learn to play reels and jigs on the fiddle

Feb. 25, 2008
7:56 am

Perhaps it’s the change in the quality of the sunlight, perhaps it’s because I cleaned the house on Saturday and our bedroom in the wee hours this morning, but whatever it is, I picked up my fiddle and practiced!

I played Jamie Allen, Kitchen Girl, La Bastringue (which I dislike) and Liberty.

I had to tune the fiddle, but my tuner’s battery is empty. I’ll put it in my flower basket to take to the dollar store for a battery.

It felt good to have a nice clean open area to practice. I’ll do it again later.

I’d like to take it to the winterized tipi on Horseshoe island with me today, but I’ve learned my lesson about taking it outside, and never remove it from it’s spot on the dresser!

Monday, February 11, 2008
7:15 pm

I played my violin as soon as I got home. Naalie was so happy to see me. I cuddled her for a few minutes, then got down to business playing four tunes that I don’t play very often.

Ash Grove I do play a lot, but I played it anyway. I worked on Black Jack, Dusty Bob’s Jig, Colerain and Fair Jenny’s Jig. I messed up some of them pretty badly. I think the one that was in the key of C was hard because I have to transpose it from D as I play it. that’s difficult for me sometimes. However, it’s not as hard as it used to be!

Saturday, January 26, 2008
1:17 PM

I’m quite bummed out. I went to the orchestra this morning. They are so good. They can just play whatever. I need to practice those pieces a lot. But I don’t practice them when I have them at home. I’d rather practice other pieces.

She taught them a new piece by ear. They all played it perfectly after a few times. I struggled just to figure out what notes she was playing!

Finally when she gave out the music I was able to play it! Well, sort of.

They have been playing these same pieces for up to 8 years! Sheesh. No wonder.

Do I really want to be in the orchestra? Why?

I will think about this.

Yes. I want to be in the orchestra because it will make me feel good to be able to play in unison with other people, doing difficult stuff. It’s so difficult for me at this point and I think it’s hopeless. It’s hopeless not because I will never be able to play them, because I can play them if I practice them enough.

It’s hopeless because I WON’T practice them at home. I don’t like them. Well, they’re okay, but they are so fast. Racey fast. I just bought a waltzes book and slow airs because I like playing slowly. I like the sound of the fiddle or violin when it’s played slowly.

So I went today and tested it out. I left before we were over. They suggested I come to the afternoon one with the beginners. They can all play, they said. I didn’t want to stay there and wait and then do that today.

Instead I left when they started to play a piece.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
2:53 PM

I’ve been practicing Ash Grove and Southwind. I am trying to learn them withotu the music! Most fiddlers play without the music. After all, what’s knowing how to play something worth if you have to have the book in front of you to play it.

When I learned to play the piano, I always had to have the book in front of me. It wasno fun to go somewhere else and try to play their piano. Without my own music books, there was no way I could play anything except chopsticks which I’d learned without music.

So I’m proud of myself. I played it through once, then tried it without the book. It worked. I did it! I am learning to play by ear! YES!

I’d like to start up a group like this local ‘sing’ at home.

I’ll ask some of the locals. Perhaps they would be interested in getting together to do a jam every so often.

I’ll have to see about that. I’ll put an announcement in the local little papers and see who comes out of the woodwork to play with us. It worked with the writers group.

Monday, November 19, 2007
9 pm

I had some good times and bad times cranking out music for those pieces. My bow was quite scratchy which made playing nice music quite difficult at times.

The first song I was able to set the pace, so it went slowly enough for me to do it. Then later there was another one that Jonathan and I were playing. He paused to listen to me and I was again able to play it at my pace.

I wasn’t on track with everyone else, but sometimes I was able to ignore the rest of them and just play what I could, anyway!

One piece I just switched between middle and high e. Another piece was like that as well. I can’t believe how quickly they can play some of those pieces! not like me!

I’m not sure why it was such a good evening, since there were so many gaps between songs, but I suppose it was a success for me in that I wasn’t lost for all the pieces!

It’s good to have this opportunity to practice with them all!

Monday, November 19, 2007
10 pm

Fiddling was good tonight, but there were lots of holes in the music. there were great gaps of time between ending one song and the start of the next one.

I got to play some of the ones I’d practiced. Ash Grove, Gaspe Reel, Shebang, which was hard, The Old Waltz From Home, The Green Petronella and another from the book I’ve been practicing out of. I was able to buy a copy of it, which made me feel good since I didn’t want to be pirating the copy I’d photocopied.

She had a purple book of songs also which comes with a cd. I got the order form for it as there were two in her book.

Also now I can keep practicing those pieces!

Monday, November 19, 2007
5:25 PM

Mary dropped me off at the Hotchk library where I ran in to see if they had a photocopier. I thought I was going to be too late. I was already too late for the post office, but this worked out wonderfully!

They charged me $.25 per double page, so I only had to pay $3.50 to have these songs to play back home. I would have liked to buy the book, but it’s from Vermont somewhere!

I sat outside on the front steps of the sidewalk that leads up to the darkened library typing this in my journal while I wait. A journal is a great friend!

Here they come, I think. They’re so good to me!

Monday, November 19, 2007
6:26 PM

I’ve been playing my violin for awhile in there in the guest room. It’s not as nice a room as it was the first day we made it ready.

I didn’t like some of these tunes this time through. I have no idea how I’m supposed to play along with the rest of them when I have to read the music for the first time in another book that they have there. This one didn’t have all the ones they were playing. I think this time I’ll take note of the names of the pieces we do from the other book. I wonder if I could borrow it to copy them tomorrow and get it right back to her.

This is why I need to learn the pieces off by heart. That would make such a difference when I’m in a group that knows the piece. But even pieces that I already know, like Mari’s wedding, it’s quite difficult to play along when I am in a group. I listen to them and that splits my attention enough that I can’t focus on what I’m doing.

Nov.13, 2007
12:17 PM

Robertson’s Reel is nice! I’m glad I found that out!

I go through the new piece, just making sure I can change from one note to the next. Then I go through it again seeing if I can do the timing. It doesn’t work quite properly at first, so I go through it over and over until the timing is right as well as the notes.