Improving A New Song | Practice Journey

In this journey, we’ll practice with Last of the Mohicans. Don’t know the song? No worries! Just take the journey with a song you’re currently learning.

Be sure to learn and practice the scale for your song. LOTM is in D dorian scale: D0-1-L2-3-A0-1-L2-3.

Find a quick reference for all scales here: Scale Central.

We’ll also do some call-and-response practice. Prepare for this with exercises designed for your current level: Call-and-response Central

Here’s an outline of this practice journey. You can take the journey with any new song or piece, but in this outline we’ll use the song “Last of The Mohicans Theme” as an example.

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Mindset: Small Steps, Small Wins 🥾

Aim to improve one small thing by at least 10% every time you practice. This will make you feel good about your music journey and keep you motivated.

Warm up ☀️

Get a good sound

Play the first note of the song.

Make it sound as good as you can.

Relax the body, breathe evenly.

Scale

Do a simple scale warm-up. For LOTM we’ll warm up with D dorian scale: D0-1-L2-3-A0-1-L2-3

Play it with variations. Do each at least twice. Notice how it feels different as you repeat.

• Half, quarter notes, eighth notes
• Add Variation (Rhythmic)
  • Hoedown
  • Tucka
  • Triplets
• Add Variation (Texture)
  • Staccato
  • Triplets
  • Tremolo
• Different Volumes
• Repeat with the Metronome 🎛️

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Deliberate Practice 🔎: A Part, First Quarter

Break the song into Chunks. A Part, First Quarter of our example is:

Break each chunk into smaller and smaller chunks.

⬇️

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Focus On Movement. Put all your attention on the movement. Start downbow, then start upbow. Learn more: Just Practice Movement

Mental Triggers 🧠

Say the title, then play the first few notes of the song. Repeat this throughout your own practice sessions to improve recall. Learn more here: Fiddling With Mental Triggers To Aid Song Memory

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FUNdamentals 🏡

What FUNdamental skills are needed to improve the song? Independently practice the skills on single notes and scales.

How can you work on that skill in your current song? We’ll practice Slur 3.

Make Your Own Exercises 💪🏽 Let’s practice the Slur 3 bowing with LOTM bars 5-6

• G3-2-3
  • Transpose: D3-2-3, A3-2-3
  • Chain these little exercises into a bigger exercise: G3-2-3 | D3-2-3 | A3-2-3 | E3-2-3
• D1-0-1
  • Transpose: G1-0-1, A1-0-1, E1-0-1
  • Chain

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🧠 Review the Mental Trigger

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Sing What You Play

Play bars 9-10

• Alternate between singing and playing.

Audiation

• Play bars 9-10
• Alternate between audiation (“hearing the tune in your head” and playing.)

Call-and-response

• Play bars 13-14.
• Now play the notes as a scale: G1-3-D0-1-L2-3
• We’ll practice the notes of the scale with some call-and-response improv.
• At first, try to play back exactly what I play.
• Next round I’ll play the same thing. Play it back exactly or change it.
• Try this on your own with a D Drone or backing track. Alternate between the Song and Improv.

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Review the Mental Trigger 🧠

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Improving A New Song Workshop – Outline 2

 

15:02:11 From Iona : Lesson link didn’t work for me

15:02:32 From Iona : From the email

15:02:56 From Cindy Rossi : Didn’t work for me either.

15:03:09 From Terri Marsico : This is the first time it asked for the passcode “focus”

15:03:15 From Terri Marsico : But it worked

15:03:27 From Iona : I’m working on Angeline the Baker in D

15:03:35 From Terri Marsico : Ookpik waltz

15:03:38 From Tom Szalay : worked for me… but it asked for the password… first time ever

15:03:42 From sue : kerfunken jig

15:03:43 From Cindy Rossi : Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond aka Red is the Rose

15:03:47 From Lisa Biehl : i dont know the song but would like to learn.  I would like ti improve Swallowtail Jig

15:04:01 From Cindy Rossi : Replying to “worked for me… but…”

me, too

15:04:07 From Iona : I meant the link for the song not the Zoom meeting

15:04:13 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Worked for rme but I had to use pw too

15:04:23 From Ann Repka : Southwind

15:04:29 From mike : Angelina baker in D

15:04:41 From Jane’s iPad (2) : Last of mohicans

15:04:50 From Tom Szalay : I’ve been working on Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in honour of Gordon Lightfoot passing away last week

15:05:14 From Darcy’s iPad (2) : Road to lisdoonvarna

15:05:24 From Iona : The link for the Zoom meeting worked with password, The link for the “lesson page” is what didn’t work!

