Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?

Subject: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: NicoleC
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 10:56 PM

Hey, I finally found a practice buddy, or at least we're going to try and see what happens. I know what I want -- I (fiddle) want to learn how to play with other people and maybe start improvising and playing leads. She (guitar) just wants to get more practice. Both of us are kind of beginning intermediate... we can play our instruments, but don't have the musical skill developed.

BUT... we don't share any genre background, know any of the same tunes, or have a clue what do try and do at our first session. I read okay but am not so good at playing by ear yet; she plays almost exclusively by ear.

Anyone have any clues on where we should start? What do you actually do with a practice buddy? Help? I don't want to end up sitting in her living room petting her dog, I want to be, well, functional at least.

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Jim Krause
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:03 PM

Sounds challenging to me, in a constructive sense of the word. Look at the positive side; you get to broaden your repertoire. And given enough time, you'll both come to some sort of musical consensus about who's going to do what and when. It may be awkward at first, but give yourselves time. Enjoy.

Jim

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:31 PM

Try simple tunes at first like
Go Tell Aunt Rhody
Old Joe Clark
Claire de Lune
Boil/Bile them Cabbage Down
Cripple Creek

And then gradually progress to more complex stuff. Good luck and have fun!

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:36 PM

Have fun...it "feels like" you are developing a different portion of your brain...as you use two (2) EARS...)one to yourself and the other to the accompniment)....it doesn't hurt to be stretched...and soon it will "feel" natural.

You are in for a real-life adventure.

Sincerely

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 11:43 PM

Use the online resources that are all over the place-- MIDI fiddle tunes-- and software that lets you slow them down. MIDI Notate has a practice screen where you can set the number of repeats and the speed you want to start and end at-- yes, really-- and we used these one night with some intermediate players and had a RIOT. We played along at 80% of usual speed for about 5 go-throughs, then we just kept.... PLAYING, sailing along really, on our own. More details tomorrow if these resources are total unknowns... We're using Ed Hetzler's site and Barry Taylor's Tunebook (and other tunes) at the Contemplator site-- we are working on a list from these, to work on together. We'll do them as a group monthly and work on them at home in between. SO cool!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:37 AM

Ignore WYSIWYG -

Only if you are insecure and want to "control" "manipulate" the musical relationship ... should you "break-out" on your own.

Your muscial partner - and you..... will create an original combination that has NEVER before come together in the history of human-kind....allow the experience to be "virgin" for the first dozen (or more) sessions....once you understand each other...(and you have probbed the depths of each other's experiences)...THEN go and seek additional in-put through recordings....etc.

Have Fun, Work Hard, (Ignore WYSIWYG)

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:41 AM

This is YOUR opportunity to learn to play by ear...

Likewise, this is your PARTNER'S opportunity to learn to read.

You will each be "in-awe" of the other...until you understand the limitations of the other.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 01:16 AM

Until you get used to playing together, don't feel like you both have to play every tune or song. You probably don't have much material in common yet, so spend some time entertaining each other and looking for common ground. Playing together will come naturally, a few tunes at a time. Don't try to force it.

And don't worry about the I-read-music-but-she-plays-by-ear thing. I don't read a note of music and I've been playing with a fiddler who is also a symphony violinist for fifteen years and it's never posed a problem.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Willie-O
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 08:16 AM

You definitely WANT a guitarist with a good ear, if you're a fiddler. For a guitarist, ability to read music is pretty much irrelevant 90% of the time. To accompany a fiddler, a guitarist needs to be able to recognize the basic chord changes as they are happening:

I-IV-V
I-II-V
Em-D-Em or Am-G-Am

and so on. Unfortunately most tune books don't have guitar chords, but some do, such as Robin Williamson's. (Fiddler's Fake Book? don't know, I don't have it.)

So to start out, I would visit a music store and get such a book so your partner can get an idea what those changes sound like.

W-O

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 08:29 AM

,.

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 09:53 AM

My advice: send a personal message to Rick Fielding! This is his ace territory. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: 53
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 11:05 AM

Good idea.

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: GUEST,g
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 11:10 AM

Hi, Bob, I know your practice buddy has about quit on you. How do we get her "into" guitar mode again?
g

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: NicoleC
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:28 PM

Many thanks for all the comments! Hopefully some of it will make sense... eventually :)

I'm not worried about our differences in the long run (besides, beggars can't be choosers), but it's going to make it hard to get started, I think.

I'm kind of excited and hope it works out.

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: wilco
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:48 PM

I'm in music clubs where we get lots of beginners every week: fiddlers. lap dulcimers, harmonicas, mandolines, and banjos. One group even gives free lessons on autoharps and dulcimers each week. Most of these insturments are designed to play lead, and not rythhm. With the mandoline and autoharp and guitar and banjo, we'll usually start with chords, rather than melodies. On the fiddle and harmonica and dulcimer, we'll start with the melody.
    Usually, these are two chord songs: D -A.
    My suggestion is to pick a few songs that are familiar to both of you. Usually, these are hymnns or old popular songs: Amazing Grace, You Are My Sunshine, Silent Night, I'll Fly Away, etc. Just decide what key that you're going to do these in beforehand; that way, you'll both start in the same place. The key here is choosing familiar melodies.
    One of the other advantages of picking very familiar tunes is that you widen the circle of people with whom you can jam. Just have fun! You'll both benefit a lot!!!!!

Subject: RE: Got a practice buddy! Uh, now what?
From: Mudlark
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 04:20 PM

Ah, Nicole, I envy you the fun you are going to have. Starting with familar tunes is good, tho they are often sort of boring in themselves. But with you both getting the feel of playing together nothing will be boring for a long time. Another thing you can do is make a tape for each other of simple but favorite songs. That way her inability to read wont be a problem, and for both of you you can practice along with the tape in between sessions.

I play guitar, don't read a note of music, but have enjoyed backing up a violin playing melody. Most folk music is good for this as it is fairly predictable, so even if ears aren't professionally sharp, it's pretty easy to tell re chord changes.

I finally found another guitar and stand-up bassist to play with and even when we sound awful there is an excitement to playing with others that is differnt that playing alone, even if you sound great.

Wish I could join you!