Breakover Point for Beginners!

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 12:28 AM

... as a brik...

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 12:04 AM

When does the breakover point come that new or old 'Catters actually learn to look for an older thread before starting another one?

Say, has anyone seen "Songcatcher?" I thik we need a thread on that!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:46 PM

Hear, hear, Sorcha, I second that about your playing, Jon. You got the mechanics down a long time ago, from what I've heard!

I think you're right about it being easier for kids, Sorcha. I hit it the first schoolyear I was in orchestra and in private lessons on the violin and piano. I also think that early training made it a lot easier for me to feel pretty confident within a few weeks on the dulcimer this year.

I've never taught, but I can just imagine how it must feel for you, as the teacher, to see that triumph in their eyes and to hear it. Congratulations for you and Corrie!

kat

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 11:33 PM

Jon, forgive me, but I think you are wrong about your own abilities. You DO PLAY--I have heard you. I am talking about when it all comes together naturally and you don't have to think about each individual thing--

Where is the bow?
Where are my fingers?
Which direction is the bow going?
Is the bow going in the right direction?
Where am I in the tune?
What IS the tune?
Is my right/left hand in the correct position?

etc........There is a point when the mechanics become automatic and you stop thinking about them and just play.....learning new tunes is different, I will grant that, but after the mechanics kick over to autopilot, it's lots easier.

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 09:18 PM

Never reached that point. I can remember the days when I thought "If I can just learn to play Harvest Home, I'll be happy" now I tend to be thinking I should practice more and should have done, why am I struggling with the Flowing Tide after playing for all these years. There are definately times I just feel like throwing the banjo away in disgust at my playing...

Jon

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 08:57 PM

2 mos, Charlie. She is 12, and I think it is easier for kids to learn, not least because they have parents to make them practice.

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 08:45 PM

Sorcha--

After 35 years, I think I'm almost there on guitar.

Seriously, how long did it take her to reach that point?

CC

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: iamjohnne
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 08:34 PM

My fifteen yr old daughter has decided she wants to learn to play guitar. MY nineteen yr old son started about two yrs ago and really is good. I remember learning to play the G chord using only the first string and not playing my base strings.Then I learned C and D7 the same way. I thought I was really cooking. I keep trying to encourage my daughter, but she complains her hands are too small to make the chords. I remember the first time I was able to make a barre F. That was a major accomplishment. Now I am going through it all again. I hope she sticks with it. It has really been a pleasure playing with my son. If the daughter finally gets it we can really go to town.

Johnne 'goin where the weather suits my clothes"

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 07:00 PM

Yes-- it comes and goes, I think. I see it most easily in our band when they "get" a piece I have been whomping away on to get the rhythm across to them, and they take it from me and PLAY. Then I get to lay back and then I am just playing too. Love it.

Or any time I get to sing with Dharmabum. Or Pete Peterson. Or Burke. Or Bert. Or Mmario. (In no particular order.) And some others, sometimes. Wish it was everyone I felt that blood harmony with!

GREAT THREAD BTW!!!!!!!!!!!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 06:41 PM

I have high hopes that I will reach that point one day Sorcha ...

Murray

Subject: Breakover Point for Beginners!
From: Sorcha
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 06:39 PM

Do you remember that point when you were actually PLAYING the instrument instead of just going through the motions and making noise? It happened today for my fiddle student!! Hooray! Now she finally! believes she can really do this. We're working on Rakes of Mallow, Logan Water,and Down by the Salley Gardens. (several, you know, so she won't get bored).

I had just told her that she was very close to really playing, and don't give up. Then we played Rakes and BY GOLLY, she got it. It was so wonderful to see her face light up---she knew she had done it and recognized then what I had meant.........Yea, Corrie!!