impressed.
Trevor
Richard Harrison (a local of Castleford,UK) seems to have made a lifetime hobby of learning instruments upside down,
He flys along on guitar, piano accordion, 3 row melodian, anglo & duet concertinas etc.
How he plays accordion bass upside down, when the rows go the opposite way, I will never know.
Many years ago my piano teacher told me the story of a famous concert pianist who was invited to a party after a concert, and was put in his place when his host played the first movement of a Mozart piano sonata - with his back to the keyboard and his hands behind his back.
Trevor
Well, geez, it's not like the practise of playing the fiddle in weird ways isn't almost SOP in Cape Breton traditions. If you've ever been at a Natalie MacMaster concert, you've seen her stepdance while playing, and apparently those long winter nights with nothing else to do in Cape Breton (a more or less direct quote from Ms. MacMaster during an interview) are also spent trying to figure out weird ways to play your instrument, if you've ever seen Erin Leahy (I think that's the keyboard player sister's name) go through her paces at a Leahy concert.
She plays it with her left hand, she plays it crouched over with the fiddle between her knees and the bow hand behind her, she plays it regular position but with the fiddle upside down, as well as three or four other weirdo positions.
Em, dunno if that's it...there are things that have to happen first before that happens and those haven't happened recently, due to house moving and general exhaustedness! ;) So far today I feel better, so we shall see.
There was a guy back in vaudeville days who juggled banjos (finally, a reasonable use for the things! and plucked a string or two on each one as it went from hand to hand, allegedly producing a melody (a likely story...imagine a melody from a banjo....
Sorry, I shouldn't muck up an otherwise true story with bad banjo jokes.
You know, it's so nice to see such displays of filial devotion...*snort* AJ and Paul, you two are hilarious. Will, next time I see you, I expect to see that banjo juggling thing, although come to think of it, we never did see you juggle, so maybe you're just making it up as a glamorous story of your past... Heh.
Oh yeah, juggling is *very* glamorous...you've obviously never seen "juggler's crack." Think about it....sweaty guys dropping things over and over and then bending over to pick them up. Lather and repeat. That's why most jugglers are solo acts.... (and even duos tend to face each other most of the time, especially when one of them drops something).
Emily, the tune was probably "Up in the Air," or maybe "Drops of Brandy." Owww....
I think this philosophy could apply to singing as well.
The other night, I tried standing upside down on my head and trying a couple of my favorite songs. The results were amazing: everyone in "Thousands Are Sailing" immigrated from the US to Ireland; in "Warlike Lads of Russia," Bonaparte rejoined his troops and commanded them to march backwards from Moscow to Poland; and the poor shmuck in "Patrick Street" was able to get rid of the women's clothes he wore in favor of a nice new suit, and some woman he barely knew left him 30 quid!
(Hey, it worked for country songs and "Red Dwarf")
Come now, don't be insulting. It's *mimes* who wear suspenders. And french striped long sleeve t-shirts, and those flat-soled black dance shoes. Jugglers wear sequined spandex (oh baby), or dress slacks and a vest.
I like the idea of singing upside down. I've applied it to beer wrinking as well, and it did help me realize how far I've come in that pursuit....
Beer wrinking? Reminds me of the recurring gag in the Airplane movies where he pours the drink down his shirt & says, "Sorry, I have a drinking problem." & hey, Randini the Remarkable wears suspenders!
LOL you dork. Your sequined spandex is cutting off O2 to yer brain! Once a juggler... *sigh* Is Rose down the pub again? Do we need to call her to get you off the unicycle?
Em, my dear grasshopper, just *where* are you implying my brain resides???
LOL
Mark, you don't know the half of it. Try riding a unicycle while fiddling dressed like that...and you thought Montana was all cowboy hats and bandana....
*snort*
Actually, typing backwards proves Bridie's point:
.(tnemurtsni na gniyalp ro ,gnidaer ,gnipyt) lliks nevig a htiw flesruoy emoc ev'uoy raf woh ees ot gnidrawer dna ,htiw elggurts srennigeb tahw ezilaer ot gnilbmuh s'tI
(Go ahead and read that last sentence--from bottom to top, right to left--and you'll get just an inkling of how hard it is for some people with learning disabilities to do what the rest of us take for granted.)
