Share your latest musical accomplishment

Subject: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:07 PM

Let's talk about something happy, shall we?

What is your latest musical accomplishment that has you feeling triumphant? I figured out how to make my fiddle sound like bagpipes. No big deal, really, but I figured it out all by myself!

Anyone else?

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: SDShad
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:14 PM

But Kim, how'd you fit the bag onto the fiddle? :-)

My latest musical accomplishment? Singing a solo of Albert Hay Malotte's "23rd Psalm" in church a week ago Sunday. Just me and the organist--this aging, beloved, slightly curmudgeonly, and brilliant musician who's been there for decades. Not folk, and not necessarily a big deal, but it's the first time I've sung a solo with Jack, ever, and the first time I've sung that kind of solo music since singing "O Holy Night" at a campus Advent vespers service about 14 years ago. It felt really good. I've sung folk-and-folk-style music in church many times, but I think some people were still surprised I had this kind of singing in me.

Chris

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Amos
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:14 PM

You sure that was musical? :>)

I wrote three good songs in two weeks, which I am happy with, including one that has been sitting around half-baked for about 8 years!

A

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:19 PM

This seems really naff and will expose me as a complete idiot -but I have been trying to come to terms with my yamaha pr160- mainly to assist in song writing. well with time on my hands I read the manual and realised that with the odd press of the button, it displays the notes I am playing and also the notation -I've only had it a year! My playing has not improved at all but it has been incredibly helpful in not having to rely on others to do the notation for me.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Diva
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:20 PM

I believe Micca won a cup for songwriting at the weekend. I won 2 cups for singing at Newcastleton 2 weeks ago.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:26 PM

Not really sure it's an accomplishment but for me and music, getting back into playing in a good regular session after pretty near a 3 year lay off from regularly meeting good players.

Jon

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:57 PM

GREAT, y'all!!! Keep going!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 05:58 PM

Me and the band spent the whole rehearsal last night on one song, but I'll tell ya, our version of "The Ribbon" is really wicked cool now!!!

And we picked up another gig today, so we have somewhere to play "The Ribbon"!

LOL!!!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 06:03 PM

Performing for my mom this past June at her 80th birthday party.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 06:12 PM

Wrote the Pencil Sharpening Shanty
someone said to me at Alcester FF "I'm waiting for the Pencil Sharpening Shanty" and one week later the challenge got to me.
Did it at the Dragon FC Bristol (every Fri) and it looks like shanty man Mike Starkie is about to filtch it.
I'm sure it'll get a paring (sic) at Warwick FF.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 06:19 PM

I MAY have mentioned this in another thread, but earlier this month, by invitation, I did a half-hour featured spot at the 27th annual folk music festival in Indianapolis, sponsored by the Central Indiana Folk Music and Mountain Dulcimer Society. I sang folk (type) songs with guitar and with banjo (one unaccompanied.) Had some nice feedback, too.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 08:12 PM

Great stuff, all of you!!

Diva, I would love to have heard you and seen you win those cups!

Congratulations, everyone!

kat

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 09:06 PM

I heard myself on CD for the first time, yesterday, and was very pleased, and amazed, at how it sounds... Thank you, Gomez!

And thanks for the thread, Kim, just the right thing.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 09:44 PM

I learned a few new pieces recently. I have some of you in part to thank for that.

I have also realized that one never stops learning.

I think the best part of all is the knowledge that there is always more to know.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 09:49 PM

I have mastered "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Love Me Tender" (yeah I know. I did it to see if you were all awake.)on my guitar.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Jeep man
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 10:17 PM

I sang a song for my 4 year old grandaugher(The Unicorn Song), and she is now singing it while she plays. Best audience I ever had. Jeep

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 10:25 PM

Well...........I know this ain't much of an accomplishment, but tonight I was able to hold the damn guitar in my normal playing position for 5 minutes without saying, "Holy shit does that ever hurt." The small incision made to pass in the valve to the robot cut through the muscle and also the nerves leaving an odd tingling sensation that gets pretty painful when you put any pressure against it......even a shirt. I got the shirt thing covered with baggy-ass shirts, but it's finally getting to the point I can put a little pressure there without too much pain. Maybe by next week it will have passed enough to be only an annoyance!

Last week when someone ran the "Playing Autoharp without Pain" thread, I was tempted to answer, "I can't at the moment!"

Spaw

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Justa Picker
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 11:29 PM

I have created what I think might be an absolutely new genre of music - acid jazz meets Travis style fingerpicking. Written two songs and plan to record them in the next little while. Any suggestions for a name of this new genre?....so that I can tell the record stores how to label the delete bins they'll be resting in? :-)

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 11:35 PM

LMAO ........... If I think of something, I'll let you know..............Grungebop Folk?............still LMAO............

