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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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Private lessons will have to wait for next year, when the budget can afford it. |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:03 am Post subject: |
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My next little challenge for fingering is playing B and C on the A string. In Irish Washerwoman, there is a portion where you bounce back and forth between those notes. My fingers keep getting in each other's way. |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:12 am Post subject: |
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And now we have a third song memorized. yay.
Ailiu Aenai.
It is a simple little song, really, but can sound very nice when I change strings without the extra squawk.
Thus, a new basic technique exercise I am working on this week is changing strings without any extra sound. |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Practice session now includes the following songs:
1. Amazing Grace
2. Suo Gan
3. Ailui Eanai
4. Irish Washerwoman
5. Star of the County Down
Soon, I will begin on Hava Nagila and Hatikvah.
My left hand is beginning to get used to the finger board. I find myself looking at it less and less for a song like Amazing Grace that I know all the notes for. |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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I bought a new block of rosin, Super Sensitive. Dark. Being a brand new block, the rosin seem to stay on the bow easier.
I also used tonight to double check all of my fret marks, and then tackled one of the songs I have wanted to play in violin...Hatikvah. It is a beautiful song when played correctly.
As an experiment, I tried to not look at the fiddle at all while playing Amazing Grace. I managed to get nearly 90% of it -- at least as correctly as I would normally play it. I guess I am finally learning the sounds by ear/position and holding the bow consistently.
Last edited by caeman on Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mat Roop Senior Member
Joined: 24 Mar 2007 Posts: 911 Location: Wyoming Ontario
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 8:22 am Post subject: |
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The style of music I am learning is old-time and irish. A lot of the greats of those genres are self-taught. They played what worked. That is the route I am following and I am loving the journey.
This week, I began working on Hatikvah and I'll Fly Away.
6 weeks into this process, I am finally beginning to feel the instrument. I am having to look at the finger board less, and even my bow position. I was able to play through much of I'll Fly Away without looking at the fiddle. There were certainly mistakes made, but as a learning experience, I found it invaluable.
Last edited by caeman on Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by caeman on Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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techfiddle Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 122
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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_________________ Connie's Violin Page
Internet resources for string players,
string teachers, parents & students
http://beststudentviolins.com/Home.html
Last edited by techfiddle on Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:37 am; edited 4 times in total |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by caeman on Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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omega3 Junior Member
Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Posts: 1
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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Caeman, I really enjoy your post. In some ways I do identify with you. You and I started about the same time. I also do not have a teacher. Mostly because the only teacher is miles away. However, I am proud of my progress.
So you keep sawing away, I'll do the same. Ignore those who dig at you for what they may consider unorthodox methods. I haven't spent 71 years on this planet without learning a few things about people. My fiddle has given me much pleasure. I hope you feel the same way about what you do.
I recently picked up on Rocky Top, a simple yet fun song to play
Also Tit Willow another fun song
plus a few Irish Reels.
Have a great day
Omega3 _________________ don't quit, never |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:06 am Post subject: |
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Thank you, Omega.
I love music. I like singing, I like to play instruments. I am agnostic when it comes to music styles. I will listen to rai one moment, then a country the song the next, then the blues, maybe a Mozart piece, kick it spiritual with Third Day, etc.
My free wheeling attitude with music crosses over to my learning. I just sit down and do it. I have a "got get'em" attitude and find a certain freedom in the self-learning method. I watched the YouTube videos, I read the books. I see what the others attempt to teach and try stuff out. I keep what works for me and leave out what doesn't.
I am absolutely loving my time on the fiddle right now. I am approaching the two month mark of having one. Amazing Grace sounds loads better than it did in week 2. I am going to work on it a little more than make a recording next week for comments. My video camera sucks for audio, so I may just do an audio recording. Or both, since I will be looking for visual style remarks, as well. |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Patience.
Patience.
Patience.
The bass guitar and fiddle are my two primary instruments of the ones I am learning. When I am either, I find myself rushing too much. I want to do more, but I don't have the practice time in as of yet to be able to do those things.
It is actually a little frustrating. I was a little spoiled from having been on the drum set for 28 years. Everything on there is so easy now. |
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techfiddle Member
Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 122
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Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:38 am Post subject: |
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fingerboard is singular _________________ Connie's Violin Page
Internet resources for string players,
string teachers, parents & students
http://beststudentviolins.com/Home.html
Last edited by techfiddle on Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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caeman Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2008 Posts: 143
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Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Another 45 minutes last night. I put on a new set of cheat marks on the finger boards, making sure everything was in tune, but I find myself looking at them less now on the key of D songs I am playing. DEF#GABC#D. I have this basic fingering in first position kinda mostly memorized now without looking. Most modern Irish jigs and reels are D or G.
And on the subject of strings, the one local music shop near me doesn't carry D'addario and I see a lot of people swooning over the Helicore strings. I think I am going to make a set of those a gift to myself come Chanukah season. |
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