Okay Will, I know you're enjoying yourself but can you please stop doing that? It's such hard work to read, but impossible to ignore. You just *have* to read it to see what it says!
whew! Its really hard to read backwards!
Has anyone tried the test? Its nice feeling humbled for a change Only you need to do it in front of other people at a session so you can feel the true burning embarressement. Oh and you have to wear spandex at the time too
Anyway, point well taken Sensei... as for the location & functional level of your 'brain,' Broca's area or no, I'll leave that up to Rose to assess. Careful, your lack of suspenders is revealing some cleavage... !
Oh hallo Aussie shift! Dow, I would liken it to your postings of abc's... challenging at first, but worth getting through, if only to glimpse your dark, twisted humour.
Em - just to clarify -both Sir Nose and Dow were born in England. Technically there are only really two incredibly annoying aussies and that is me and Tish. I'm much worse now that I am Humble
Yeah but SirNose is basically Aussie though isn't he? Poor SirNose has become a character on thesession.org and he can't get away now. Even if he doesn't want to actually post stuff, he's sure to want to read what people are saying about him behind his back LOL!
Anyway, yay! I think I'm better today, kind of, and I saved myself over $50 by *not* going to the doctors! Beebs I think I'll come to the session tonight as I'm going into tune withdrawal.
Yeah Emin, my daltime was surprisingly short considering how much I had to dal with. The Up Downey Reel is already here @ http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/918 but that's a different setting to the one Beebs and SirNose play, and the parts are switched round. I'll put it in the comments section in a few minutes when I've hunted it out...
Yeah lets go play some tunes tonight dow - you will be leaving soon, so you need to make the effort cause we will all miss you so much:(
Sir Nose is totally an aussie - I think he moved to australia when he was 1 or 2.
Oh, well, I *like* that, "incredibly annoying", geez I must be good to shoot so far up the ranks after so few session sessions, nice to see talent is still recognised when folk see it.
Tish, don't wish too hard. They might turn up this week. I hope for ponchowhistler's sake he doesn't. Want to watch Bridie physically hurt someone?! /-:,'
I'm looking everywhere for SirNose's transcription of the Up Downey Abomination, but I can't find it. I can't believe I'm using up all these joules on that tune. Em, do you only want to learn it so you can play it all the time and annoy me. I get enough of that from bb...
Well any opportunity to annoy you & win points with Bridie should go without saying. I can't believe that my practicing over here in Arizona would affect you at all in Okinawa or Oz, though we all know about the BUTTERFLY effect hahahaha
The smiley disappeared off the bottom of my post somehow, don't worry, I wasn't too wounded. 8>)
But bb, I have *so* much more than you to be humble about!!
I *do* play somethin' shocking. (The good thing is that I know it.) But even so, I know how far I have come in the year and a bit I've been at it and your point is a very good one - never forget what it was like when you started and keep how far you feel you have to go in proportion to how far you've already managed to come.
On that note, I'm off to bed. If it's any consolation, I really wish I could attend your session tonight, Aussies. Hope you have a blast, I'll be thinking of you, well sometime around 4am most likely.
Okay, this is Dow signing off on the Aussie shift. I need to venture out for a walk because I've spent too much time lying in bed the last few days. I need to get my strength up so I can get back to drinking.
Ah - rotating bodhran, finally I can post something that is not just another question or plea for help from a beginning screecher.
On most good drums the skin is not uniform. On mine I have a spot in one corner ( if you can have corners on a round thing ) that plays softer than the rest. In another corner it is harder and when pushed tight with the left hand goes very high and pingy, so I tend to play with the drum always in the same orientation, as I know which sounds will come out of which area's - like a map having to be the right way up to make sense.
That probably does mean that the drum will wear unevenly if it is always played one way, however in a really loud session the difference between the soft bit and the loud bit isn't so crucial so the drum probaly gets even wear - hope that answers your query Zina.
Nb once saw a bloke playing the bodhran by hitting the beater against the rim as the drum lay on the floor. He could probably do it as well with either hand......
I was in a session once at the cuckoo fleadh when a group of crustys came in and one proceeded to play the bodhran by bashing it against his head. Unfortunatly for us he didnt knock himself out...mores the pity!!!!