Spaw

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: hesperis
Date: 18 Jul 01 - 11:39 PM

I figured out how to use soundfonts in Cakewalk!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: john c
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 12:18 AM

Our drummer didnt turn up the other night, so for the first time in my life I was sitting behind a drum-kit. GREAT fun (but it sounded bloody awfull, as the rest of the band took enormous pleasure in telling me!).

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Margo
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 12:45 AM

I took 3rd in clawhammer banjo and third in flatpicking guitar at Washington State Bluegrass Championship. Been playing banjo for a year and guitar for 9 months. WHAT FUN!! Margo

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: pavane
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 04:12 AM

I upgraded my MIDI WIZ program to add a GM reset command to the front of any MIDI existing file. Stops MIDI file players starting up using the instrument settings and adjustments from the previous MIDI file. (Many MIDI files on the web DON'T have reset commands.)

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Owlkat
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 04:29 AM

Decided to try playing with others, which is not easy for a grouchy loner like me. I have succeeded in finding an amenable bass player for a gig next monday, and also for a folk festival in August. In addition, I'm awaiting for the final printing film for my third recording, so I can send it and the master off to the dupers and finally deliver the results of a two year long recording project to the great unwashed masses, hopefully not to sink into the swamp without a trace. Get this thing outta me!!!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 10:15 AM

Marvelous!

Way to go Spaw! Hang in there, buddy. :-)

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: John P
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 10:25 AM

I put together a book of original tunes arranged for the small harp and it is being published even as we speak by Afghan Press, a publisher in Houston. I've been having great fun saying things like, "Oh, I have to work on my book tonight. My publisher wants to know when it will be ready."

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: InOBU
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 10:30 AM

I'd say it is sumed up in the Whilte Playing for Handicaped Folks post... Larry

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 10:35 AM

John and Larry, that is just fantastical!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:29 AM

I've finally bought second hand the five volume Child collection. Does that count as a musical accomplishment?

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:40 AM

Having been in search of second-hand books before... yes, it is!!!!!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 12:34 PM

I sterilized my nose flute.... Actually, as a designated listener, my greatest achievement lately was ordering the new Jay Ungar CD from Amazon.com.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From:
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 12:44 PM

Last post was mine...keep forgetting the %&*$# GUEST insert.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 01:03 PM

Way to go Jeep ( singing for her grand daughter ) and Spaw ! let us know when you get to TEN minutes!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Jeep man
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 01:17 PM

Thanks, Eagle. Jeep is of the male persuasion. Jeeply

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: GUEST,shogie
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 01:40 PM

I found out a few months ago that i had been accepted into a traditional music school on the west coast of scotland. the tutors are great! my fiddle tutor is ian mcfarlane from blazin fiddles and my singing tutor is mary ann kennedy, my piano teacher is to be andy thorburn who is just brill!! im so chuffed because people were auditioning from all over scotland! i start in august and i just cant wait!!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: mousethief
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 01:51 PM

Way cool, Shogie! Go get 'em!

Me, I almost have the picking pattern for "Wondering Where the Lions Are" figured out.

Alex

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 01:57 PM

AWESOME, Shogie!!!

Hang in there Alex. I know you'll get it. :-)

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Cappuccino
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 02:08 PM

And with a couple of mates, I've just invented gospel-skiffle-worship. At least, I think I have....

Oh, best wishes to Spaw, too. Appreciated your encouragement a few weeks back.

- Ian B

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 02:10 PM

Justapicker:

Tracid Avis?

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Matt Woodbury/Mimosa
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 02:25 PM

Last week I performed my second solo concert at my teacher's store/concert hall. It seats 50. The room was full, with audience in the lobby, as well. I did four songs requiring audience participation, including 2 where I taught the audience to sing the chorus with me. My first time for that. My second set was a mix of bawdy songs, hymns, and love songs, and ended with a chant text I'd set to my own composition. When I finished, the audience was still there, after about 5 seconds they started applause.

I took a lot of risks with choices of songs and presentation, and ended up with art. It feels really good.

