Quincy - Posted - 03/17/2024:  01:00:18

Hey Lee, I too have periods where I am a lot less aspiring for the fiddle, last week I did not play at all, after an intense period of being fiddle crazy, and I completely forgot about my fiddle ambition and did not care at all. So your post sounds very familiar to me.

The reason for me is the dog Ziva is at that critical point between 1.5 and 2.5 years old , it is NOW that I need to put the dots on the i, because soon she will be adult. She makes an excellent guarding dog , as my very first dog (the first rottweiler I had) was. But I need to feel for 100% she will not and never bite without permission (which is ofcourse never - unless someone would physically attack me and I would be in great trouble), I want to be able to stick my hand in the fire for this, as I could do with my first rottweiler.

I did a good job so far , her bite treshold went up a lot since she was a puppy, but I feel there is some 0.1% left to work on and that is bothering me at the moment so fiddle is lowest priority now. Since we practice mantrailing I found what she is best at, and I now hope we will make it for the selections as Search and Rescue Dog.



I don't think it is strange to switch between focus and priorities. It is rather wise.

Edited by - Quincy on 03/17/2024 01:04:09

alaskafiddler - Posted - 03/24/2024:  19:05:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by tonyelder

Which is more correct? I am a fiddler - or - I play the fiddle - or - I can play some tunes on a fiddle - or - I learning to play the fiddle.    That is the question.

 

---

"That is the question" reminds me of Hamlet; as a fiddler trying to play "Fortune" with others. - Two B or not two B, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous "Fortune", or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?

But the question as posed as to which is correct, as well as some of these comments and wording caught my eye; in trying to follow exactly what "attachment", "giving it all up", "let go of"? Has me wondering if it's about the activity/doing itself;... or rather perhaps this is more focused on related to semantics "be" about using labels, titles, certification, rating, status, qualifiers, rules, checklists, resume, accolades, fame; and/or other descriptors and adjectives that get attached to identity (esp from external others)?

I've learned over the decades is that I'm NOT what I do

Similarly semantics of "do", is this about some label/title designation... or actual doing; describing actions, activities, choices, interactions; as well of the "how" in the doing; and reflection of their values, likes, passions, joys, priorities. Can really ever separate/differentiate that doing from who they are? While one activity/doing perhaps limited; seems at least part of the sum of who they are.

This does remind me of the adage; a child, when asked what want to "be" when grow up? Simple direct response...  "HAPPY!"

For myself, I do try to put in that simple context, gravitate toward pursuit of happiness thing; and focused on the activity, the actual doing (not label/title); thus do those activities which gives me joy. Fiddling is one such activity that has and continues to bring enjoyment to my life; fiddle itself is tool and/or just subset of greater joy in diverse activity of playing music; and all joys (including many intangible aspects), in what comes with that. In that context, I can't wrap my mind much around "giving it all up" or to let go of... happiness? Further also seems would focus in a negative space, in what don't/can't do; a void without really defining much what want to do in positive, moving forward to happiness?  I highly recommend/advocate that "do what makes you happy"... or not, your choice (not telling folks what to do).

Not sure if any of this addressed what Lee in OP is referring? Perhaps it's more Philosophy of Music, interesting topic, related but perhaps another discussion; but touches on basic differences of underlying core values, precursor which then shapes or affects goals, path, process, motivation, priorities, evaluation, metrics and rewards.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/25/2024:  01:37:23

quote:

---

Originally posted by alaskafiddler

quote:

---

Originally posted by tonyelder

Which is more correct? I am a fiddler - or - I play the fiddle - or - I can play some tunes on a fiddle - or - I learning to play the fiddle.    That is the question.

 

---

"That is the question" reminds me of Hamlet; as a fiddler trying to play "Fortune" with others. - Two B or not two B, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous "Fortune", or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?

But the question as posed as to which is correct, as well as some of these comments and wording caught my eye; in trying to follow exactly what "attachment", "giving it all up", "let go of"? Has me wondering if it's about the activity/doing itself;... or rather perhaps this is more focused on related to semantics "be" about using labels, titles, certification, rating, status, qualifiers, rules, checklists, resume, accolades, fame; and/or other descriptors and adjectives that get attached to identity (esp from external others)?