I've always thought it would be a good idea to learn to play left handed, just to see what would happen. For instruments such as concertina or flute, there isn't any fundamental difference (as far as I am aware) between left-hand and right-hand technique, but for stringed instruments, there is. I can't find any logical reason why a fiddle or banjo should be played a particular way round, but if the theories about the diffferent roles of the left and right sides of the brain (i.e. the "practical" side and the "creative" side) are true, surely it must make a difference to ones playing, assuming one can learn to play at an equal technical standard both ways round. Fiddlers who play "left-handed" are few and far between (Finbarr Dwyer is one, although I'm told he hardly plays nowadays) - a fiddle would have to be purpose built to be strung left-handed, without it seriously compromising the tone.
Playing (mandolin) left handed is something which I ought to - especially since I have a slight handicap following an injury to the middle fingertip of my left hand, two years ago (which would not affect my ability to use a pick with that hand). But it feels so awkward and unnatural, that I can't stick at it for more than a couple of minutes. The question is, does it feel any more awkward or unnatural than the first time I ever picked up a guitar?
In truth, it probably does because, at the ripe old age of nearly 30, I'm somewhat less flexible and adaptable than I was back then, physically and mentally - and the absolute certainty that I was on the brink of becoming a world famous rock star no doubt made it feel perfectly natural. Now, the absolute certainty that I will never be able to play the mandolin as well left-handed as I already can right-handed makes it feel perfecty pointless.
Sorry, but just a slight correction, David. If you're a left handed player of the keyed wooden flute, you need to have one built for you as the keys have to be the "mirror image" of a right handed flute. I suppose that must be the same for the boehm system thing also.
Born Again Beginer
Born Again Beginer
I had a very strange experience on the Sunday night session I attend. After a few pints (ovbviously) someone suggested I hold my fiddle with my other hand and try playing that way just for a laugh, back to front.
Oh the noise!!!! it was hideous, hello kitty! And all of a sudden it all came flooding back.....the feeling of being a complete beginer on the fiddle. The way it feels so abnormal and uncomfortable and just wrong.
I had totally forgotten, its been such a long time. And ask Dow and Sir Nose, I am *always* complaining that I'm not good enough and that I'm mediocre. That I'll never get to an acceptable level. I usually feel pretty much inferior - especially around my very talented peers and friends.
I found that doing this became a really positive thing because it shows how far I've come. I think everyone should try it, particularly if you are a big ole session snob. It really puts things in perspective again both what it feels like to be a beginer and also realising how far you've come! Concertina players could turn them upside down. Would that work? Flute players, turn the flute the other way around. And then post a comment here and let me what you think.
Cheers, bb
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
You mean we should rotate our bodhrans?
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by cuchulain54
Re: Born Again Beginer
God Beebs what's your problem? I turned my concertina upside down and could play it perfectly, and I'm getting better at doing it with my feet and a combination of hands and feet too. I'm working on playing with one hand or foot only. You just need to open your mind girl
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
But are you the Jimi Hendrix of the concertina fraternity, Dow? Thursday night I want to see you play concertina behind your back.
(And no, before you ask, playing it behind someone else's back won't count.)
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Tish
Re: Born Again Beginer
I thought you'd like this post Dow - since I probably wont be complaining about being so bad all the time anymore!
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
Yeah you Aussies talk about "whingeing Poms", well sorry but I've never heard a more whining complaining group of people than the Aussies.
This is to all the Poms out there: what we suspected was true - they seem laid-back and uncomplaining yeah, but that's only because the weather here is fantastic every single day of the year. If Poms had that weather they'd be the happiest people on earth. As it is, Sydneysiders start complaining about it being "chilly" when the temperature goes below 20 degrees C. Time to get out your "winter woollies".
And Tish, if I'm well enough to come and play on Thursday night you might just be surprised at what is possible with concertinas
[I'll give you a clue: "make a hoop with your arms and step through it]
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
I'll look forward to that, Dow, and hope you are feeling well enough soon. Kinda like Zina said, with food poisoning, first you worry you're going to die and then you worry that you might not...
