jfrebel - Posted - 04/11/2010:  22:03:40

anybody else use these guys? they teach you how to play by ear.

toneway.com

I'm a huge fan and have their getting started plus book and there more advanced book. also their mp3 CD.

you can actually learn alot from their free video seminar.

no their not paying me. LOL! but I really like them alot.

tonight I had a break through that I didn't think was possible a couple days ago. playing in keys other than say C or D or G or A. finally taking a look at the section in their books on how to play in any key on the fiddle and giving it a shot and it worked. I noodled out amazing grace in F, E, Bb, etc and albeit my tone needs to be smoothed out the tune was clearly recognizable.

the trick is in what they call a floating pattern. its the same fingering no matter where you go. so depending on where your 1 tone is. (where your index finger will be posted) you'll play in that key if you stick to the pattern. really cool.

and here i was thinking I'd have to learn lots of weird patterns for weird keys like Eb or F#

Edited by - jfrebel on 04/11/2010 23:48:02

MindyH - Posted - 04/12/2010:  00:32:41

Nice find! I could see the videos being very helpful to people who want to begin jamming.

JackJack - Posted - 04/12/2010:  15:18:40

I've jammed on my banjo with the Abbot's quite a lot. They even played at my 40th birthday party too! They are a wonderful family and can teach you tons on all instruments. I came a long way when I started jamming with them, and the whole concept of playing by ear has improved my musicianship on all my instruments. I rarely pull out tab anymore, and it makes me sound like, well... me! The way I want to hear it and the way I want to play it. If you ever get a chance and are in the Santa Cruz, CA area, go jam with them. They have 3 levels of jams and everyone is invited. Make sure to contact them first for more information and their requirements so that they know where to place you.

I haven't gone in awhile, but I am always meaning to get back into it. Maybe this time with the fiddle in a entry level jam?

JackJack - Posted - 04/12/2010:  15:21:41

Oh, here's even more info on their classes, including a calendar, about the coaches, and meeting up with other students.

meetup.com/mountain-music-jams-95060/

jfrebel - Posted - 04/12/2010:  23:58:30

you got me jealous. If I ever get the chance I would love to meet them and get the chance to jam with them and get tips.

until then, I got their books and they teach lot. if only more teachers taught the way they do.

most teachers I see on youtube, DVD's I have and the two that I took a few lessons from, taught the same way. rote learning, tab and showing you note for note how to play this song then that one.

whereas the abbots actually teach you to play the instrument. show you a pattern/scale and then show how and why that song fits in there like it does and how to apply that knowledge to other songs.

when a fiddle teacher taught me the battle hymn of the republic, I knew the battle hymn of the republic. thats it. one song, one key.

when the abbotts taught me shady grove via their toneway method, I was able to use the method to noodle out the Muffin Man the same day. all by myself and with no tab or aid. just humming and noodling around on the pattern they show you.

their toneway method rocks.

.

Edited by - jfrebel on 04/13/2010 08:43:03

phicks - Posted - 05/10/2010:  13:54:32

The Abbot family has helped many a beginner around here turn into a full blown jammer. I highly recommend Their "Toneway method". I am biased since they are some of my dearest firends, as well.

brya31 - Posted - 05/11/2010:  02:18:47

I bought their first book and yesterday I ordered their second one. I not only love the quick way of learning but I really enjoy their music.

jfrebel - Posted - 05/11/2010:  05:56:48

you should get their cds as well. (or mp3 cd if you have an ipod) they got full performances of the 100 songs in the getting started plus edition.

they also have an mp3 cd with over 300 partials of songs with luke and his guitar so you can get the feel for the melodies of all the rest of the songs in their second more advanced book. . those clips are all free on their site but i like having my own copy.

3fiddles - Posted - 05/11/2010:  15:03:44

I'll tell u one thing, u better get off the open strings NOW rather than later, dont play no open D A or E only G cause u got to.. this floating pattern ur talkin about is useless in the first position. I learned this myself 25 years ago and it's helpful but it's a tiny tiny little scratch into mastering the Violin. Being young helps only in the area of the mind not the fingers. Playing etudes and melodic scales are so important, ur brain needs to be very fast in playing off the cuff and eventually play what u can hum. What's going thru your mind comes out on the violin. this is very hard to do. The only diff. in playing by ear is learning music theory, u know and understand what u are doing and can put a name on it. this too is very important.

spw0766 - Posted - 05/13/2010:  08:24:10

I found them on facebook. They report their website is having problems since about 4/30 and, indeed, I was not able to connect to their site.

However, I tried to start learning to read music and found I just don't like it. I am so much happier in Jam sessions and rapid learning methods.

I will definitely follow them on Facebook as I added them as a friend.

spw0766 - Posted - 05/13/2010:  08:30:10

mmmm...They don't have a friends link on FB...which is too bad I now I have to remember to visit them. I would rather have that info streaming to my FB stuff.

Stephen Paul
stephenpaulwest.com

bj - Posted - 05/14/2010:  06:47:03

Their site is up and running now.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 05/30/2010:  05:20:18

I stumbled across their site a while back and found it really cool. I don't go there much, but from what I saw and from their youtubes, I think they must teach music in the most natural way for folk styles to be learned.... by ear and instinct. They seem very good at what they do.