Mimosa

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Les b (U.K.)
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 02:37 PM

I,m learning to play the melodeon, after 30yrs of trying to play the guitar.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 Jul 01 - 11:32 PM

I've just (sort of) finished re-scoring a local "Irish Session" book.
The original book was a sort of unsorted mishmash of conversions from MIDI, ABC, downloads in various formats, etc. I now have all 380 tunes from the original book re-entered, one note at a time, into my scoring program.
Then, just because I'm something of a perfectionist, for tunes for which the local version is significantly different than what appears to be the most common version, I added the "generic" variation.
And then, where I found a different variation that seemed to be established in other locations - in more than a couple of other "regional" books - I added a "western" variation.
I have separated out the few that appear to non-traditional, so that I can add them back when/if I can secure proper permissions.
"Proof" sheets that could be used to print the book have been made.
Disks are ready with "literal midis" of each tune, to go with the book.
(my SO made herself a T-shirt that says "does anal retentive have a hyphen" just to wear when she goes out with me)

Taking the edge off the glow, though:
With about 780 tunes, the book is so big that none of my friends want (or can lift) a copy.
And printing all the trials and proofs has ripped the guts out of my faithfull little PostScript printer (tore the teeth out of a paper feed gear).
I can't really afford to make copies to see if anyone wants it.

Oh well, I've got the best D... session book around - If I really could play any of that stuff!

SWTIME - Smiling With Tears In My Eyes.

John

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 12:40 PM

Bravo! Keep going!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Grab
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 12:55 PM

Learning Lindsey Buckingham's "Never going back again", which has been an ambition for a while now. Still can't sing it and play at the same time, though!

Graham.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Wesley S
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 01:33 PM

I'm getting good enough at barr chord formations on my mandolin that I can even play in some damn silly key like B flat when one of our singers decides thats the perfect key to show off their instrument.

We recently lost one of our rhythm guitarists when he took a job out of town. But as luck would have it, we found a stand up bass player that wants to join us - and he's amazing. A great work ethic too. We noticed that we don't even miss the guitar now - the bass fills the holes rather nicely.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Mr Red
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 02:05 PM

MMario
Pencil Sharpening Shanty now a Lyr Add.
Enjoy

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 08:26 PM

to sing in something approaching harmony,

and remember all the words ?

Well I'am working on it !!!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 08:32 PM

I sang in public for the first time last Sunday (not solo, I hasten to add!) Great fun, but I'm afraid my voice needs a a LOT more practice, and I'm not as good at remembering words as I was in school ...

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 20 Jul 01 - 10:47 PM

Singing harmony with Musicman, this past weekend. Felt just like being partnered with and an 'old slipper' ...very cool!

LL

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: BlueJay
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:20 AM

Played at "Art in the Park", over the Fourth of July weekend. My daughter, Annie plays the flute. My son-in-law, David plays twelve string guitar. We recently added a killer female vocalist, Kris, and I play bass, of all things, and sometimes guitar or mandolin. La Veta, CO is a small town, <1000 people, but we had about two hundred of them listening at one point. At least fifty of them asked for CD's. (We are now starting to work on one). I think we would have done well if we had thought of putting out a tip jar.
We play mostly originals written by David and/or Kris. I don't know how to describe it, other than folk/ jazz/ whatever. David has a lot of cool instrumentals with unusual progressions and timings. Annie, David and I have been working on these for about a year. Kris has come in, and has been able to add lyricsto some of these themes. To me, this has transformed them from jams into legitimate songs, with real potential.

As a result of our gig in the park, a club in Trinidad, CO, (still small, <10,000 people), called us and booked a paying gig in September. $350 dollars isn't a lot, but it is well worth the 60 mile drive. They advised us that their entertainers usually sell out of their CD's, and to be ready for that. I dunno, we can't even start working on a CD until the first of August. We have fairly decent capability to record live in house, and burn CD's. But I wonder if there's enough time. Thanks, BlueJay

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: GUEST,seamus kennedy
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 06:44 AM

finished mixing my new CD (out in September) with Mike Auldridge on Dobro, Mark Hillman on Uilleann pipes, EJ Jones (of Clandestine) on Highland pipes, small pipes and flute, Tad Marks on fiddle, Brad Hayford on bass, lead guitars, whistle and keyboards and my son Damian on percussion. Other than that, not much.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: annamill
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 12:28 PM

I picked up my guitar...

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 12:41 PM

LEJ'S WIFE: Some amazing acccomplishments from all the previous Mudcatters. I just wrote a modest blues regarding uneven pavement. It's low down and sincere.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Slushcan
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 01:40 PM

I rediscovered music after (mumble)years and actually started writing some tunes.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 03:17 PM

Actually came up with several things as a result of wife being gone visiting & being able to practice interminably w/o worry. (Dogs just go to sleep.) First was realizing how easy it is to change open-G guitar to open G-minor & with equivalent of a "square roll" pattern, did "Lazarus" in a minor. (Learned it off Dave Van Ronk record; his sounds E maj. to me.) Shady Grove and Ashville Junction also possible. #2 was on "lap" dulcimer (lap-top), doing, of all things, "Sloop John B" with the melody on the bottom, what I call "oboe style" and using the actual melody course for mandolinesque runs and fills. Also just decided to try "Blackjack Davey" on the "laptop." I think there are some instrument-song combos that are born to work naturally, and that was one, the other made-for-dulcimer-like-nothing-else tune being "False William."