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Tish
Re: Born Again Beginer
Yeah well I'm into my 3rd day of misery now, and I'm definitely seeing what Zina meant. I have put off going to the doctor's thinking that I couldn't afford the check-up + drugs, and that I'd need the money for alcohol. It's like: get your priorities right! I think I've caved in today tho'. It might mean that I'm better by tomorrow, but I won't have any money for beer so you and bb will have to shout me
Anyway, off to the doc's {:-\
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
You've got my sympathies, Mark, if only because I'm not feeling very good myself. Either something disagreed with me or I've got West Nile virus! I'm headed off for bed...again (third time today)...
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Born Again Beginer
If you're there, Dow, I'll buy you a drink for sure 8>)
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Tish
Re: Born Again Beginer
Dow - that is such Bollix - you are the biggest winger I have ever met!!!!
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
ooo ooo Zina did you get my package yet? I know what it might be! Hope you & Dow both feel better, yikes.
Pertaining to the thread though, did you know Seamus Egan plays flute the 'conventional way' but he switches hands on whistle b/c he started learning whistle before anyone could 'correct' him? I think that's astonishing. But it's a good exercise in humility, thanks bb.
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Yikes, Zina, you're supposed to bathe in Deet before working in your organic garden. Northern Colorado has one of the highest incidences of West Nile in the US right now. Play it safe.
Mark, about the time your stomach clears up, it'll be tossing again from all that humble pie (if you can't make good on the concertina
.
Okay...midnight. I'm off to bed early....
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
What is 'West Nile'?
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
It's the One that Starts like This....
PS Will sorry to hear about your tumble too, hope you are feeling better as well.
bb it's a mosquito born illness that causes flu-like symptoms I believe, but has also been known to cause death in children, the elderly & those with lowered immunse responses. :(
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Sounds like Malaria or 'Ross River Fever'
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Back to the subject at hand.
I think that is a fascinating insight bb.
Both humbling and positive.
I know a few trad musicians who would benefit from this technique.
Listening to recordings of your playing can have a similar effect
TTFN
PP
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Pied Piper
Re: Born Again Beginer
Some while ago a left-handed guitarist/singer turned up at a session with his left-hand guitar. Left-handed fret-instrument players aren't all that uncommon, but this fellow borrowed a right-handed strung guitar and played it left-handed as if it made no difference, all the chords and tune notes were correct. We were impressed.
Trevor
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by lazyhound
Re: Born Again Beginer
It's worth noting that "Shakey egg" players also find it just as easy to play left handed or with the instrument held upside down.
)
John
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by Johannes J
Re: Born Again Beginer
Richard Harrison (a local of Castleford,UK) seems to have made a lifetime hobby of learning instruments upside down,
He flys along on guitar, piano accordion, 3 row melodian, anglo & duet concertinas etc.
How he plays accordion bass upside down, when the rows go the opposite way, I will never know.
# Posted on September 16th 2003 by geoffwright
Re: Born Again Beginer
Many years ago my piano teacher told me the story of a famous concert pianist who was invited to a party after a concert, and was put in his place when his host played the first movement of a Mozart piano sonata - with his back to the keyboard and his hands behind his back.
Trevor
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by lazyhound
Re: Born Again Beginer
Well, geez, it's not like the practise of playing the fiddle in weird ways isn't almost SOP in Cape Breton traditions. If you've ever been at a Natalie MacMaster concert, you've seen her stepdance while playing, and apparently those long winter nights with nothing else to do in Cape Breton (a more or less direct quote from Ms. MacMaster during an interview) are also spent trying to figure out weird ways to play your instrument, if you've ever seen Erin Leahy (I think that's the keyboard player sister's name) go through her paces at a Leahy concert.
She plays it with her left hand, she plays it crouched over with the fiddle between her knees and the bow hand behind her, she plays it regular position but with the fiddle upside down, as well as three or four other weirdo positions.
Em, dunno if that's it...there are things that have to happen first before that happens and those haven't happened recently, due to house moving and general exhaustedness! ;) So far today I feel better, so we shall see.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Born Again Beginer
AJ tucks the end of the bow under his chin and moves the fiddle back and forth across it.
Paul
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by cuchulain54
Re: Born Again Beginer
There was a guy back in vaudeville days who juggled banjos (finally, a reasonable use for the things!
and plucked a string or two on each one as it went from hand to hand, allegedly producing a melody (a likely story...imagine a melody from a banjo.... 