15:05:50 From jason kleinberg : https://storage.googleapis.com/fiddlehed-wordpress-uploads/2023/04/The-Gael-Full-Score.pdf\

15:05:53 From jason kleinberg : https://storage.googleapis.com/fiddlehed-wordpress-uploads/2023/04/The-Gael-Full-Score.pdf

15:06:01 From Lee Howell : Road to Lisdonverna

15:06:17 From jason kleinberg : https://wp.me/P8OLq8-h0e

15:06:37 From Iona : Thank you!!!

15:07:05 From Susan Pearl : Hi Jason, I have been locked out of my account at Fiddlehed for several days.  Have not been able to join for practicing.  I’ve tried everything, tried changing email address, password, etc. etc.  Please, after you are done here today, will you please me at [email protected].  I have emailed you several times, with screenshots of the problem. Hope you can help me.

15:07:17 From valdon : The Rights of Man

15:07:18 From Susan Pearl : Stephen Pearl, subscriber

15:08:22 From Tom Szalay : G Mixylodian scale… first time ever!

15:09:02 From Susan Pearl : Thank you! susanandstevepearl@gmail is my login, password is Steve’sviolin

15:09:24 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “Thank you! susanands…”

Yes, we’ll sort it out.

15:09:58 From Susan Pearl : Replying to “Thank you! susanands…”

👍🏼

15:11:04 From jason kleinberg : Rhythms: hoedown, tucka, syncopatiion

15:11:14 From jason kleinberg : Or jig patterns: triplets, Long-short

15:11:53 From jason kleinberg : TEXTURES:

-Plucking

-Tremolo

-staccato

15:12:55 From Christie : Do you only use one finger to plr all of them?

15:14:17 From jason kleinberg : Volume

15:16:03 From joanne iles : string crossing part on last of the mohicans

15:16:20 From Deborah Swanson : finger rolls in cooley’s reel

15:16:21 From mike : clean double stops

15:16:22 From Owen OMalley : Rolls in Swallowtail variation

15:16:29 From sue : B part 3rd measure

15:16:39 From Tom Szalay : a slide combined with a double stop

15:16:40 From Terri Marsico : Adding a swing to this waltz

15:16:46 From Jane’s iPad (2)  To  jason kleinberg(privately) : Notes on g string clear tone

15:17:00 From Lee Howell : c sharp d c sharp  on a string

15:17:05 From Debbie Hill : working on Crossing to Ireland- roll that crosses strings?

15:17:18 From Lisa Biehl : Barring across the D and A strings in tune on Swallowtail

15:17:31 From Christie : Third line finger crossing in the Mohecanabs

15:18:23 From Vera Algoet : Bar 3 of Tam Lin ; double0stop

15:18:37 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Bar 3 of Tam Lin ; d…” with ❤️

15:18:45 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Third line finger cr…” with ❤️

15:18:46 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : high 4th finger A and string crossings in Lazy John

15:18:54 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Barring across the D…” with ❤️

15:19:42 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “working on Crossing …”

Challenging! 2 options: play the roll in a higher position on one string, or do a different variation

15:20:28 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : I mean 4th finger on A

15:20:45 From Terri Marsico : On The Gael, do you find it hard to get even note sounds on the slurs?

15:21:15 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “On The Gael, do you …”

Start by mastering this with slur 3: g1-0-1

15:22:47 From Darcy’s iPad (2) : I have a problem with my hand where my pinky pulls into my palm making it difficult to move my ring and second fingers. I get around it by arranging tunes to avoid quick movements between these two fingers.

15:23:09 From Terri Marsico : Replying to “On The Gael, do you …”

Thank-you!

15:24:01 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “I have a problem wit…”

See if you can solve this with slow repetition on scale notes: D0-1-2-3. Are you able to do that?

15:24:19 From Christie : Trouble with clean string crossings

15:24:44 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “On The Gael, do you …”

It can be hard. But focus on that little exercise every day and I’ think you’ll get this…

15:25:07 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “Trouble with clean s…”

Add little pauses in between string crossings.

15:29:47 From Stephanie : 3 to low 2

15:29:52 From jason kleinberg : What skill do you most need to improve to get this?

15:30:10 From sue : string crossing E1 to A1

15:30:12 From Debbie Hill : 2 to 4

15:30:22 From Owen OMalley : Return to Irish Fiddle and practice rolls repetively

15:30:30 From Darcy’s iPad (2) : Replying to “I have a problem wit…”

Yes

15:31:08 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : I need to work on a better bow sound on each note.  In everything I play!

