[Steve “Ripton” Nordborg]

I seem to have hit yet another wall. I’m trying to learn a few new tunes to join a local jam and after almost a year I have only accomplished learning 6, and not very well at that. I have been ignoring any other tune and trying to stay focused. Granted my practice has taken little holidays but I have been more consistent and regular about practice this last year. Would in-person lessons make sense at this point? Anything else I should be doing? Thanks

[Jocelyn Martens]

Hi Steve, thanks for sharing.

The social platforms on FiddleHed are spread out and not easily seen, so there’s a chance people won’t see your post easily or not until later on. If you’re able to create this/a similar post in the Chit Chat section of Play Every Day, you will be sure to see more responses.

I can understand the struggle with frustration in what we are doing/where we are at/quality of music we produce/etc and it’s good to be with those feelings and thoughts, knowing they will morph and transform.

Some in person lessons can be very beneficial to hone in on some strategies and focuses that can help us along our music journey of growth.
Posting a feedback video on this site could also offer some supporting suggestions for you.
Other folks have also recently been talking about similar feelings/experiences with their playing and finding the need to go back to more simple basics to help with solidifying good habits, to help with what they are wanting to change/achieve.

I’d be curious to hear how your doing with learning the key and associated scales along with the songs you have been focusing on. I find regardless how many or little amount of tunes I am focusing on, if I can balance my focus on learning the key in which that song is in, with associated scales, can bring a lot of fulfillment and expanse.
Similarly, the rhythms and interactions of notes in a song, really breaking that down and understand them in new ways, can go a long way in gaining deeper understanding of the relationship that will come with us with whatever we play.

Looking forward to hearing more from you on your journey.
Cheers and thanks for being a part of FiddleHed 🙂

[Joanne Iles]

I sometimes find that a play along track helps me on a tune that I’m struggling with. Are the tunes you’re playing on the Fiddlehed site? There are some good play along tracks on the tune lessons pages if so. Alternatively you could maybe try playing along to a drone track to help your tone & then for more of a challenge try one of the beat backing tracks on the Beat Central pages. I found that one tune I really struggled with, Wellerman really improved for me trying to keep up with the Bodhran beat pattern & then I was able to speed it up from there. Sometimes I just try & playalong to tunes on YouTube as I can slow down the playback speed until I get it which helps too!

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