Sorry, I shouldn't muck up an otherwise true story with bad banjo jokes.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
Maybe if each banjo had every string tuned to a certain note? Ode to the Joy of Juggling Banjos....
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
You know, it's so nice to see such displays of filial devotion...*snort* AJ and Paul, you two are hilarious. Will, next time I see you, I expect to see that banjo juggling thing, although come to think of it, we never did see you juggle, so maybe you're just making it up as a glamorous story of your past... Heh.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Born Again Beginer
Oh yeah, juggling is *very* glamorous...you've obviously never seen "juggler's crack." Think about it....sweaty guys dropping things over and over and then bending over to pick them up. Lather and repeat. That's why most jugglers are solo acts.... (and even duos tend to face each other most of the time, especially when one of them drops something).
Emily, the tune was probably "Up in the Air," or maybe "Drops of Brandy." Owww....
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
I think this philosophy could apply to singing as well.
The other night, I tried standing upside down on my head and trying a couple of my favorite songs. The results were amazing: everyone in "Thousands Are Sailing" immigrated from the US to Ireland; in "Warlike Lads of Russia," Bonaparte rejoined his troops and commanded them to march backwards from Moscow to Poland; and the poor shmuck in "Patrick Street" was able to get rid of the women's clothes he wore in favor of a nice new suit, and some woman he barely knew left him 30 quid!
(Hey, it worked for country songs and "Red Dwarf")
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by sts
Re: Born Again Beginer
The Floating Crowbar?
PS I thought that's why jugglers were required to wear suspenders in addition to goofy hats.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Come now, don't be insulting.
It's *mimes* who wear suspenders. And french striped long sleeve t-shirts, and those flat-soled black dance shoes. Jugglers wear sequined spandex (oh baby), or dress slacks and a vest.
I like the idea of singing upside down. I've applied it to beer wrinking as well, and it did help me realize how far I've come in that pursuit....
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
And black bowlers, with white face and that goofy little tear down one cheek. Or am I thinking of Harlequin?
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Zina Lee
P.S.
Just got the package today...Em, WHERE did you get this!? I mean, i kNOW where you got it, LOL, but...but...but...
Hehehe. More on this in a bit, but must run for a rehearsal with George...back afterwards.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Born Again Beginer
Heh, to be continued...
Beer wrinking? Reminds me of the recurring gag in the Airplane movies where he pours the drink down his shirt & says, "Sorry, I have a drinking problem." & hey, Randini the Remarkable wears suspenders!
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
)o :...rotinom eht ecaf ot denrut draobyek eht htiw gnipyt ysae ton s'tI !ti yrt uoy ,ylimE yeH
lliW
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
LOL you dork. Your sequined spandex is cutting off O2 to yer brain! Once a juggler... *sigh* Is Rose down the pub again? Do we need to call her to get you off the unicycle?
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Sequinned spandex and electric blue vinyl kneeboots with four inch heels and zippers up the back? Will, you really are a worry.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
& yet... he's still the Sensei!!
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Em, my dear grasshopper, just *where* are you implying my brain resides???
LOL
Mark, you don't know the half of it. Try riding a unicycle while fiddling dressed like that...and you thought Montana was all cowboy hats and bandana....
*snort*
Actually, typing backwards proves Bridie's point:
.(tnemurtsni na gniyalp ro ,gnidaer ,gnipyt) lliks nevig a htiw flesruoy emoc ev'uoy raf woh ees ot gnidrawer dna ,htiw elggurts srennigeb tahw ezilaer ot gnilbmuh s'tI
(Go ahead and read that last sentence--from bottom to top, right to left--and you'll get just an inkling of how hard it is for some people with learning disabilities to do what the rest of us take for granted.)
Will (the Spandex Sensei)
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
Okay Will, I know you're enjoying yourself but can you please stop doing that? It's such hard work to read, but impossible to ignore. You just *have* to read it to see what it says!
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
whew! Its really hard to read backwards!
Only you need to do it in front of other people at a session so you can feel the true burning embarressement. Oh and you have to wear spandex at the time too
Has anyone tried the test? Its nice feeling humbled for a change
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
Are you calling me a mint chocolate cookie?
Anyway, point well taken Sensei... as for the location & functional level of your 'brain,' Broca's area or no, I'll leave that up to Rose to assess. Careful, your lack of suspenders is revealing some cleavage... !
