In a recent thread about accordion styles I watched a clip of John Whelan playing brilliantly. He was smiling and I decided to try the same last night with the fiddle. It made quite a difference: my playing was more relaxed and playful and I attempted different ornamentation and bowing on well-worn tunes. I seemed to be much more responsive to the feedback I was getting from the instrument. Anyway, I think it could be a genuine breakthrough. Has anyone else had a similar discovery? Should I be wary of 'breakthroughs' such as these?
I'm a box player not a fiddler, but I genuinely find it difficult to smile whilst I'm playing. I've tried a few times but it somehow never works out. I've seen pictures of myself at sessions, possibly some of my happiest moments, looking as though someone's just died.
I think smilling does make a difference to your playing. Though some people do find it hard. Don't know why. I know some really good players who don't smile, so it's certainly not essential. However, I don't think I've ever met a poor player who did smile
As for being "wary of breakthroughs" - uh? what? If it helps your playing, then go for it. (I make no distinction here between "helping your technical ability" and "helping you enjoy your playing more")
It was the estimable Michael Gill, who gave me one of those breakthroughs some years ago on this board. If memory serves someone had been asking about whether it was a sin to look at ones fingers while playing, and Llig said something that amounted to "stop worrying about what you are doing, and just listen to yourself - just allow yourself to hear what others are hearing as you play".
I had recently taken up a new instrument and had reached a sort of stalemate - but Llig's advice made a huge difference.
So Quinno - just smile and play - if that works for you.
Haha. No more to be said really. What I found interesting was that I forced myself to smile at the beginning and then soon I was smiling genuinely. I've heard of techniques like this for interviews and things like that, but it never occurred to me before to try it while fiddling. I would recommend it to learners who feel that some sort of anxiety might be affecting their playing.
It all depends on the mood....You could laugh your knickers off like Miss Shannon (probably laughing because she's getting big bucks for doing very little) or sleep right through the whole performance like these two gents. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7z9iPVNYsE
Me, I just look around in the hope of seeing someone famous. Saw that guy of the telly once at the bar....use to do the weather forecast....feck it...I've forgotten the name!
I disagree, all music should be joyous. The key/mode does not effect that. However, depending on whose playing the Kerry polka, there's a good chance I'd grimacing through that one.
"I'm a box player not a fiddler, but I genuinely find it difficult to smile whilst I'm playing. I've tried a few times but it somehow never works out."
You're not playing bare-chested by any chance, are you?
I've read that the physical act of bunching your facial muscles in a smile releases endorphins. You smile when you feel good, and smiling makes you feel good.
Still, my favorite response to the ole bromide "It takes more muscles to frown than to smile" -- "OK so I'm a fitness freak."
"A smile is a frown upside down" sang Fats Waller. But then he also sang "Up in Harlem, at a table for two, there was four of us, me, your big feet and you". What that's got to do with it I don't know, but it's a great line.
Ha... Playing in a band if I had a penny for every time we were told to smile...??? Couple of weeks ago we had a back handed compliment. We were told "... great sound lads... but for feck's sake SMILE!" This week we all smiled like we had eaten a banana sideways and the sounds went tits up. So it's clear then we need more smiling rehearsals...
Is it just me that gets really p*ssed off when someone smiles for no reason? Or they smile all the time, whatever the situation? Smile when there's something to smile about, dammit! Then I'll know you're smiling for real, and not just for show!
Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Smiling when you play. Eureka!
In a recent thread about accordion styles I watched a clip of John Whelan playing brilliantly. He was smiling and I decided to try the same last night with the fiddle. It made quite a difference: my playing was more relaxed and playful and I attempted different ornamentation and bowing on well-worn tunes. I seemed to be much more responsive to the feedback I was getting from the instrument. Anyway, I think it could be a genuine breakthrough. Has anyone else had a similar discovery? Should I be wary of 'breakthroughs' such as these?
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Quinno
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I'm a box player not a fiddler, but I genuinely find it difficult to smile whilst I'm playing. I've tried a few times but it somehow never works out. I've seen pictures of myself at sessions, possibly some of my happiest moments, looking as though someone's just died.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Joe Wass
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I think smilling does make a difference to your playing. Though some people do find it hard. Don't know why. I know some really good players who don't smile, so it's certainly not essential. However, I don't think I've ever met a poor player who did smile
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by ...
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Some can smile, some can't.
Some can tap a foot, some can't.
As for being "wary of breakthroughs" - uh? what? If it helps your playing, then go for it. (I make no distinction here between "helping your technical ability" and "helping you enjoy your playing more")
It was the estimable Michael Gill, who gave me one of those breakthroughs some years ago on this board. If memory serves someone had been asking about whether it was a sin to look at ones fingers while playing, and Llig said something that amounted to "stop worrying about what you are doing, and just listen to yourself - just allow yourself to hear what others are hearing as you play".
I had recently taken up a new instrument and had reached a sort of stalemate - but Llig's advice made a huge difference.
So Quinno - just smile and play - if that works for you.
(and thank you Michael)
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Haha. No more to be said really. What I found interesting was that I forced myself to smile at the beginning and then soon I was smiling genuinely. I've heard of techniques like this for interviews and things like that, but it never occurred to me before to try it while fiddling. I would recommend it to learners who feel that some sort of anxiety might be affecting their playing.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Quinno
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Playing the fiddle during an interview? Well - I suppose you'd be the applicant they'd all remember at the end of a hard day's interviewing.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Aren't interviews with instruments called 'auditions'?
