haggis - Posted - 06/17/2014:  16:06:03

Is it about playing tunes over and over, note for note, year after year until you have them down pat or is it about "sitting in" and taking risks while trying to be original and creative? Or is it about something other than these?

Dick Hauser - Posted - 06/17/2014:  16:50:07

I would think that it would vary a lot from player to player.  Some players enjoy being on the edge of disaster and trying to recover.  Other players want to be comfortable and stay there.  And, there are the majority of the players who are somewhere between those two extremes. In addition, conditions around a player will affect a  players attitude.  When surrounded by excellent accompanists, improvisation doesn't feel as dangerous.   When the soloist is forced to "carry" the accompaniment, it is less likely the soloist would do anything to confuse the other players.  A simple melody in the key it is normally played, and at a moderate tempo

If you play alone, you can do whatever you want.  Be careful, recording yourself can be discouraging.

alaskafiddler - Posted - 06/17/2014:  17:44:06

Yep - different ideas, views about what playing music is about - as such different goals, skills, process and approach.

Not just the two - nor would  I think of it as just two extremes with middle choices. there are just a lot of others that it is neither, nor really classified as in between. 

Can be difficult to explain. One of which though is fairly common at jams - it's a bit like telling stories, or jokes. Not even having on a radar of some "perfect" each and every word and enunciation in stone and rehearsed over to be the same every time. It also isn't overly concerned with being "original and creative" just to be opposite of the fixed. You just tell a joke you heard and like, and the way you recall it, yet express it in the way you want, in the moment., generally to sound like the way you normally would talk. Likely going of of the basic frame, or theme, and improvise some of the expression, and/or details. And perhaps might get  little creative, just naturally thinking a certain twist to the story/joke would be interesting.

As far as this is in "theory" forum - what makes that example work is just understanding (even on some intuitive level) the basic how the language, syntax, and speech expression works; largely from just listening to other folks speak.

There are even other ways folks view what playing music is about; what's important to them. Some of the joy folks get from playing music is neither the sense of accomplishment of getting it "right" according to some notation or recording (no mistakes); nor in the how "creative or original" they are; but from the feel, spirit of music. Another example is dancing; to where it's not about that you got each detailed step perfect, nor that you came up with some unique thing (complicated or not); just the experience of living, breathing, physical feel of the movement through space and time.

Edited by - alaskafiddler on 06/17/2014 17:54:14

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 06/17/2014:  18:36:11

Yeah that's what it's about...... playing ..... whether it's the memorized melody or the changes because you don't have the melody memorized . Sooooo it gets fun either way and a note or ten off plumb isn't a tragedy...... it still music .... R/

DougD - Posted - 06/17/2014:  18:57:23

I think you should have posted this in the Jean - Paul Sartre forum., where people are "condemned to be free" (at least according to Wikipedia).

Edited by - DougD on 06/17/2014 18:58:53

Fiddler - Posted - 06/17/2014:  19:25:37

Didn't Burt Bacharach answer this question?

Whats it all about Alfie

Is it just for the moment we live

Whats it all about

When you sort it out Alfie

Are we meant to take more than we give

Or are we meant to be kind

And if only fools are kind Alfie

Then I guess it is wise to be cruel

And if life belongs only to the strong Alfie

What will you lend on an old golden ruler

As sure as I believe theres a Heaven above Alfie

I know theres something much more

Something even non-believers can believe in

I believe in love Alfie

Without true love we just exist Alfie

Until you find the love you've missed youre nothing Alfie

When you walk let your heart lead the way

And youll find love any day Alfie, Alfie, Alfie

fujers - Posted - 06/17/2014:  19:30:48

Haggis, Theres a world of amazingment just waiting for you. Took me 43 years to get there but I did it. Trust me there's more waiting on your trail. Jerry

DougD - Posted - 06/17/2014:  19:37:33

Fiddler, that's beautiful and all, but didn't Gid Tanner answer this question over 60 years ago? youtube.com/watch?v=zpdNtDEV_Xw

alaskafiddler - Posted - 06/17/2014:  21:09:43

You move your fiddle bow up,

You move your fiddle bow down,

You move your fiddle bow up,

And you shuffle it round and round.

You play the hokey pokey,

And you turn the tune around.

That's what it's all about!

pete_fiddle - Posted - 06/17/2014:  22:03:10

The Craic

withnall - Posted - 06/18/2014:  08:18:56

quote:

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Originally posted by Dick Hauser

 

u can do whatever you want.  Be careful, recording yourself can be discouraging.

