Learn to play by ear

I’ve been practicing my violin again. Tonight I worked on Southwind again and Shepherd’s Wife. I worked on all these in Connecticut at the turn of the year, so they are a bit familiar to me. Actually they are very familiar. I can play some of them by ear, but not many!

I also practiced Liberty and Jamie Allen. I like them. Actually, I also played Kitchen Girl. I had to put my fiddle away because my shoulder/arm got to be too painful.

But I’m back into practicing! That makes me feel very good! I love the sound of the violin. It’s such a rough but beautiful sound. Or maybe I do it wrong which makes the roughness, but I think it’s from the rosin that the sound comes rough from.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
2pm

I played Swallowtail Jig over and over and over and ifgured out the patterns in the music. When I had them figured out, I was able to practice it without them music. not being able to figure out the pattern was my big problem before.

I did a good job when I got that down. It was nice to be able to do it, finally!

I phoned to play it for Mary, but she wasn’t home or at her mom’s.

Thursday, January 31, 2008
5:30 am

I practiced my violin again this morning when I first woke up. I was able to play Southwind without looking for the book. I was also able to play Ash Grove without the book.

When I tried to play Gaspe reel, I wasn’t able to do that. I couldn’t remember how far apart the notes were.

Willem was already awake, so he didn’[t mind. I thought it would be okay to wake up Abey to such a lovely tune.

I should find the music for Pachebel’s Canon so I can play that again, too.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
3:20 PM

I did it. I practiced Ash Grove without the music and did it very well! I also worked on Southwind. That was easy, too.

I added Gaspe Reel. I did that a few times with the music, but haven’t tried to do it without the music yet. I thought I’d better get the tune well fixed into my head first!

I’m actually doing it! I’m actually learning to play without the music! Sigh. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do that!

jan. 16, 2007
2:15 pm

My fiddle lesson book by Mel Bay wants me to practice each song and memorize it. I am amazed at how my fingers are finding the notes when I don’t know what comes next. it’s because of the sound. My fingers are learning where the sounds come from and going to those places automatically!

I’m not even doing it! It’s working! I can now play a lot of songs by ear, as long as I can figure out where to start them!

Nov. 28, 2006
10pm

It’s incredible how it’s happening. while I was practicing my violin a few minutes ago…before Abey took it over to practice the song I was playing.

Anyway, while I was playing, I realized I didn’t have the next page. the first time through, that really stumped me, but after a few times playing the rest of the song I was able to playh it by ear without the missing music!

I am trying to play scales a lot like the orchestra leader told us. I find it really helps me to find where the notes are.

As Abey plays, what I thought was incredible at the beginning because he could play by ear, I now see is so much easier when i know so quickly where the notes are and can do my scales so well.

I am really able to play the pieces quickly now.

Several people have told me that the first five songs on the violin are the hardest. I think that must be true, because I can now play many pieces that dwarf the first ones that were so difficult!

It’s working!

Thursday, November 23, 2006
6:06 AM

I want to play all those songs I can play, without the music. That would be really good for me to do. I need to be able to play by ear.

I want to practice my violin now, but Abey and Willem are still sleeping.

I had to make myself stay in bed instead of use my time to play the violin.  Here were two perfectly good hours that I could have been using last night