Thanks for this thread, Kim!!!!!!!!

CC

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Jande
Date: 21 Jul 01 - 06:24 PM

Got three more of my songs ("Just Like Makin' Love", "Morning Glory", and "Songwriter, Songbird" )recorded and up for download on MP3.com, plus a rendition of "Danny Boy".

If you want to hear them you can click here. Enjoy!

~ Jande (aka J. Seanna Rowe)

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:14 AM

I bought a guitar on Saturday, and I can strum along to fiddlers Green already.john

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Larkin
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:54 AM

I was a pro musician from 1976 till about '85 . After 8 years break from playing and more or less giving up on Music . I 've just discovered a local irish session ( 3 actually ) and am playing more or less every day and have learnt 12 new songs since the beginning of February. Last week I was asked to join a band. I'm even going to buy a cittern in the next month or so. Weird how you can't escape music!

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: InOBU
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 07:00 AM

I was going to say, getting out of bed this morning... also one of the most challenging... but really folks, my latest MA can been seen in the post, about 3 days ago, "& another wee song from InOBU..." There is an old and a new song of mine in that post... Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 07:22 AM

Finished a CD called "Finally" by The Flyin' Column, Its selling pretty good at our venues and we like it just fine.

Don

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 07:36 AM

My biggest musical accomplishment has been to improve my singing such that feedback from Mark (my husband and most rigorous critic) is usually positive rather than negative.

kris

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: bernil
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 11:50 AM

I'm not really a musician but at last I'm learning to play barré chords on my guitar. I've played the most common chords since I was young (for fun, for myself) and often needed for instance an F. It makes me very happy when it works and still happier when it happens to sound good! :-)

Berit

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: GUEST,jonesey
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 12:43 PM

All these small victories are on the mandolin. Making concerted effort to play Black Mountain Rag. Transposing melodies I already know into other keys. Learning new chord forms that force me to stretch my left hand. Painstakingly learning melodies of session tunes from the Walton 110 book.(I'm not good at notation) On and on it goes...lol

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: CarolC
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 04:11 PM

I'm in the process of learning a waltz called "Aanisen aalot" (the Waves of Lake Onega) by George de Godzinsky.

What makes this an accomplishment for me is that it uses chords on the treble (keyboard) side of my accordion as well as on the bass (button) side. This is the first piece I've ever played using chords on the treble side. I'm getting pretty good at it, and I really like it. It was a bit intimidating at first, but now it's actually quite fun.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 04:29 PM

I survived a ten minute rick Fielding "introduction to Scruggs picking" lesson. Probably the most useful (and stressful) lesson I've had. Rick didn't have the pointer in his hand waiting to rap me on the knuckles when I messed up. I put the banjo away when I saw him reach for it.

Justa Picker, I can't wait to hear that. BeGrass?

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 04:53 PM

I've managed to go from "note-note-clam-buzz-clam-ohshit" to note-note-buzz-note-note." Major accomplishment to make it through a song without a single "ohshit!"

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: 53
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 09:24 PM

After playing guitar for almost 38 years, I've finally started learning to sing.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Terry K
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 03:24 AM

My guitar class has a new teacher who has us all (only 4 or 5 of us) playing together at full volume. I've even been known to do the singing - major breakthrough!! I'm starting to get a real buzz from it. (No cheap jibes about "buzz" please!).

Cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 10:55 AM

Playing a 25 minute spot at the Cambridge Folk Festival last year in the Club tent (Saturday evening, when our club runs the session). Fantastic.

Supporting Martin Simpson at our club - what a nice bloke he is, he even did my sound check. Just before his last song he took time to thank me and rememebered my full name! Equally fantastic.

And every other time I've played in public. What a hobby, eh?

Pete

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 27 Mar 02 - 06:57 PM

Howdy all! My latest accomplishment was I finally typed out my lyrics and music to a dozen tunes I wrote and sent them off to the copyright office. My winter 2000 collection. (patting myself on my back!)
Rustic

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 12:20 PM

Yes, Gruitersex, rhythm and rhyme definitely make things easier to remember.

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 12:35 PM

I played 3 or so recognizable tunes on the concertina at Rainycamp..I recognized them anyway...my coach did not even come close to guessing them. mg

Subject: RE: Share your latest musical accomplishment
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 01:34 PM

Just this morning, I learned "Nail That Catfish to a Tree" on hammered dulcimer. I already know "Shove That Pig's Foot a Little Farther in the Fire". Now I need to merge them seamlessly together into "The Animal Cruelty Medley".