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Oh hallo Aussie shift! Dow, I would liken it to your postings of abc's... challenging at first, but worth getting through, if only to glimpse your dark, twisted humour.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
You Yanks are scary
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
Em - just to clarify -both Sir Nose and Dow were born in England. Technically there are only really two incredibly annoying aussies and that is me and Tish. I'm much worse now that I am Humble
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
Well at least he's not wearing a poncho. *snort*
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
LOL bb
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
No, the poncho comes off as soon as I hit my mark center stage. Gotta flaunt that sparkly spandex....
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Born Again Beginer
Yeah but SirNose is basically Aussie though isn't he? Poor SirNose has become a character on thesession.org and he can't get away now. Even if he doesn't want to actually post stuff, he's sure to want to read what people are saying about him behind his back LOL!
Anyway, yay! I think I'm better today, kind of, and I saved myself over $50 by *not* going to the doctors! Beebs I think I'll come to the session tonight as I'm going into tune withdrawal.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
I'm watching Jerry Springer, it's so tragic. You Yanks have a *lot* to answer for...
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
*blank stare* @ Will's striptease.
Good to hear your dalling is waning, Dow. When will you get round to posting the Uppy Downy reel? I'm dying to learn it.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Yeah Emin, my daltime was surprisingly short considering how much I had to dal with. The Up Downey Reel is already here @ http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/918 but that's a different setting to the one Beebs and SirNose play, and the parts are switched round. I'll put it in the comments section in a few minutes when I've hunted it out...
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
Yeah lets go play some tunes tonight dow - you will be leaving soon, so you need to make the effort cause we will all miss you so much:(
Sir Nose is totally an aussie - I think he moved to australia when he was 1 or 2.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
Ah I was looking under 'Uppy.'
Yes, do turn off the crap, Dow, the next segment is actually called 'A Juggling Fiddle Player Stole My Wife!' It gets real ugly, real fast.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Oh gosh I totally forgot about all that!
Slainte, if you are planning to meet up with Dow, please send me your mailing address, I'll send you over a poncho.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Oh, well, I *like* that, "incredibly annoying", geez I must be good to shoot so far up the ranks after so few session sessions, nice to see talent is still recognised when folk see it.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Tish
(Rummages in phone book to find pawnshops to buy djembe en route to tonight's session)
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Tish
Re: Born Again Beginer
Tish, don't wish too hard. They might turn up this week. I hope for ponchowhistler's sake he doesn't. Want to watch Bridie physically hurt someone?! /-:,'
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Em, I think Slainte's in the UK when I go over to Okinawa
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
I'm looking everywhere for SirNose's transcription of the Up Downey Abomination, but I can't find it. I can't believe I'm using up all these joules on that tune. Em, do you only want to learn it so you can play it all the time and annoy me. I get enough of that from bb...
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
LOL @ abomination
Well any opportunity to annoy you & win points with Bridie should go without saying. I can't believe that my practicing over here in Arizona would affect you at all in Okinawa or Oz, though we all know about the BUTTERFLY effect hahahaha
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
Hey - take it as a compliment - it means youre as cool as me Tish and that is a hard thing to be
See - humble - good!
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
Awwww, gee, shucks (blush).
The smiley disappeared off the bottom of my post somehow, don't worry, I wasn't too wounded. 8>)
But bb, I have *so* much more than you to be humble about!!
I *do* play somethin' shocking. (The good thing is that I know it.) But even so, I know how far I have come in the year and a bit I've been at it and your point is a very good one - never forget what it was like when you started and keep how far you feel you have to go in proportion to how far you've already managed to come.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Tish
Re: Born Again Beginer
Amen Tish.
On that note, I'm off to bed. If it's any consolation, I really wish I could attend your session tonight, Aussies. Hope you have a blast, I'll be thinking of you, well sometime around 4am most likely.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: Born Again Beginer
I've just found SirNose's transcription of the UDA. See comments section.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
Ooo, er, as Big Dave would say. Just remember, spandex is a privilege, not a right...
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Born Again Beginer
Okay, this is Dow signing off on the Aussie shift. I need to venture out for a walk because I've spent too much time lying in bed the last few days. I need to get my strength up so I can get back to drinking.
