Jack of all trades master of none?

[LDT]

I only 'discovered' folk music just over a year ago....so that's hardly going to be something I'm most familiar with is it m3838?

Pop music would be what I hear all the time. And the closest thing to folk I'm familar with would be nursary rhymes.

[Brian Peters]

I'm of the 'bit of both' school. Apologies for repeating what's already been said, but attempting new tunes that make you do things that you can't do yet, is one good way of progressing. The tough tune that you're struggling with becomes the goal that you're striving for and, when you get through it for the first time more or less unscathed, you feel great!

 

But, if all you ever do is to play material that's a bit beyond your present ability, you never develop that sense of comfort and confidence that develops when you are really on top of a piece - the comfort that enables you to get a strong rhythm, to play with expression, to develop ornaments or variations... in short, to actually make music. Some of the most impressive musicians I've ever heard have not been sweating over finger-busters, but playing well within their own ability with supreme confidence and grace.

 

So what I always tell students is, don't neglect your old repertoire. If the first things you learned were 'Winster Gallop' and 'Bear Dance', carry on playing them, even when you've progressed to more demanding tunes. That way you can give a really good account of the more basic material while constantly trying to test yourself with harder stuff. And at the same time you broaden your repertoire. I feel that too many conventional music teachers (like some of the ones who have taught my kids) don't think they're earning their money unless they're providing their pupil with a constant stream of fresh material. What then happens is that the pupil is always struggling to keep up and never really gets to enjoy making music.

 

Oh, and if the music you have in your head is 'grunge-goth-rock-emo pop' (nothing wrong with that, by the way), you could probably do with putting some concertina-friendly music in there as well. Go and listen to some good stuff - there's plenty out there - and play it to death until the tunes have sunk in. And you'll also have had the benefit of listening to an expert player at work.

[chris]

Has no idea what a gimble lock is

Hi

So- let me get this straight if you have 3 edeophone bellows frames wrapped round an airplane it will lock :blink: :blink:

No I still don't get it

chris (more confused than usual)

[m3838]

Has no idea what a gimble lock is

Hi

So- let me get this straight if you have 3 edeophone bellows frames wrapped round an airplane it will lock :blink: :blink:

No I still don't get it

chris (more confused than usual)

 

A Gimble lock situation is when you use improper tool, then try to fix the problem with another improper tool, then fix some more. Spend time fixing to the point that it makes no sense anymore, but the darn thing never works.

(So application of the term is beyond it's purely rotational meaning)

[m3838]

I only 'discovered' folk music just over a year ago....so that's hardly going to be something I'm most familiar with is it m3838?

Pop music would be what I hear all the time. And the closest thing to folk I'm familar with would be nursary rhymes.

 

 

You can't be everywhere at once (unless you are an electron, I heard).

If what you want to play is your "Oh I'm so cool and uniformly unusual" type of music, why beat yourself over the forehead and not just take the instrument that will help?

If you really want to join the ragtag crowd of "hoppy-poppy" dorks in a folk session, keep up with the Anglo and start going to those sessions. I discovered line dance by a chance and am very fond of it now.

However, if you are talented, it doesn't matter. Play whatever gets into your hands and you'll be a school on it's own. Now you are the judge whether it's happening.

P.S.

Do you mostly "hear" the pop around you, or you mostly "listen" to the pop?

There is no argument "All I hear is this and this, and I can't find that and that" anymore.

Go to Google, Youtube, whatever and after a few clicks you are there.

P.P.S.

By the way, great many of those "rock" and "Pop" types are very well aware of Folk music and often can give stunning performance in Folk style.

Pop is Folk, only cash driven because of replication technology.

Folk song: " I will recognize my Sweetheart by his walking"

Folk song: "The bullet whistled by"

Folk song: "The tanks were roaring in the field" in the folk song, by the actors from the WWII movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1e9Sz8I8k&feature=related

Same song performed by a rock band

Same group performing a song, you'll all recognize. Controversial performance, needless to say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca1lUIWpnFk&feature=related

 

 

[Brian Peters]

If what you want to play is your "Oh I'm so cool and uniformly unusual" type of music, why beat yourself over the forehead and not just take the instrument that will help?

First, thanks for the youtube links, m3838 - I particularly enjoyed the first one. But to be fair to LDT, I think she's more than demonstrated her committment to the concertina already. At the time I first took up anglo in the late 1970s, I was listening to punk rock, stoned jazz rock and a bit of soul - but also English folk. Nothing wrong with listening to different kinds of music, in fact everything right with it.

 

There is no argument "All I hear is this and this, and I can't find that and that" anymore.

Go to Google, Youtube, whatever and after a few clicks you are there.

Absolutely right. I'd also say the if LDT has nursery rhymes in her head already, then she's already got a good grounding in English traditional music. The first things I learned to play on the anglo were nursery rhymes.