 

 

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More like soul-crushing :-)

MikeyBoy - Posted - 06/18/2014:  08:39:13

It's about winning. Getting to the top, no matter who you have to step on to get there. If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes. Give it 110%. never look back. Exploit your opponents' weaknesses. Show no mercy.  Go for the gusto. Don't let them see you sweat. Drink from the Cup. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Keep your eyes on the prize. Just win baby. 

haggis - Posted - 06/18/2014:  10:01:35

Never heard of Gid Tanner before but I really liked what I saw and heard.

Lee Mysliwiec - Posted - 06/18/2014:  15:24:03

After learning each new tune comes a moment of self satisfaction.. then,,, there is another tune to learn.. It never ends..You don't get a prize, a participation trophy.. or NOTHIN.....There was a time when self satisfaction was a sufficient goal for me, but Now it is not.. The joy now comes from JUST LIVING.... Be it fiddling, making banjos, or just hanging out with my lovely wife.... When there no expectations, then everything becomes an opportunity for joy.. not just playing the fiddle......There. I said it.

Humbled by this instrument - Posted - 06/18/2014:  19:33:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by MikeyBoy

 

It's about winning. Getting to the top, no matter who you have to step on to get there. If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes. Give it 110%. never look back. Exploit your opponents' weaknesses. Show no mercy.  Go for the gusto. Don't let them see you sweat. Drink from the Cup. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Keep your eyes on the prize. Just win baby. 

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LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You rule.

Fiddler - Posted - 06/18/2014:  19:38:32

William Shakepeare said it first...

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within

Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.

Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:

Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.

Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,

A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.

To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.

Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.

The Hoke, the poke — banish now thy doubt

Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.

 

fiddlepogo - Posted - 06/18/2014:  22:44:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by haggis

 

Is it about playing tunes over and over, note for note, year after year until you have them down pat or is it about "sitting in" and taking risks while trying to be original and creative? Or is it about something other than these?

---

I'd say those are two extremes at opposite ends of a continuum.

Some people have music generators inside, some don't. If you don't, the best you can do is find a good version and play it note for note....or maybe cobble together pieces of your favorite versions until you have one you really like, then play that note for note.

Then, with people that have some faculty within themselves for generating or creating music, some seem to be able to create new stuff out of the blue.

If they do it slowly, they can be composers and songwriters.  If they can do it quickly, "on the fly" they can be soloists in an improvisational genre like jazz, bluegrass or blues.

 Somewhere in the middle are those who tend to take something that already exists, and creatively modify it... it bears a strong resemblance to the tune they are using as a starting point, but the tune isn't a dead, static thing to them, it's a living, changing thing.

This kind of player is crucial for a traditional genre to retain it's creative force- they can move the genre forward gently, without destroying it or turning it into something different in the process.

Similar to those players are those who can write a brand new tune that sounds more than a hundred years old.

Addie - Posted - 06/19/2014:  12:59:17

What's it all about?  Making yourself  happy.  Making others happy.  Making music happen.  The rest is just fine print.

boxbow - Posted - 06/19/2014:  19:05:38

It's also about making your pickin' partner(s) sound good.  Still working on that one.

amwildman - Posted - 06/19/2014:  22:36:33

The entire point is to have fun. That is what it is all about.  Playing fidde - operative word here is 'playing'.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 06/19/2014:  23:22:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by fiddlepogo

 

quote:

---

Originally posted by haggis

 

Is it about playing tunes over and over, note for note, year after year until you have them down pat or is it about "sitting in" and taking risks while trying to be original and creative? Or is it about something other than these?

---

I'd say those are two extremes at opposite ends of a continuum.

Some people have music generators inside, some don't. If you don't, the best you can do is find a good version and play it note for note....or maybe cobble together pieces of your favorite versions until you have one you really like, then play that note for note.

Then, with people that have some faculty within themselves for generating or creating music, some seem to be able to create new stuff out of the blue.

If they do it slowly, they can be composers and songwriters.  If they can do it quickly, "on the fly" they can be soloists in an improvisational genre like jazz, bluegrass or blues.

 Somewhere in the middle are those who tend to take something that already exists, and creatively modify it... it bears a strong resemblance to the tune they are using as a starting point, but the tune isn't a dead, static thing to them, it's a living, changing thing.

This kind of player is crucial for a traditional genre to retain it's creative force- they can move the genre forward gently, without destroying it or turning it into something different in the process.

Similar to those players are those who can write a brand new tune that sounds more than a hundred years old.

---

i agree with this as well,although it sounds like a musical journey one person could take if they where driven.....dream...dream...ah well,back to cobbling

fujers - Posted - 06/21/2014:  17:20:46

well

fujers - Posted - 06/22/2014:  07:55:17

well