15:32:40 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “I need to work on a …”

Awesome

15:32:57 From PeteHealy : Yes, I forgot that chaining could help me clean up the start of Rights of Man!

15:33:46 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Yes!  I can already feel the difference! Thanks!

15:34:27 From jason kleinberg : Add throwaway bow on the last note as you extend the chain

15:34:35 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Yes!  I can already …” with ❤️

15:34:41 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Yes, I forgot that c…” with 👍

15:38:42 From sue : what three notes are you playing?

15:39:46 From Grace Schutt  To  jason kleinberg(privately) : Working on Hens March Through the Midden.  —challenged with remembering the first triplet for the starter remembering fixation.  I won’t give up.

15:39:47 From jason kleinberg : Singing <> playing

15:40:03 From jason kleinberg : Single reps <> looping

15:42:02 From jason kleinberg : Audiation <> playing

“Hearing music in your head:

15:44:13 From Iona : Audiation and singing comes naturally to me when learning a song. In fact, sometimes I can’t get it out of my head! 🙂

15:44:22 From Christie : Easier to hear it in my head

15:44:32 From jason kleinberg : Interesting!

15:44:49 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Easier to hear it in…” with ❤️

15:44:53 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Audiation and singin…” with ❤️

15:45:12 From joanne iles : yes same here easy to hear harder to play!

15:46:51 From jason kleinberg : Conversational practice

15:47:47 From joanne iles : I often hear a tune in my head exactly as I want to play it then fail to achieve that, lol!

15:48:15 From jason kleinberg : – Lower octave <> higher octave

– (quiet) <> ¡LOUD!

– Free time <> Metro-Gnome

– Mental practice <> Physical practice

– Singing <> Audiation

– Variation 1 <> Variation 2

– Scale 1 <> Scale 2

– Reading & Playing <> Just Playing

15:51:56 From sue : alternating between reading sheet and playing without sheet really works for me if I keep it to small chunks

15:51:56 From Debbie Hill : when  I have trouble getting a good sound on the e and a strings I move over to d and a and alternate to get the feel of it .

15:52:01 From jason kleinberg : Try out one strategy on different parts of the song. Or try different strategies on one part of the song.

15:52:12 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “when  I have trouble…” with ❤️

15:52:33 From Cindy Rossi : I’m going back and forth between Cmaj and Fmaj, but I’m also “conversing” with the scales. This is helping me hear ways to add variations.

15:52:43 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “alternating between …”

Yes!

Then gradually tackle larger chunks.

15:53:22 From jason kleinberg : Replying to “I’m going back and f…”

Great!

Go between basic and variation on the scales too. Awesome

15:55:46 From Iona : Many of these skills that folks are are struggling with are covered when going through the course lesson by lesson, step by step. Most important, practice, practice, practice! Or as Jason says,repeat 1000 times 🙂

15:57:27 From Terri Marsico : Visualization 🙂🎻  Thank-you VERY much, need to get ready for 4 PM meeting!

15:57:46 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Many of these skills…” with ❤️

15:57:54 From jason kleinberg : Reacted to “Visualization 🙂🎻  …” with 👍

15:58:54 From PeteHealy : Reacted to “Many of these skills…” with 👍

15:59:06 From Debbie Hill : Great way to practice challenging areas!

15:59:25 From Darcy’s iPad (2) : Yay! I’ve got road to lisdoonvarna. Played it through without sheet music 😁

15:59:54 From Iona : Thank you Jason! Yes, playing every day….builds confidence

16:00:03 From Deborah Swanson : yes!

16:00:06 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : It always amazes me how much slowing down improves 1 thing, and that improves most things!

16:00:47 From Deborah Swanson : thank you

16:00:54 From djoanne iles : yes just play the hard parts over and over to improve

16:00:55 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Reacted to “Many of these skills…” with ❤️

16:01:05 From sue : I’ve been forced to only play 10 minutes at a time as I’m recovering from shoulder surgery. It really works! II brush my teeth, wash a few dishes in-between and can play for more than an hour.

16:01:07 From Debbie Hill : this helps to get over that “Im coming up on the hard part” feeling. I think this can apply to speed too.

16:01:09 From Stephanie : thank you – breaking it into small successes is super helpful. I will work on this with chords too

16:01:10 From Grace Schutt  To  jason kleinberg(privately) : It’s crazy but somehow I seem to be able to memorize the more difficult pieces better than I take on.

