Mandogryl Says:
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 @5:05:47 PM

Good job, Barb, on a really hard song. I've been working on it too, and can't even come close to your rendition. But, it's alot of fun. Keep up the good work!

Percy Says:
Thursday, August 27, 2009 @3:24:14 AM

Nice job overall! This is a challenging tune for a beginner, but it's so pretty -- I think we all give it a try pretty early on!

Just a couple of comments -- and trust me, Hardy (my teacher) hammers these home to me every time he hears me:

1) Slow down! Savor each note... play the tune at half the speed you think it should be and give each note it's full value. Don't be in a hurry to get to the next note or anticipate what's coming.

2) Try to connect the notes and not leave spaces between them. Play the full length of the note and then move to the next with no space between. It will make your playing smoother.

Other than that -- you're really coming along in such a short time!

fiddlebarb Says:
Saturday, August 29, 2009 @6:24:56 PM

Stephanie, thanks. It is definitly a challenging tune. It took me almost a day to get to the point that I could remember what the notes were for the B part. Still working on tempo for this and smoothness, it is not where I want it yet, but it is getting there.

fiddlebarb Says:
Saturday, August 29, 2009 @6:33:42 PM

Percy thanks for your comments. I am working on the tempo still, I am use to playing fast fiddle tunes, so I am still working on playing at waltz tempo. I have also been working on getting things to sound smoother, practice and lessons I am hoping will help me start to gain a grasp on this.

albert52 Says:
Monday, March 8, 2010 @7:13:16 PM

You hit the nail on the head there Barb with the waltz tempo comment. 99% of the people I teach would rather have 4/4 time to play in because it seems so "straight" forward. The 3/3 and 6/8 time signatures generally throw people off a bit.
What I usually tell my students is think of the 3/4 tunes as love songs. This way you will go into learning the tune by its "phrasing" instead of by the numbers (1 2 3 1 2 3), and then one will find the flow of the song.
With what I have said actually fits in with what Percy said.
I just picked up this tune a couple of weeks ago and absolutely fell in love with it. It will become my closing song for senior home sets.
Nice job>

AJ

Mrbluegrassfiddler Says:
Friday, March 12, 2010 @7:20:52 PM

Still got to tap your foot to keep time and count off the whole notes (or dotted half notes). Easy enough to not let the phrase end and rush into the next part of the tune. As I record my own progress, I notice things that just make me ( cringe ) and forces me into re-thinking and work on better technique to render the tune.

As much as I don't like recording myself, development coes in listening to my own botches on a tune, and its the only way to clear up those quirks.

Getting really good on fiddling takes time, a gazillion hours of practice, and paying attention to the whole thing.

The other thing that works for me is when I get more relaxed, things flow along better.

No matter what....MUSIC, IT'S GOT TO BE FUN !!!