Office Hours with Jason / July 2023

Summary

Fiddle Festivals and camps. 0:17

  • Welcome to the show and questions.
  • Summer fiddle festivals and music festivals.
  • Fiddle camp music camp in August.
  • Playing piano for federal turns in Irish music.
  • Does anyone know of a site that lists all fiddle festivals and camps Ian the word?

How do I know when to move on from a tune? 6:12

  • Good is better than perfect.
  • Be able to play it through for memory without stopping.
  • Assume you will return to it later.
  • Get it to the Goldilocks point.
  • Getting to a point where you can play.
  • Assume that you will return. Rick stevens, travel guy.
  • ‘Practice wisdom’.

 

Should I use low, medium or high tension strings?

  • Difference between medium and heavy tension strings.
  • High tension strings vs bluegrass strings.
  • Thanks to FiddleHed Karen for answering this.

How to write music? 19:10

  • David’s question about writing music and Pete’s comment.
  • David’s comment on writing music.
  • Pentatonic scales are magical.
  • The first step is to build the melody.
  • The process of coming up with a melody.
  • How to internalize music.
  • Two ways to play with music ideas.
  • Recording ideas and practice in general.
  • Any follow-up questions on the fiddle style.

Practicing many tunes in the same key. 26:06

  • Practice around a key as much as a tune.
  • Tunes in the same key.
  • Learn more: The Dronopoly Game

How do you divide practice time between multiple instruments? 32:52

  • G major and d minor tunes.
  • D minor tunes listed at shady grove.
  • Bridget asks how to divide practice time between multiple instruments.
  • David asks a practice question.
  • Leveraging two different instruments to practice other things.
  • The essence of deliberate practice.
  • FiddleHed Tom’s thoughts on learning the fiddle on the guitar. 39:42
  • Learning fiddle tunes on the guitar and mandolin.
  • Music as a three-dimensional sculpture.
  • Two intermediate levels of dulcimer and a fiddle.
  • The importance of having multiple instruments.
  • FiddleHed Cindy’s thoughts on learning multiple instruments. 44:41
  • Another dulcimer player, Darcy, also plays the banjo.
  • Debbie Hill is the admin of the Dulcimer group.
  • Cindy shares her personal approach to playing with musicians.
  • Learn mandolin here: Mandolin For Fiddlers

Learning country songs on your own. 50:10

  • Practice country songs every week.
  • Cindy’s dulcimer group, room for others.
  • Group of Dulcimer players.
  • Group ben, creating a group ben and ben.
  • Learn more here: How To Learn Fiddle Tunes More Easily

Music Camps and Fiddle conventions. 55:23

  • Recommend any music camps or fiddle conventions in the us.
  • Music week in texas.
  • How to do an introduction to a song.
  • How to get into a song without potatoes.
  • Ending riffs and closing riffs in bluegrass and contest fiddle.
  • Fiddlehill online and in-person.

How to learn a tune by ear. 1:01:31

  • Learning a tune by ear by listening to someone perform.
  • How to learn a song from recording.
  • Learning about music by ear in college.
  • Using amazing slow downer for fine-grained control.
  • Starting with simple tunes and nursery rhymes.
  • Cajun music. Tune by ear.
  • Learn more here:

Chat

Here’s the chat from the office hours. Some students chimed in with answers and ideas that weren’t in the video or outline.
15:02:37 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Bliss festival
15:02:40 From Terri Marsico to Everyone:
Last w/e went to Smoked Country Jam
15:03:24 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Remus Music Festival
15:04:08 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
I’m going to the Washington old time fiddlers fiddle camp next week in Moses Lake, WA. I’ll be taking a fiddle class and a class to learn piano back for fiddle tunes.
15:04:19 From Terri Marsico to Everyone:
Remmington Ryde festival was just here, Centre County PA
15:05:06 From Terri Marsico to Everyone:
In Sept, Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering in central PA is good, it was the first event I went to after I started fiddling.
15:05:17 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
Sure 😊
15:05:30 From Christie to Everyone:
Wheatland Music Festival in Remus, MI
15:05:33 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Reacted to “Sure 😊” with 👍
15:05:34 From Patty Peterson to Everyone:
Montana has a bundh
15:06:02 From Christie to Everyone:
Oh sorry, it was in June!
15:06:17 From Michael Deck to Everyone:
https://celtic-colours.com/
15:07:22 From Karen to Everyone:
backbone bluegrass fest last full week July, Strawberry Point Iowa.
15:07:31 From David to Everyone:
Do you make your own music?  Can you give some hints on how you go about making a tune from scratch?
15:07:32 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
I just had new strings put on my fiddle and I’m having problems with intonation. Is this a common issue? I
15:09:28 From Terri Marsico to Everyone:
Some tunes are obvious to have an intro as “potatoes”, but w/other tunes don’t seem to be that case, what are other examples of an intro to a tune?
15:10:26 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
This is AR again with question about new strings. Any suggestions? Seems like I’ve taken a huge step backwards ☹️
15:11:32 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
@Ann — new strings need to get stretched and often take days to work them. Just play for a bit every day and keep tuning. They will stop stretching!
15:11:45 From Karen to Everyone:
Ann – new strings will take a few days to break in.  So double check the string is in tune frequently while playing.  Like a couple minutes and then 10 minutes.
15:12:21 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
Thanks, I tune every day.
15:13:22 From Debbie Beckwith to Everyone:
Hi, I’m new! First time attending “office hours”. I have the afternoon off today; normally would be at work! 😁
I’m not a complete beginner, more like an intermediate beginner, but I’m interested in the “fiddle” style he does here, rather than more classical stuff. I want to learn to play with my BF who plays guitar (mostly folk tunes or bluegrass type stuff).
15:13:22 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
Some tunes I enjoy playing more than others. I tend to return to the tunes that I really like.
15:14:20 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
Yes!
15:14:34 From Michael Deck to Everyone:
Ann
15:14:50 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
One thing I just realized for myself in practice is organizing practice around a key as much as a tune.  So I may practice a tune for a few minutes, do scales or other exercises, and then move to another tune in that key, then return to the original tune, so it’s a round of tunes in the same key.  It seems to be working for me.
15:15:05 From Michael Deck to Everyone:
Ann. Have you checked the bridge placement since changing the strings?
15:15:20 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
I just had new strings put on my fiddle and I’m having problems with intonation. Is this a common issue?
15:18:02 From Pete Healy to Everyone:
To David’s question about making new music, I was working on cleaner double-stop chords the other day, playing Oh Susanna very slowly. After a while it started to sound like a hymn, and I ended up improvising and morphing it for 10-15min.
15:18:22 From Christie to Everyone:
Reacted to “To David’s question …” with 👍
15:19:57 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Do you make your own music?  Can you give some hints on how you go about making a tune from scratch?
15:20:00 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
Reacted to “Do you make your own…” with 👍
15:20:12 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
Reacted to “To David’s question …” with 👍
15:25:59 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
I have a practice time question. Do you play multiple instruments? If you do, how do you divide your practice time between them?
15:28:26 From Josie to Everyone:
I have a question re learning a tune by ear by listening to someone perform it. I’m trying to figure out the melody for The Dectorists. It sounds good to me but when I then play it with the video of the performer doing it, it sounds off. How do I correct this? Thank you!
15:29:41 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Playing with others…
15:32:11 From Debbie Beckwith to Everyone:
Thanks! He’s tried to teach me about chord progressions and such, but my brain can’t quite wrap around that yet! 😁
15:32:12 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Playing tunes and scales in the same key
15:33:08 From Zoom user to jason kleinberg(Direct Message):
I am a beginner. I can now play oh Susanna and little Liza Jane from memory About three weeks to get there.
I am interested in chord back up. Play with a fun music group guitars key board   I would like to add with chord back up suggestions?
I cannot log onto website getting. 520 error. Missing the site for practice.
15:36:18 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
Are there common bluegrass “licks” that are good to know? Any suggestions on where to find them?
15:36:28 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
I love the tune index!  I use it like you’ve just described to review all tunes I’ve studied.
15:36:43 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
I have a practice time question. Do you play multiple instruments? If you do, how do you divide your practice time between them?
15:37:03 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
Reacted to “I love the tune inde…” with 👍
15:37:32 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
Sometimes I play the tune on fiddle and then play it on the piano.
15:38:01 From Karen to Everyone:
https://savagefiddler.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Licks-_Page_49.jpg
15:40:32 From Terri Marsico to Everyone:
My other instruments became neglected once the fiddle entered the house! But, I do use my piano keyboard and my tenor recorder to work out things first and then put them on the fiddle.
15:41:21 From Karen to Everyone:
Me too piano gets neglected.
15:41:33 From Christie to Everyone:
I play piano also. It was my first instrument so sometimes I need to play a tune on the piano to understand it
15:41:46 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
I’ve started playing handbells.  It’s remarkable how a completely different instrument helps me hear better, keep time better, and understand harmonies better.
15:42:28 From Brenda to Everyone:
Are there any music camps or fiddle conventions in the US that you recommend?
15:43:00 From Josie to Everyone:
I played piano first and I find that picturing the piano keyboard helps me to work with chords on the fiddle.
15:43:20 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
Reacted to “I played piano first…” with 👍
15:43:33 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Multiple instruments:  I try to learn a tune on every instrument.  Consolidates the learning process.  FiddleHed and weekly jams keep me focusing on violin/fiddle.  Periodic online hammered dulcimer instruction festivals keep me practicing to get up to speed for each festival.
15:43:53 From Debbie Beckwith to Everyone:
Dulcimer? Cool!
15:44:04 From Pete Healy to Everyone:
I started learning cowbell, but Christopher Walken’s telling me I still spend too much time on fiddle.
15:44:16 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
Mountain Dulcimer is my newest instrument.
15:44:38 From Morgan Wilkisnon to Everyone:
I play the banjo
15:45:00 From Debbie Hill to Everyone:
I started a dulcimer group on the site. Would love to see more folks there!
15:45:12 From Pete Healy to Everyone:
mando
15:46:14 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Dulcimer group!
15:49:14 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Cindy can read guitar
15:49:38 From Karen to Everyone:
Keith Yoder used to live near me in Iowa but taught camps all over US.  He is now in Tennessee and I’ve lost contact, but he taught by creating a group/band and getting you to just play from there.  Maybe surf him and see where he is for some ideas of camps.
15:49:38 From Patty Peterson to Everyone:
I just play guitar for backup – choosing to focus on the fiddle.  I felt making a choice of a primary instrument was important to me.  I also have a mandolin and a dulcimer but use them just to mess around.
15:49:54 From Christie to Everyone:
Gotta leave . Tnx Jason & everyone! Have a great 4th!!
15:53:05 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
What’s your group name?
15:53:14 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
Dulcimer group
15:53:36 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
https://fiddlehed.com/groups/dulcimer-players/
15:54:27 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
I’m trying to learn fiddle tunes on my Dulcimer.
15:54:59 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
Reacted to “I’m trying to learn …” with 👍
15:55:01 From Lee Howell to Everyone:
Got to go. Thanks Jason. I appreciate your teaching.
15:55:05 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Hi Cindy, I just joined your dulcimer group from Jason’s link
15:55:48 From Josie to Everyone:
I have a question re learning a tune by ear by listening to someone perform it. I’m trying to figure out the melody for The Dectorists. It sounds good to me but when I then play it with the video of the performer doing it, it sounds off. How do I correct this? Thank you!
15:56:09 From Karen to Everyone:
Unger
15:56:11 From Patty Peterson to Everyone:
Jay Unger
15:56:21 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
There’s a great one in Tennessee….. Kaufman’s Kamp
15:56:29 From Ann Repka to Everyone:
Gotta go, Happy 4th to everyone! 🎆
15:56:56 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
They have an old time week with fiddle and other instruments. I’ve gone for several years. Didn’t make it this year.
15:57:00 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
https://fiddlehell.org/
15:57:01 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Back Mountain, Kentucky Music Week,
15:57:18 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Black Mountain
15:57:42 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Fiddle Hell in person, Massachusetts this fall
15:57:54 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
Fiddle hell was online during Covid but is back in – I think – Massachusetts.  Maybe twice a year?
15:58:40 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Fiddle Hell, online only in spring now, in person only in fall now
15:59:50 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
In contest fiddle, they often start with 2 chops on the 1st and 3rd beat then start the tune.
16:00:06 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
Florida Fiddlers Convention https://flafiddlers.wordpress.com/florida-state-fiddlers-convention/
16:00:25 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
Reacted to “Fiddle Hell, online …” with 👍
16:01:20 From Josie to Everyone:
I have a question re learning a tune by ear by listening to someone perform it. I’m trying to figure out the melody for The Dectorists. It sounds good to me but when I then play it with the video of the performer doing it, it sounds off. How do I correct this? Thank you!
16:02:37 From Josie to Everyone:
Yes its a tune by johnny flynn
16:04:58 From Josie to Everyone:
The issue is more that when he sings my melody doesn’t sound right anymore, like he’s in a different key or something , not sure.
16:05:28 From jason kleinberg to Everyone:
Amazing Slow Downer app
16:06:47 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Some pro musicians use odd tunings, like tune a guitar up half a step… throws off learning a tune by ear
16:07:09 From Josie to Everyone:
Great tips, very helpful, thank you!
16:07:57 From Cindy Rossi to Everyone:
Very helpful! All of it…..Thanks everyone!
16:08:11 From Debbie Hill to Everyone:
thanks! this was great!
16:08:16 From Patty Peterson to Everyone:
Great session… thank you Jason!
16:08:20 From Terri Marsico to Everyone:
Thank-you very much! 🙂🎻
16:08:22 From Darcy’s iPad (2) to Everyone:
This was great! Thanks Jason
16:08:25 From Bridget Balthrop Morton to Everyone:
Wonderful & useful!  Thank you!
16:08:38 From Carolyn B to Everyone:
Thank you jason

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