I've learned over the decades is that I'm NOT what I do

Similarly semantics of "do", is this about some label/title designation... or actual doing; describing actions, activities, choices, interactions; as well of the "how" in the doing; and reflection of their values, likes, passions, joys, priorities. Can really ever separate/differentiate that doing from who they are? While one activity/doing perhaps limited; seems at least part of the sum of who they are.

This does remind me of the adage; a child, when asked what want to "be" when grow up? Simple direct response...  "HAPPY!"

For myself, I do try to put in that simple context, gravitate toward pursuit of happiness thing; and focused on the activity, the actual doing (not label/title); thus do those activities which gives me joy. Fiddling is one such activity that has and continues to bring enjoyment to my life; fiddle itself is tool and/or just subset of greater joy in diverse activity of playing music; and all joys (including many intangible aspects), in what comes with that. In that context, I can't wrap my mind much around "giving it all up" or to let go of... happiness? Further also seems would focus in a negative space, in what don't/can't do; a void without really defining much what want to do in positive, moving forward to happiness?  I highly recommend/advocate that "do what makes you happy"... or not, your choice (not telling folks what to do).

 

Not sure if any of this addressed what Lee in OP is referring? Perhaps it's more Philosophy of Music, interesting topic, related but perhaps another discussion; but touches on basic differences of underlying core values, precursor which then shapes or affects goals, path, process, motivation, priorities, evaluation, metrics and rewards.

---

George, try this little experiment sometime.. You know that if you are sitting and watching TV that it is easy to get 'into'  what you are watching and overlook everything else around ? . Now, "let go" of  what you are watching and let your attention expand so that you are not Just watching TV but include the TV SET and the room and your body etc.... into your awareness.. That way, by having let go of the TV show you have expanded your awareness.. Yes, you can still watch the show but you are now Aware of so much more...

When I am trying to let it all go.. I'm trying to not remove fiddling from my life but am trying to not JUST fiddle..Make Sense?

alaskafiddler - Posted - 03/25/2024:  08:15:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

 

---

When I am trying to let it all go.. I'm trying to not remove fiddling from my life but am trying to not JUST fiddle..Make Sense?

---

Not sure I follow the watching TV exercise; isn't something much I can relate to.

What might be describing is "letting go of" YOUR perspective in "how" YOU have been engaging with or while fiddling, and some idea of what to change? Not sure what are trying to articulate either of those are though.

The "trying to not JUST fiddle" I can understand or relate only in terms how I might interpret that. What you mean by JUST fiddle, might be something else.

Awareness, I interpret as beyond state of self involved with playing (technical, material, notes, timing, etc..) and expanded to the holistic engagement and interaction with yourself in the space and time, and including listeners, dancers, and interaction of what other musicians are playing and nuances, related to what I'm playing; and then awareness of the gestalt of feel/spirit/energy/expression... to where still focus on the tune but in greater holistic way; not needing to consciously think only of tune/playing (technical, material, notes, timing, etc..) Somewhat a given to fit my goals, make me happy.  Again, not sure if that is what you are referring to or something else?

Philosophy of Music... is interesting, addressing why and how folks play music. Some books might find interesting "Zen Guitar", (not really guitar specific); Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson". and "Blowing Zen"; lot's of interesting thoughts beyond JUST playing notes/instrument.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/25/2024:  09:30:00

quote:

---

Originally posted by alaskafiddler

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

 

---

When I am trying to let it all go.. I'm trying to not remove fiddling from my life but am trying to not JUST fiddle..Make Sense?

---

Not sure I follow the watching TV exercise; isn't something much I can relate to.

What might be describing is "letting go of" YOUR perspective in "how" YOU have been engaging with or while fiddling, and some idea of what to change? Not sure what are trying to articulate either of those are though.

The "trying to not JUST fiddle" I can understand or relate only in terms how I might interpret that. What you mean by JUST fiddle, might be something else.

