Heya folks. I currently have a Sweetone, one piece Clare, Bill Ochs’s tutor, and L.E. McCullough’s tutor.
I haven’t been practicing much, so I still fumble when trying fast tunes. I learned to read music in middle/high school playing the oboe. I’ve read many articles concerning reading music vs. learning/listening/playing by ear. The latter seems like it would be quite difficult for me. Is this something that one can adapt to and learn to do, or are some people just more suited for this than others?
What are some good artists/albums to pick up to listen to, to learn the ‘feel’ of traditional music?
I’m kind of in the same situation. I am trained in classical piano, and I don’t know whether that will be an advantage or a disadvantage when learning the whistle. I figure I’ll have to change my way of thinking a little bit. Also, my husband wants to learn too, and he has NO musical background. I was wondering if I need to teach him a little music theory first, or if he just needs to pick up a whistle and start fumbling around with it. Any thoughts out there?
I read music, but first I need to hear the tune - not least of which to see if I like it.
Then IF I can get the music, I use the score to learn the notes.
Little and often is my personal preference e.g. 2 or 3 times per session,
maybe 6 or 10 sessions per day - much to the annoyance of people around me
Gradually speeding up until I can play it at about 70% speed, I find the last 30% comes with use, maybe over a few days, or even weeks, depending on how much I like the tune and play it.
If I can’t find/get/borrow/beg/steal the music, I learn by ear.
There are lots of (sometimes ‘warm’) discussions about learning by ear, sheet music, tabulation etc here.
What-ever-works-for you is my helpful (or not) answer.
i never get tired of them newbie questions, that’s what the board is for! i feel kinda like a newbie myself allot of the time. i find this programe very good: http://www.ronimusic.com .it’s shareware but worth the money. you can download a free sample. it slows down cd, mp3 allmost to standstill, changes pitch and it’s very simple to use.
i believe slowing down is the best way to learn by ear, but only play the tunes you realy like
I think of reading music like practicing typing. The more you do it, the more automatic it becomes. I’d say way more people can learn to read music than can learn to play an instrument well, which comes, I believe, from being able to hear the music inside and bein able to bring the notes out in a steady rhythm (to begin with).
Music theory or fumble around. Do both at the same time, by all means. Try out simple melodies (Twinkle, twinkle, little star, etc). Learn the very basics of music theory: how to read the page- time signature, names of notes on the page and on the whistle, time values, etc. You don’t have to go far beyond that to learn Irish music (I’m assuming Irish music because McCullough’s tutor was mentioned). I’d say the keys that accompanists fret over (pun, get it?) I can live without. My bouzoukist partner is very particular about “G dorian,” “D Myxolydian,” etc. Blank stares from me, dude. “It’s on the D whistle and has a Cnat” is as detailed as I get.
I am in total agreemant on the blank stare thing… I have no idea on the modes and Dorians and such… I play by ear only and I know what the notes on my whistles are and that’s about it. When someone asks me what key I’m playing in, I usually have no idea unless someone has mentioned it before and I remembered it from that session I was at.
So I would say it’s a good idea to learn all that stuff as it would be a great benefit it a LOT of ways. I learn by ear only, and it has it’s grand benefits and grand downfalls… the main one being that I hear a really cool tune I like, learn it real well, go to a session, someone starts playing it, and the play it totally different, and it’s to sheet music no less! What a pain! Usuall it will work right in, but sometimes it’s a total loss, so definately good thing to learn sheet music, etc.
Main thing is to have fun… you’ll stick with it and obviously enjoy yourself alot more!
I started playing a bit by ear, with a lot of help from an accordion player who figured out what notes are were on a whistle and then simply told me how I should finger specific tunes. Then I started relearning to read music (I’ve known how before, many years ago, when I played the trumpet, but has since forgot). When I had learned and played a lot of Irish music by sheet, I found it to be a lot easier to play by ear. Probably because you get a better feel for the type of music when both listening and playing than just listening. I doubt that it has anything to do with natural talent in my case. Some other musicians I know are far better at playing by ear than me and has had a lot easier route to getting there.
I can get you a couple of CD’s by a local English band called CARA. They play a mix of their own compositions and traditional well known tunes. Most are easy to get the hang of and I have used them extensively to learn and improve.
£12.00 Sterling each
CD 1 The Masons Apron
CD 2 Asleep behind the settee