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by Dow
Re: Born Again Beginer
personnaly I don't see what the fuss is about, I can make just as many horrible screechy sounds with one hand as I can the other!
# Posted on September 17th 2003 by clunk999
Re: Born Again Beginer
Session report: no ponchos or djembes in sight this week and Dow was well enough to perform Concertina Contortions.
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by Tish
Re: Born Again Beginer
You mean we should rotate our bodhrans?
1) How would you tell the difference between a beginning bodhran player and an expert anyway?
2) No, hold the beater in your left hand. Now whack it with the bodhran.
---Michael B.'s evil twin
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by MichaelBolton
Re: Born Again Beginer
Is rotating a bodhran like rotating your tires? So the wear is even? That way the skin doesn't get bald or thin spots in one specific place?
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Born Again Beginer
Or a fertility rite, like crop rotation. Because they need all the help they can get
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by nastyweegirl
Re: Born Again Beginner
I meant to correct that before, and save Danny a job. He'll need all his energy for the First Night at the Blythe Hill Tavern tonight!
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by nastyweegirl
Re: Born Again Beginer
Ah - rotating bodhran, finally I can post something that is not just another question or plea for help from a beginning screecher.
On most good drums the skin is not uniform. On mine I have a spot in one corner ( if you can have corners on a round thing ) that plays softer than the rest. In another corner it is harder and when pushed tight with the left hand goes very high and pingy, so I tend to play with the drum always in the same orientation, as I know which sounds will come out of which area's - like a map having to be the right way up to make sense.
That probably does mean that the drum will wear unevenly if it is always played one way, however in a really loud session the difference between the soft bit and the loud bit isn't so crucial so the drum probaly gets even wear - hope that answers your query Zina.
Nb once saw a bloke playing the bodhran by hitting the beater against the rim as the drum lay on the floor. He could probably do it as well with either hand......
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by clunk999
Re: Born Again Beginer
I was in a session once at the cuckoo fleadh when a group of crustys came in and one proceeded to play the bodhran by bashing it against his head. Unfortunatly for us he didnt knock himself out...mores the pity!!!!
# Posted on September 18th 2003 by bb
Re: Born Again Beginer
I've always thought it would be a good idea to learn to play left handed, just to see what would happen. For instruments such as concertina or flute, there isn't any fundamental difference (as far as I am aware) between left-hand and right-hand technique, but for stringed instruments, there is. I can't find any logical reason why a fiddle or banjo should be played a particular way round, but if the theories about the diffferent roles of the left and right sides of the brain (i.e. the "practical" side and the "creative" side) are true, surely it must make a difference to ones playing, assuming one can learn to play at an equal technical standard both ways round. Fiddlers who play "left-handed" are few and far between (Finbarr Dwyer is one, although I'm told he hardly plays nowadays) - a fiddle would have to be purpose built to be strung left-handed, without it seriously compromising the tone.
Playing (mandolin) left handed is something which I ought to - especially since I have a slight handicap following an injury to the middle fingertip of my left hand, two years ago (which would not affect my ability to use a pick with that hand). But it feels so awkward and unnatural, that I can't stick at it for more than a couple of minutes. The question is, does it feel any more awkward or unnatural than the first time I ever picked up a guitar?
In truth, it probably does because, at the ripe old age of nearly 30, I'm somewhat less flexible and adaptable than I was back then, physically and mentally - and the absolute certainty that I was on the brink of becoming a world famous rock star no doubt made it feel perfectly natural. Now, the absolute certainty that I will never be able to play the mandolin as well left-handed as I already can right-handed makes it feel perfecty pointless.
Discuss.
# Posted on September 19th 2003 by ragaman
Re: Born Again Beginer
Tanks bb, for giving us a meaningful topic to assosiate with your cryptic acronym!
# Posted on September 19th 2003 by MrGanAinm
Re: Born Again Beginer
Sorry, but just a slight correction, David. If you're a left handed player of the keyed wooden flute, you need to have one built for you as the keys have to be the "mirror image" of a right handed flute. I suppose that must be the same for the boehm system thing also.
Danny.
# Posted on September 19th 2003 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Born Again Beginer
Sorry, danny - I forgot about keys. I think I'm stuck somewhere in the 17th century, before mandolins had strings.
# Posted on September 22nd 2003 by ragaman