Awareness, I interpret as beyond state of self involved with playing (technical, material, notes, timing, etc..) and expanded to the holistic engagement and interaction with yourself in the space and time, and including listeners, dancers, and interaction of what other musicians are playing and nuances, related to what I'm playing; and then awareness of the gestalt of feel/spirit/energy/expression... to where still focus on the tune but in greater holistic way; not needing to consciously think only of tune/playing (technical, material, notes, timing, etc..) Somewhat a given to fit my goals, make me happy.  Again, not sure if that is what you are referring to or something else?

Philosophy of Music... is interesting, addressing why and how folks play music. Some books might find interesting "Zen Guitar", (not really guitar specific); Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson". and "Blowing Zen"; lot's of interesting thoughts beyond JUST playing notes/instrument.

---

Thanks for your reply...as always.. I've said more than once that I'm not as articulate as are many other Members and I get lost in words.. 

Old Scratch - Posted - 03/25/2024:  12:07:39

I'm watching the news right now as I'm reading this thread - and writing this post - am I on the right track?

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 03/25/2024:  12:59:31

I enjoy a whole bunch of stuff. Whether one interest gets in the way of another isn't a problem for me. I also try to do my best to walk and chew gum at the same time.

At the same time, though, I have to admit that playing the piano and playing fiddle take enough concentration to kind of keep me from doing anything else while doing them. Putting it another way, it's tough for me to sit on the couch and watch reruns of Seinfeld while trying to play the fiddle. It doesn't help that, if my concentration is divided, my bowing elbow always bangs against the couch.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/25/2024:  13:01:39

To be able to isolate the awareness itself, from the things one is aware of would be nice..

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/25/2024:  13:23:55

This Hangout group is apparently a group of multi-taskers..!!

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/25/2024:  18:29:08

@Alaskafiddler when I was giving guitar lessons, I gave my students Zen Guitar. 

I find a lot of what George is saying relates to my fiddling. I make music in general for the process of making music. It is the doing that "satisfies my soul." As a general rule, most of my leisure is spent either making music mostly by myself, or listening to music (also FHO). I do play in 4 working bands, so I get to interact musically with others. But keep in mind that is barely every other week for two of the bands and only when a gig is approaching for the other two. Mostly I have these gigs because I am a fiddler in a fiddle desert - one band is a ukulele band that I formed and am the "musical director."

Britches and Hose UC

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/26/2024:  12:51:10

Very interesting responses to the op... I'm old now, but once when I was just a lad of 22 ...I woke up.. I didn't wake up from sleep..I woke up for being awake..!! I asked myself at that moment.,"If I'm awake now, what have I been for the past 22 years?"... I spent the next 20 years trying to figure out what happened when I woke up, and the next twenty years trying to stay awake from being awake..!  That idea of being awake has Everything to do with knowing how/when to let go of  my ideas about myself/fiddling/busking/ and about others.. I'm not going to elaborate here but If any of you have ever come to such a realization, sent me a PM.. I don't want the topic to stray into questionable areas that many Members may object to..

Edited by - TuneWeaver on 03/26/2024 12:55:52

ChickenMan - Posted - 03/26/2024:  15:35:15

Still sounds akin to Buddhism to me, definitely an Eastern view of existence. 

Brian Wood - Posted - 03/26/2024:  15:35:50

I took lots of psychedelics in the 60s and 70s and had many convictions that I had seen things in a new and better way, maybe like waking up as you describe. I have had a few other experiences outside of normal, too. It's not that I discount those experiences now, they were what they were, but I've come to think that all ideas of what we perceive and how we perceive are only that: ideas. No person anywhere actually knows. Some people are persuasive in spreading their ideas and some just have their ideas embraced by hungry pilgrims. Most people think somebody knows. But all sense of higher knowledge is an illusion. The naked truth, nobody knows. I take my fiddle and draw the bow, pretty certain I am awake and it is really true, and I needn't see it from any other perspective than that it is here and now, playing with whatever mood or conviction I have now, which is known to change.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/26/2024:  16:03:45

Yeah i hear what you are saying Lee.....You don't need to practice as much, 'cause you think it's about "As good as it gets"....But if i've got a head full of cr*p It's still thinking about Music, and specifically fiddle that gets me off to sleep at night.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/26/2024:  16:55:56

"Rage...Rage, against the dying of the light" (Dylan Thomas)....LoL

Edited by - pete_fiddle on 03/26/2024 16:58:19

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/27/2024:  14:43:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian Wood