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Joe Wass
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Quinno, you just sort of stumbled into a secret about playing: it is very much like method acting
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Nate Ryan
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I usually start with a slow rendition of Banish Misfortune, then if I see that the interviewer is impressed I'll read from Finnegan's Wake.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Quinno
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
It all depends on the mood....You could laugh your knickers off like Miss Shannon (probably laughing because she's getting big bucks for doing very little) or sleep right through the whole performance like these two gents.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7z9iPVNYsE
Me, I just look around in the hope of seeing someone famous. Saw that guy of the telly once at the bar....use to do the weather forecast....feck it...I've forgotten the name!
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
What's that? 70's night? look at the hair!
ROFLMTO!
(btw - it's always Michael Fish)
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
You play better when relaxed, and doesn't smiling take less effort than frowning, and causes you to loosen up? Seems logical to me!
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Aye, but it takes even less muscles to just sit there with a dumb look on your face.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
A bit messier though, need something to catch the drool.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Like a flute?
Or the musician sitting next to you.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
"I know some really good players who don't smile, so it's certainly not essential. However, I don't think I've ever met a poor player who did smile"
Thus good players either smile or not.........
.....and poor players don't smile.
I smile when playing, so either
a) I'm good or
b) Michael has not met me and heard me play
Only one of these is true and I know which !
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by domhnall.
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Ha!
I play regularly with a dear old gent who plays harmonicas and has an assortment of slobber catching materials.
We sit him next to the fluter and let them slobber all over each other. Containment. Quarantine.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Not near the banjo player?
How do you know a banjo player is sitting up straight?
The drool is coming out of both sides of his mouth.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Actually, we sort of like our banjo player. Why? He used to be a hammered dulcimer player. Progress! Baby steps!
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
the banjo player is sitting up straight and drooling because *someone* just goosed him "accidentaly" with their regs *again*
back tonight, done in and on auto pilot, but starting to get less frantic busy.
- chris
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
"l" please insert in "accidentaly" above
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I think smiling is good even if you are not playing .
As my muslim friends say to smile is a blessing .
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
But smiling when you'r playing a sad tune or a mean minor tune is a bit out of place, I think. It doesn't fit with the feeling of the tune.
You should smile to the Kerry polka, though.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by Gallowglass
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I disagree, all music should be joyous. The key/mode does not effect that. However, depending on whose playing the Kerry polka, there's a good chance I'd grimacing through that one.
# Posted on November 25th 2009 by ...
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
"I'm a box player not a fiddler, but I genuinely find it difficult to smile whilst I'm playing. I've tried a few times but it somehow never works out."
You're not playing bare-chested by any chance, are you?
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Steve Shaw
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I've read that the physical act of bunching your facial muscles in a smile releases endorphins. You smile when you feel good, and smiling makes you feel good.
Still, my favorite response to the ole bromide "It takes more muscles to frown than to smile" -- "OK so I'm a fitness freak."
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by fidkid
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
"A smile is a frown upside down" sang Fats Waller. But then he also sang "Up in Harlem, at a table for two, there was four of us, me, your big feet and you". What that's got to do with it I don't know, but it's a great line.
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by RichardB
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
all that meat ... and no potatoes
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by ...
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Ha... Playing in a band if I had a penny for every time we were told to smile...??? Couple of weeks ago we had a back handed compliment. We were told "... great sound lads... but for feck's sake SMILE!" This week we all smiled like we had eaten a banana sideways and the sounds went tits up. So it's clear then we need more smiling rehearsals...
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by weebag
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
ha ha, should be on the old feckin' performance/non-performence nonsense:
When is a session not a session? When everyone's smiling like they'd been eating bananas sideways.
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by ...
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
When you're smiling
When you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you
When you're laughing
When you're laughing
The sun comes shining through
But when you're crying
You bring on the rain
So stop your sighing
Be happy again
Keep on smiling
Cause when you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you
But most of a don't of course, when we're playing trad ..
... all part of the tradition, it seems ....
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Blue eyes, blue eyes, tell me do?
Did the sun beams shine for you?
When you smile, the world smiles to,
Blue eyes, blue eyes, I love you.
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by ...
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I thought it was an old tradition or something that button box players, at least, always looked as miserable as sin - or is that just here in England?
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Well, it might be mainly an English thing, Ebor.
My observation is that Irish musicians are more likely to smile when playing ...
... but they mostly smile with their eyes, if the song is to be believed ...
.. When Irish Eyes are Smiling ...
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
My gift to you all. Happy Thanksgiving:
http://joefago.com/smile.mp3
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by fidkid
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Surely that's Shirley?
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I told you not to call me Shirley!
# Posted on November 26th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Is it just me that gets really p*ssed off when someone smiles for no reason? Or they smile all the time, whatever the situation? Smile when there's something to smile about, dammit! Then I'll know you're smiling for real, and not just for show!
# Posted on November 27th 2009 by Joe CSS
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I'm with you Joe..
# Posted on November 27th 2009 by Andyras1
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
This music makes me smile. And I'm afflicted with the stuff running in endless loops in my head 24/7. Dammit.
# Posted on November 27th 2009 by ...
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
Just because you show your teeth doesn't mean you're smiling.
# Posted on November 27th 2009 by fidkid
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
True.
# Posted on November 27th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Smiling when you play. Eureka!
I tried smiling when I was playing the flute...didn't work,
Eye smiling? I look constapated.
I've seen this come up a few times, anyone playing the music enjoys it
# Posted on November 27th 2009 by premier