The first few bits are headers, and need to be on separate lines. Then the rest is easier to read (though this doesn’t affect ABC converters) if you put a few judicious gaps in. Plus, there were one or two typos in there. I have probably missed some, because I was doing it in pretty much of a hurry. But try this in yer converter and smoke it!
No probs. Now … let me know if you can’t get it to convert. That block should now convert using the tune-o-matic in concertina.net or ABC Navigator or something like that. Sometimes, you find with concertina.net that the thing has put spaces at the beginning of lines and you have to take them all out for it to show, but otherwise, it should work fine now.
Yes. Unfortunately, there are those who can’t do that. And in my experience, just pointing out that they should be able to do that doesn’t make them … do that.
Richard, people (including myself, as you know!) are always happy to help with the dots, especially knowing that your requests are often for a specific purpose, client requests, etc. But I do wonder why you’re not further along with the ear thing, since you’re clearly a good piper.
Is it notation or ABC notation that’s the obstacle, or retaining what you hear, or something else? Is there anything we can advise to help?
I actually learn most of my tunes by ear. My wife, indeed, is duely impressed with my ability to play a tunes right after hearing it. However, that does not pertain to every tune I hear.
This was, and is the case a lot of times, that a client asked me to learn a specific tune within days of the event. This really does not give me enough time to learn efficiently by ear. I learn the basics of the tune by the dots and then add my own personal touches to it.
I actually was asked to learn “Wendell’s Wedding” by Tony Cuffe for a wedding. I had 5 days in which to perfect it. I listened to Joannie Madden’s and Jerry O’Sullivan’s versions and learned it rather quickly. I was a bit stressed out about playing it but it went famously at the wedding. Afterwards I was speaking to the bride , who had requested it, and asked her how she liked it as she walked down the aisle. She said that she hadn’t even been paying attention and didn’t hear it at all! So it goes to show that even if no one is listening you play a lot to please yourself.
Thanks for your concerns. I always appreciate the advise and assistance I receive here on the forum.
“Éire is one of the great aisling songs from Ring in the Waterford Déise and Liam brings out it’s haunting quality in this rendition of the air. He first heard it being sung by Áine Uí Cheallaigh from Ring.”
If you can acquire by ear and can read the dots, then maybe the step that’s missing is to put those two things together and … write the dots. That is, hone your transcription skills.
I’m sure a lot of us do this. Transcribe a setting - itself a good way to lock a tune into your brain. Then get it under the fingers with a combination of listening and using your own transcription as a memory aid.
Do you have a favorite slow-downer (Transcribe, Amazing)? How about a notation package - ABC, Allegro, etc., or good old pencil and staff paper? How comfortable are you hearing a phrase and writing it down?
To answer your questions;
I can read notation, and I can write notation.
I do write out tunes if I can’t find appropriate notation.
One thing I cannot do is sight read notation. Don’t have the brain for it I guess. I can sight read slow airs and songs, but not anything of any speed.
As I said, a lot of times it is a situation of learn it in two days which puts me into the “I need to learn this fast and any way I can” mode.
I guess I hate telling a client that I don’t know the tune.
Thankfully this doesn’t happen much.
I am also blessed to be able to commit a tune to memory relatively quickly.
With all this said, my favorite way to learn IS by ear.
Thanks for all your assistance!
Richard
I guess it’s a matter of modus operandi. If pressed for time, I’d much rather learn from my own transcription than someone else’s. It takes me maybe 5-10 minutes max to transcribe and double check a typical tune - it’s like taking dictation. I’d much rather do that than rely on someone else’s ear and end up playing their mistakes*. With recording in hand it’s actually faster than hunting down the dots.
Of course, my transcriptions are always 100% accurate.