I took lots of psychedelics in the 60s and 70s and had many convictions that I had seen things in a new and better way, maybe like waking up as you describe. I have had a few other experiences outside of normal, too. It's not that I discount those experiences now, they were what they were, but I've come to think that all ideas of what we perceive and how we perceive are only that: ideas. No person anywhere actually knows. Some people are persuasive in spreading their ideas and some just have their ideas embraced by hungry pilgrims. Most people think somebody knows. But all sense of higher knowledge is an illusion. The naked truth, nobody knows. I take my fiddle and draw the bow, pretty certain I am awake and it is really true, and I needn't see it from any other perspective than that it is here and now, playing with whatever mood or conviction I have now, which is known to change.

---

I've never taken any mind altering drugs.. except a beer or three... Awareness is not an experience,  being Awake is not an experience.. to me it is just an Undoing of things.. just being aware.. nothing to know, nothing to learn.. just watch.. ..ok.. I'll quit for today..

Brian Wood - Posted - 03/27/2024:  15:45:07

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian Wood

I took lots of psychedelics in the 60s and 70s and had many convictions that I had seen things in a new and better way, maybe like waking up as you describe. I have had a few other experiences outside of normal, too. It's not that I discount those experiences now, they were what they were, but I've come to think that all ideas of what we perceive and how we perceive are only that: ideas. No person anywhere actually knows. Some people are persuasive in spreading their ideas and some just have their ideas embraced by hungry pilgrims. Most people think somebody knows. But all sense of higher knowledge is an illusion. The naked truth, nobody knows. I take my fiddle and draw the bow, pretty certain I am awake and it is really true, and I needn't see it from any other perspective than that it is here and now, playing with whatever mood or conviction I have now, which is known to change.

---

I've never taken any mind altering drugs.. except a beer or three... Awareness is not an experience,  being Awake is not an experience.. to me it is just an Undoing of things.. just being aware.. nothing to know, nothing to learn.. just watch.. ..ok.. I'll quit for today..

---

We're getting very mixed up in words. But since we're here using them I'll say I find your statement that 'awareness is not an experience' to be the opposite of how I define it. To me you can't have one without the other. But I see you didn't write awareness, but Awareness. You'll have to explain the difference to me. Though we tend to agree on much, I make an effort to not see basic experiences as stand-ins or metaphors for greater or more meaningful states. This is it, and we risk dulling what's actual by trying to interpret it, running it through a filter! But, I think you're trying to wake up, and I'm trying not to fall asleep. I'm not so sure there's a difference in the end.

Lee, I better go back to playing tunes on this rainy day before I slip in my own BS. I'm struggling with Daley's Reel because I seldom play in Bb. And that's a humbling awareness and experience to me.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/27/2024:  15:48:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian Wood

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

---

Originally posted by Brian Wood

I took lots of psychedelics in the 60s and 70s and had many convictions that I had seen things in a new and better way, maybe like waking up as you describe. I have had a few other experiences outside of normal, too. It's not that I discount those experiences now, they were what they were, but I've come to think that all ideas of what we perceive and how we perceive are only that: ideas. No person anywhere actually knows. Some people are persuasive in spreading their ideas and some just have their ideas embraced by hungry pilgrims. Most people think somebody knows. But all sense of higher knowledge is an illusion. The naked truth, nobody knows. I take my fiddle and draw the bow, pretty certain I am awake and it is really true, and I needn't see it from any other perspective than that it is here and now, playing with whatever mood or conviction I have now, which is known to change.

---

I've never taken any mind altering drugs.. except a beer or three... Awareness is not an experience,  being Awake is not an experience.. to me it is just an Undoing of things.. just being aware.. nothing to know, nothing to learn.. just watch.. ..ok.. I'll quit for today..

---

We're getting very mixed up in words. But since we're here using them I'll say I find your statement that 'awareness is not an experience' to be the opposite of how I define it. To me you can't have one without the other. But I see you didn't write awareness, but Awareness. You'll have to explain the difference to me. Though we tend to agree on much, I make an effort to not see basic experiences as stand-ins or metaphors for greater or more meaningful states. This is it, and we risk dulling what's actual by trying to interpret it, running it through a filter! But, I think you're trying to wake up, and I'm trying not to fall asleep. I'm not so sure there's a difference in the end.

