I’m sure the answer to this lies somewhere in the archives so excuse me for asking again… I’m trying to get the fingers of my left hand to keep from going spastic on me when I play a fast tune in G…ie Lillie Bulera and White Cockade and Irish Washerwoman. I am sure I am too tense, but how do you overcome this. In practicing and concentrating on it…I literally get sick to my stomach. Playing the first two next Tues and wondering if fear is overtaking me. I’m also afraid of going too fast and not being able to keep up the pace. Can I be helped??? Gm
Make a joyful noise! (Hopefully!!!)
[ This Message was edited by: Grannymouse on 2002-03-07 10:59 ]
Grannymouse,
I experience something similar. Strangely, this problem will pop up in tunes I used to play very smoothly. I attribute it to interference from a new tune I’ve learned, or the notes smearing together in my brain. I had this problem recently with a phrase in Gravel Walk. I seem to be able to fix this by setting a metronome at half the speed I normally play the tune or even slower, and play it more like an air. Then I keep speeding up the metronome increment by increment until I’m back up to the desirable speed. I think anxiety does have something to do with it–you say to yourself, uh-oh here comes the hard part. The slow work on a very well known tune, concentrating on making it sound pretty when slow, distracts me from the anxiety. The fiddler I play with swears by slowing way down when a particular tune becomes a problem.
Lisa
That’s actually a great question, and one I am not sure of the answer to. Nerves can wreck a performance, and make it no fun at all.
My wife gets super nervous for performances, but I don’t, so it’s not something I can really relate to. The more you just enjoy the music, the less “stiff” you play.
The best example I have for myself is recording. It’s easy to play horribly when you are concentrating on not making a mistake. All the life goes from your music. It’s better to focus on what you’re doing right, and just enjoy the music. In the studio, the best track I lay is often the scratch track which is just down for guidance or setting levels, because mentally you’re not really trying, your just doing.
I know that didn’t help, but as I said, it’s an awesome topic, I look forward to hearing what others have found…
I’m not sure about the jumping finger, but if you practise with a metronome you’ll probably find you have to play slower than you want to for some passages and faster for others. Obviously you should a speed you can comfortably play the hardest part of a tune & stick at that as a beginning.
Peter Laban or Steve Power would be best able to give the actual tempo to set for Jigs, Hornpipes and Reels, as they are played in Irish sessions.
I know reels are often played zippy fast, up to 180 beats to the minute! I would practise at maybe 100 bpm at first, which would seem slow, then go up in steps of 20 bpm until you reach top speed.
I tend to play reels and hornpipes at the same speed (on mandolin), and I think it’s about 120 bpm. Though hornpipes should really be a bit slower than reels.
You need to do some cross training with your fingers. What can help are some left handed percussion exercises. Take your index and (dare I say it) middle finger of your left hand and start playing single stroke rolls with them on the table–R L R L R L R… Who cares if it annoys anyone. Just make sure that they are SMOOTH, EVEN, and have the SAME VOLUME. After the roll, then do some paradiddles. They go like this: R L R R L R L L. Don’t get frustrated. In fact, if frustration sets in because it is difficult and you get squimish, then it will work for you within a week. Just try to work through it. Eventually try to accent the first beat of each group of four. That’s what drummers do. After paradiddles, add your ring finger to the fun. Do the same excerises with only your index and ring fingers, then switch to your middle and ring fingers only (that’ll getcha). Soon you will be able to make up your own rhythms, and the best thing about this technique is that you can practice it anywhere, especially in restaurants and in meetings. You can do it on your leg (or someone elses), and no one will know. It really sounds neat on your head, especially if you can go fast.) I have been doing fingerings for most of my life. (I’m not nervous) These will add dexterity to your life. If you really want to advance quickly, try playing these excersises with both hands, at the same time, making them sound like one drum. And try to get your fingers (and your brain) to relax while doing these. I never mentioned slow, because the speed is already built into the exercises.
You’ve been getting some good advice in this thread. I’ve noticed the same thing myself, and have actually used this phenomenon in learning a fast tune. Once I’ve got the notes in order and fairly smooth, I’ll speed it up in increments until it “breaks.” When that happens, I slow down, work out the kinks, and then speed it back up again. This helps me to find and fix the weak points in my dexterity. Obviously, I’m doing other things as well as I speed up and slow down, like working on interpretation and finding what seems to be the best velocity. They shouldn’t all be played at warp factor 5!
This may not work for anyone else, but it sure helped me. I found that if I keep my fingers, particularly the left hand, straighter and roll my left wrist just slightly toward my body, my fingering is much more precise on fast tunes. It was a little awkward at first, but it sure worked!
Neat finger exercises. I’m going to give them a try.
GrannyMouse,
I’ve had similar problems, and here’s what I suggest:
Do finger exercises and stretching. Maybe try Chinese exercise balls.
Figure out which passages give you the most trouble and play them over and over, starting slow, then going faster. I have heard pipers do this and have tried it myself. It works.