16:01:28 From Jane’s iPad (2) : Using the strategies on challenging parts kinda takes your mind off the part and on the technique of the strategy- this loosens up your mind and gets you over the hump

16:01:38 From mike : great motivation….. Thank You Jason. Improve rhythm(sp)

16:01:38 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Reacted to “I’ve been forced to …” with ❤️

16:01:42 From Vera Algoet : Can we have a Veda update?

16:01:43 From Cindy Rossi : Love the idea of playing variations within the scales! Looking forward to working with that.

16:02:10 From Ann Repka : Thanks, this has been very helpful!

16:02:12 From Debbie Hill : yes

16:02:42 From Iona : Reacted to “when  I have troub…” with 👍

16:02:53 From Mary Scott : I’ve been away for a couple of weeks and not practising but really pleased that I can still pick up the Gael without sheet music after the workshop you did with us. Thank you!

16:03:07 From Iona : Reacted to “I’ve been forced …” with 👏

16:03:25 From sue : Sometimes I start with the B part as that often seems harder to remember after learning the A part.

16:03:27 From Lisa Biehl : plan to work on speed while maintaining tone by playing with strum machine and recording myself

16:03:58 From Iona : Reacted to “It always amazes m…” with 👍

16:04:25 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : I think I

16:05:40 From jason kleinberg : Melodic variation

16:05:48 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : m going back to what I already know & use these tools to improve tone & rhythm on those even as I work on new pieces.

16:06:31 From Iona : Reacted to “m going back to wh…” with ❤️

16:06:36 From Iona : Removed a ❤️ from “m going back to wh…”

16:06:59 From tom ruminski : Do you do folded scales

16:07:03 From Iona : Reacted to “yes just play the …” with 👍

16:07:44 From Iona : Reacted to “m going back to wh…” with 👍

16:09:20 From jason kleinberg : D0-2-1-3-2-A0-D3-1

16:11:24 From ken jolly : Thanks for the practice

16:11:35 From Jane’s iPad (2) : Thanks

16:11:39 From Debbie Hill : Thanks!

16:11:41 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Thanks, Jason!

16:11:42 From djoanne iles : thanks Jason!

16:11:59 From Iona : Good workshop, have a great week!

16:12:08 From Cindy Rossi : YES!! I really like this format too!

16:12:29 From Debbie Hill : I like both formats

16:12:29 From Tom Szalay : this was good   thanks

16:12:33 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : I like both.  Or all, so far.

16:12:43 From Darcy’s iPad (2) : Thanks for all the great strategies. Good things to apply to my practice sessions.

16:12:48 From Mary Scott : I came in late but I found every bit that I heard really helpful

16:12:49 From djoanne iles : I like this format its great for differing skill levels

16:13:32 From Lisa Biehl : Appreciate the variety in the lessons!

16:14:04 From Debbie Hill : I’ve enjoyed your videos and reels

16:14:06 From Iona : I love babies. Veda is a special baby ❤️

16:14:31 From sue : This guided practice are very helpful. Also like specific focus like the one of bowing rhythms and would like one on scale variations.

16:14:33 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Beautiful!!

16:14:35 From Vera Algoet : Thank you!

16:14:35 From Iona : Looking so much more alert

16:14:43 From Grace Schutt  To  jason kleinberg(privately) : Soooo sweet!

16:14:44 From Mary Scott : She looks so sweet…

16:14:47 From sue : Beautiful baby! Don’t be shy

16:14:55 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : How can people hold a filddle and not love babies?

16:14:55 From Lisa Biehl : very cute photo! Thanks!

16:15:11 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Reacted to “I love babies. Veda …” with ❤️

16:15:21 From Vera Algoet : I feel a connection with her because she’s Veda Marie and I’m Vera Marie!

16:15:36 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Reacted to “IMG_5906.jpeg” with ❤️

16:15:37 From Iona : 🤣

16:16:03 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Reacted to “IMG_5823.jpeg” with ❤️

16:16:09 From Iona : Reacted to “IMG_5823.jpeg” with ❤️

16:16:10 From sue : I think you’ve got a grandparent audience—always love the babies

16:16:23 From Bridget Balthrop Morton : Reacted to “IMG_7511.jpeg” with ❤️

16:16:33 From Grace Schutt  To  jason kleinberg(privately) : I’m waiting for her in an instructional like kitty did

16:16:35 From barb : What a cutie!

16:16:35 From Vera Algoet : Such big sparkly eyes!

16:16:53 From Mary Scott : thanks, bye!