|
What, exactly, is a fiddle tune?
"A fiddle tune is a melody that once you hear it, you can't seem to get it out of your head until you can grab your banjo
and learn it yourself. A fiddle tune is a living cord connecting us back to long ago generations, to feel deep in ourselves
just a fragment of feeling transmitted from across the ages by some plain common folk, our ancestors otherwise long forgotten.
A fiddle tune is a kind of tune that has a lot of music concentrated in just a little bit of space, and in that respect it
is to notes what poetry is to words. A good fiddle tune you can play for a very long time and not get tired of it. A good
fiddle tune is a tune that you can never quite play the same way twice, even when you want to. A good fiddle tune will bring
two or more people together who might otherwise be enemies. Fiddle tunes all pretty much sound the same, except they all sound
different when you finally hear them. A good fiddle tune will always be remembered by somebody. And a good fiddle tune will
make you forget, for just an instant, that man is born to die."
- Don Borchelt
www.banjr.com
FIDDLE LOG
20 June 2006:
I guess it's time to add an update here, I have been a little lax in keeping up the site. When last we met, I had just
finished with the classes from Pima Community College and was starting into the Old Time Fiddle book by Wayne Erbsen.
I have pretty much worked through the book, at least the D tunes. I need to keep at them to get them smooth and up to
speed, but am enjoying the experience. As usual, my work ethic lags and I don't do a lot of scale practice or technique work
as I should. I tend to pick up the fiddle and start playing tunes. I usually work on several each time I play, but tend to
concentrate on the ones that really interest me. Along with the book, I have found music and/or tab for several tunes, mostly
waltzes or 3/4 time pieces like Tom Bigbee's Waltz, Lorena, Ashokan Farewell and Westphalia Waltz. It is interesting to attempt
to play these from the notation and to figure out bowing for them.
Bowing will be my next big step, I think. The slower pieces force me to think about the stroke, because they have a lot
of half-notes or longer and are played at a slower tempo, forcing me to consider how to get a nice, long, smooth sound from
one bowstroke. I am still at the stage where I get a fair amount of unwanted noises from this.
Fiddling is fun, and I think a little addictive, just as the guitar and banjo are! My goal is to be able to add the fiddle
to my live playing within the next year - we'll see!
23 March 2006:
This was the last session in my 6 classes. There wasn't much to it, the other student and I each played a couple of the
tunes we had learned in the class, then played in unison. For a grand finale, we each played anything that we had been working
on; I did "Danny Boy," because I had been figuring it out for St Patrick's Day, but hadn't recorded it yet.
Over all impression of the class: I think for someone who is considering learning the violin, this type of class is an
excellent introduction. For a nominal fee, you can learn how to hold the instrument and bow, how to use the bow, and learn
a few simple songs. The classes were a little too basic for me, but I knew that going in. I got what I wanted from the experience
- pointers on technique. Before the last class I had picked up a method book for old-time fiddle, and have been using it to
learn a lot more of the type of music I want to play. The book is "Old-Time Fiddle for the Complete Ignoramus" by
Wayne Erbsen. It comes with a companion CD, and is a great resource. I would recommend it to anybody starting to play old-time
fiddle.
16 March 2006:
Tonight the instructor helped me figure out that I need to get more down-pressure on my bow to stop the bouncing. We had
a discussion about whether I need more or less tension on the frog. I am going to try more tension for a while and see if
that helps. We also reviewed the past lessons, then she handed out a version of "Ode to Joy" and started with some
theory. Basically, the sheet had finger numbers, and we went over what strings they were meant to be played on. That, along
with a quick introduction to note times (whole, half, etc.) comprised the theory section. Next week is the final session,
and I guess we will be doing a "mini recital" of the tunes and bowing patterns we have learned. I will kind of be
glad that the class is over, I think I am beyond what she is presenting, but I am glad I took it. I will work on my own for
awhile, and then think of finding an instructor for occassional lessons. I also will try to find the closest OT Fiddlers'
group and many play with them some. One more class, I gotta get to practicing!
2 March 2006
Tonight we found out that one of the four has dropped the class. Too bad. One other student did not show up again, either,
so I don't know if we are down to 2 for the last classes. After reviewing what we have covered, the instructor taught us "Go
Tell Aunt Rhody" by ear. An interesting exercise - I have been doing a little exploring of this myself, since it is one
of my long-range goals. I find that knowing the song, I tend to do my own arrangement, even in class, not following the exact
noting and timing of the instructor unless I make a conscious attempt to do so. For the last bit of the class, the instructor
did a little bit of music-reading teaching, which I don't need, but it was good for the other student.
Ruminations: So far, the class has been beneficial to me in the areas of holding the bow and fiddle, keeping the left
wrist straight, and bowing properly. Also, fine points on fingering without touching neighboring strings. I am satisfied that
I made a good choice in taking this class, even though I am almost too far ahead. I have recorded my first song using the
fiddle, and it is posted on my music page. The timing is awful, but that is something I am working on. No class next week,
the instructor has some personal business, so I will use the extra time to get my fiddle into the shop for a set-up.
23 February 2006:
Tonight there were only 2 students in the class, must be Rodeo Days syndrome. Anyway, we tuned up, ran through the stuff
from the past two weeks (bow patterns, Twinkle Twinkle), and started on the basic A scale. Actually, we have been using the
A scale from the start, but it was never voiced, as the instructor was just getting us used to bowing and some fingerings.
We ran through the scale on the A and E strings, then put that knowledge to use in learning "The Fiddle Song." Actually,
this is "Bile Them Cabbage Down," but the instructor is a classically-trained violinist. After a time or two through,
the other student played a straight open-stringed double stop while I did the tune, then we switched. Fun. Next we moved over
the the D string and did some scales in D using the D and A strings. Finally we attempted some fingered double stops, this
is a very weak area for me, I have difficulty with my fingers being a little too big to keep off of the adjoining strings.
I will probably try moving the E string over to another notch on the bridge, at the instructor's suggestion. All in all, I
think we are moving at a good pace, and can't wait until next week. Well, to practice!
16 February, 2006:
Ok, second class. We reviewed the strokes from the first class, and learned two more rhythms. The instructor also placed
fingering tape on the fingerboards of the two students who haven't any experience on the fiddle (violin). We then learned
fingering along with the tune "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." I must admit, classes have given me the incentive
to practice, and I am close to surpassing the sum total of practice I have done since I got the instrument! Things are progressing
nicely, I think, and I look forward to each class.
09 February 2006:
Tonight was my first violin class. I have been trying to learn how to play the fiddle, and finally broke down and signed
up for a group class of introductory lessons on the violin. Over the next few weeks, I will be adding to this log of my experience
and (hopefully) advancement in playing the fiddle. This was a good decision! The first thing I learned is that I definitly
will be purchasing a shoulder rest. The instructor allowed me to try hers on my instument, and I discovered that it is a great
help in holding the fiddle properly under the chin. My biggest weakness is my left wrist. It wants to flex to allow the neck
of the fiddle to rest in the palm of my hand. So that is my practice target for this week.
|