Relax. (Easier said than done, right?) My aikido instructor was always telling the class to relax and said that if you try to make your body move faster, it won't. It will get stiff and slow instead. You have to relax and let your movements be fluid. (Note, though, that relaxing doesn't help much if you don't have your material -- whether it's aikido moves, skiing techniques, or a piece of music -- ingrained in your brain.)
Thank you for this thread and thank you all who have contributed. It is refreshing and interesting. The dexterity exercises sound like they will be extra good for me. With my young onset Parkinsons progressing and affecting my left side, I think they will be good physical therapy and great for my playing!
Gosh, you guys…don’t know where to begin to thank you. I just wish I’d asked this question a month ago (hmmmm..maybe I did) All very good answers and I’m sure it will help me. BTW…I may have to eat some crow here…but I just rcvd the Susato very small bore and I must say…it’s a keeper. Blessings all around. Gm
Make a joyful noise!
[ This Message was edited by: Grannymouse on 2002-03-07 23:02 ]
So do tell. Which one did you get, and how much do you really like/love it? Is it something I would want to get, since I don’t like the sound of plastic? Or does it not have that plastic sound?
I do have a Susato low D, and after trying two top rated low D’s, (one was a Copeland) I still play the Susato, although an O’Riordan low D is supposed to be on its way, shortly. -JP
John ~ I got the D and F. I am really quite amazed at the D particularly and for the money…you can’t go wrong. The fipple takes a little getting used to but seems to work well otherwise for some of these fast tunes. One group I heard at the NTIF seemed to be using Susatos and I was pretty impressed. But it is plastic…as you said. And I dojn’t know if I would use it for church.
Will not use the F much except at the jam… not sure if this has been any help. Gm
I will give you all a progress report on these exercises but wonder if people will stop and stare if they see me drumming on my head..John. One more thought that I forgot to mention. I am one of those strange left handers whose right side is actually stronger than my left…wires crossed somewhere I’m sure. About the only thing I do lefthanded is write and eat and deal cards.I’m thinking this must have some bearing on the problem. I’m sure the exercises will help but just wondered if anybody else was peculiar this way?? Gm
On 2002-03-07 23:01, Grannymouse wrote:
Gosh, you guys…don’t know where to begin to thank you. I just wish I’d asked this question a month ago (hmmmm..maybe I did) All very good answers and I’m sure it will help me. BTW…I may have to eat some crow here…but I just rcvd the Susato very small bore and I must say…it’s a keeper. Blessings all around. > > Gm
Make a joyful noise!
[ This Message was edited by: Grannymouse on 2002-03-07 23:02 ]
I received my vsb D last Tuesday.
I took it to choir practice and the folks like the sound of it over the Chieftain I was playing.
I do have one question. Do you find that your vsb D clogs up quicker?
BTW this thread has been very helpful.
Thanks Folks
Laura ` I thought maybe that was just me in trying to get used to the stubby fipple. I’m going to give it the Jet Dry treament today. I’ll let you know how that works. Gm
On 2002-03-08 08:20, Grannymouse wrote:
Laura ` I thought maybe that was just me in trying to get used to the stubby fipple. I’m going to give it the Jet Dry treament today. I’ll let you know how that works. Gm
The Jet Dry treatment. What is that. I am certain I have read this before. Just didn’t have this problem 'till now. So now I stand up and notice!
I learned that Jet Dry trick from Neil Dickey. It’s the liquid you put in dishwashers so the dishes come out sparkling I just poured a couple drops into the windway and turned the bore a few times and let it dry. Seems to help though I still say that stubby fipple has something to do with it. I almost found myself drooling..
On 2002-03-08 08:20, Grannymouse wrote:
Laura ` I thought maybe that was just me in trying to get used to the stubby fipple. I’m going to give it the Jet Dry treament today. I’ll let you know how that works. Gm
Well how did it go?
I have a duh question also. When insterting the Jet Dry, where do you put it in the the mouth piece end where you place your lips or in the windway?
And will I taste this stuff when I play.
I do not have a dishwasher other than my kids, so I really do not know how this stuff works. It leaves a film on your dishes so that they are spotless then?
I gather it is safe to use once dry then.
I have a thing about chemicals.
On 2002-03-08 08:20, Grannymouse wrote:
Laura ` I thought maybe that was just me in trying to get used to the stubby fipple. I’m going to give it the Jet Dry treament today. I’ll let you know how that works. Gm
In the windway…not the mouthpiece. Seems to work quite well as I didn’t have any clogging problem last night when I went thru the whole program. The label says…if you get it in your eye…rinse thoroughly and if you swallow it…drink a glass of water to dilute…so can’t be too harmful. They have an 1-800-228-4722 or > http://www.jet-dry.com > if you have further questions about it. Good luck.
ANd I just want to say to everyone else…I’ve been trying all your suggestions and I can see an improvement in just one day. It sure has raised my level of confidence. Thanks and ever thanks. Gm
Well how did it go?
I have a duh question also. When insterting the Jet Dry, where do you put it in the the mouth piece end where you place your lips or in the windway?
And will I taste this stuff when I play.
I do not have a dishwasher other than my kids, so I really do not know how this stuff works. It leaves a film on your dishes so that they are spotless then?
I gather it is safe to use once dry then.
I have a thing about chemicals.