[LDT]

There is no argument "All I hear is this and this, and I can't find that and that" anymore.

Go to Google, Youtube, whatever and after a few clicks you are there.

Absolutely right. I'd also say the if LDT has nursery rhymes in her head already, then she's already got a good grounding in English traditional music. The first things I learned to play on the anglo were nursery rhymes.

I can do nursary rhymes (loved them as a child..got quite a few tapes and books) I still love them especially the slightly morbid ones. My fave is 'Oranges and Lemons'.

 

But feel they are sort of 'looked down upon' by adults as something childish. That I won't be taken seriously playing nursary rhymes.

Edited December 10, 2009 by LDT

[Brian Peters]

But feel they are sort of 'looked down upon' by adults as something childish. That I won't be taken seriously playing nursary rhymes.

Tell that to the ceilidh bands who are playing 'Off She Goes' (Humpty Dumpty) or 'Come Dance and Sing' (Have You Seen the Muffin Man?)! Nursery rhymes are a great place to start on English trad music. But do take the other bit of advice and seek out some 'grown up' stuff on Youtube as well. Wasn't there a list of common session tunes on Cnet recently? Try Youtubing some of them.

[Jim Besser]

[

 

But feel they are sort of 'looked down upon' by adults as something childish. That I won't be taken seriously playing nursary rhymes.

 

Hmmm. Just about every Northwest team I know uses "This Old Man" for figures in some dances. I've played Pop Goes the Weasel for many a dance.

[LDT]

'Come Dance and Sing' (Have You Seen the Muffin Man?)!

Not heard of that one before.

 

Nursery rhymes are a great place to start on English trad music. But do take the other bit of advice and seek out some 'grown up' stuff on Youtube as well.

I do when I get the time...also buying albums as fast as my 'pocket' will allow. (But a lot of the time I need a reccommendation so I know which to get) Every time I go to a festival I discover something new.

[Brian Peters]

'Come Dance and Sing' (Have You Seen the Muffin Man?)!

Not heard of that one before.

 

Here's the best I can do - it's also known as 'La Belle Catherine', and I found it under that name. It's not quite the way I play it (they put extra notes in the last bar), but it'll give you the idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qCCV0dHsnw

 

But surely you've heard of the Muffin Man? The one who lives in Drury Lane?

[LDT]

'Come Dance and Sing' (Have You Seen the Muffin Man?)!

Not heard of that one before.

 

Here's the best I can do - it's also known as 'La Belle Catherine', and I found it under that name. It's not quite the way I play it (they put extra notes in the last bar), but it'll give you the idea:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=_qCCV0dHsnw

 

 

So you don't have gunshots when you play it?

I notice the nursary rhymes have alternative 'grown up' titles.

 

But surely you've heard of the Muffin Man? The one who lives in Drury Lane?

"Not my gumdrop buttons!" Ah shrek...love that film.

[Brian Peters]

So you don't have gunshots when you play it?

 

I sometimes hear shots when I'm playing, but so far they've missed me.

 

Ah shrek...love that film.

And to think that kids used to learn their nursery rhymes at their mother's knee! Still, learing them from 'Shrek' is better than nothing.

[Ralph Jordan]

Hey Sarah The best Dance Band in the UK (with no gigs!)Housewives Choice specialise in Childrens tunes. Sooty, Ivor the Engine, Papa Piccolino, etc. (even toyed with Little Red Monkey for a bit, but it's a bugger on the melodeon!). Contemplating The Laughing policeman next!

And you think that YOU won't be taken seriously??!!

IMHO, play anything you want to, and smile while your doing it!

Ralphie

[michael sam wild]

Has no idea what a gimble lock is

 

 

 

 

hat was so interesting , I love a distraction that opens up a new world!

[michael sam wild]

'Come Dance and Sing' (Have You Seen the Muffin Man?)!

Not heard of that one before.

 

Here's the best I can do - it's also known as 'La Belle Catherine', and I found it under that name. It's not quite the way I play it (they put extra notes in the last bar), but it'll give you the idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qCCV0dHsnw

 

 

Interesting clip Brian I've been shot at on starting a tune too!

 

Hey LDT what's the gen on those morbid Oranges and Lemons ? I love darkness in my entertainment but don't want to twist the grandkid's! Does Tom Waites sing it?

 

Edited December 11, 2009 by michael sam wild

[LDT]

 

Ah shrek...love that film.

And to think that kids used to learn their nursery rhymes at their mother's knee! Still, learing them from 'Shrek' is better than nothing.

Funny thing is Princess Fiona kinda reminds me of the maiden from 'Outlandish Knight'. lol

[Brian Peters]

Funny thing is Princess Fiona kinda reminds me of the maiden from 'Outlandish Knight'. lol

Let's hope she doesn't shove Shrek in the sea, then!