Lee, I better go back to playing tunes on this rainy day before I slip in my own BS. I'm struggling with Daley's Reel because I seldom play in Bb. And that's a humbling awareness and experience to me.

 

 

---

Daley's Reel it is... We can probably agree on two things.. Typed-byes on the Hangout and "words in general" are both roadblocks to understanding.. but sometimes there is Unseen/know communication going on.. That may be the case here.. Cheers,Brother.

..

Edited by - TuneWeaver on 03/27/2024 15:49:13

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/27/2024:  15:56:00

And Dylan Thomas only made it to 39...What did he know about rage?....

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/27/2024:  16:04:53

quote:

---

Originally posted by pete_fiddle

And Dylan Thomas only made it to 39...What did he know about rage?....

---

Either he knew enough to quit while ahead, or not enough to keep going..!!

Brian Wood - Posted - 03/27/2024:  16:38:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

---

Daley's Reel it is... We can probably agree on two things.. Typed-byes on the Hangout and "words in general" are both roadblocks to understanding.. but sometimes there is Unseen/know communication going on.. That may be the case here.. Cheers,Brother.

..

---

Cheers, Lee!

buckhenry - Posted - 03/27/2024:  18:29:52

 I don't want the topic to stray into questionable areas that many Members may object to..

Go ahead, I'm all ears, maybe I'll get some understanding of what you're on about........

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/28/2024:  16:48:45

quote:

---

Originally posted by buckhenry

 I don't want the topic to stray into questionable areas that many Members may object to..

Go ahead, I'm all ears, maybe I'll get some understanding of what you're on about........

---

Check your email.

NCnotes - Posted - 03/29/2024:  08:53:27

Hmm not to go in strange circles...but one of the main reasons I play music is BECAUSE I lose awareness...it makes my life more Zen...



It's like leaving the troubles/cares/checklists of the world behind and just stepping into another place for awhile...a place to dream, color, play with sound...when I come out, I am usually surprised how much time has passed. (Or, I find the blackened smoking toast in the toaster oven). Toast = 1 short jig, but not a 3-part jig...

Edited by - NCnotes on 03/29/2024 08:53:45

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/29/2024:  15:59:36

quote:

---

Originally posted by NCnotes

Hmm not to go in strange circles...but one of the main reasons I play music is BECAUSE I lose awareness...it makes my life more Zen...



It's like leaving the troubles/cares/checklists of the world behind and just stepping into another place for awhile...a place to dream, color, play with sound...when I come out, I am usually surprised how much time has passed. (Or, I find the blackened smoking toast in the toaster oven). Toast = 1 short jig, but not a 3-part jig...

---

Hmm.. different strokes for different folks.. I find that  being aware only puts things into perspective.. ..

DougD - Posted - 03/30/2024:  07:13:21

NCotes - I wish I could "like" your last post more than once! In addition, touring for seven years in a band with five people, there were some times when one of us might not be feeling well (or we might all just be tired from a long day of travel). It was always amazing that once we started playing, those feelings just seemed to melt away. Music has an almost magical power to heal and uplift.
As a practical matter, at least in our kitchen I've found the toaster oven to be a poor choice for making toast. If you use a pop up toaster, even after a 3 part jig, your toast might be cold, but it won't be burned. Just a thought from home economics.

Edited by - DougD on 03/30/2024 07:16:57

Old Scratch - Posted - 03/30/2024:  07:21:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

---

Originally posted by pete_fiddle

And Dylan Thomas only made it to 39...What did he know about rage?....

---

Either he knew enough to quit while ahead, or not enough to keep going..!!

 

---

Well ... it was undiagnosed diabetes that killed him, if remember correctly.  The alcoholism didn't help, of course.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/30/2024:  14:29:07

I thought Dylan Thomas (whoever he was...lol...from Paul Simon...the man ain't got no culture...lol) died of Pneumonia...or Peee-new-moanie, as my grandmother called it.

Interesting discussion going here. I'll jump in...now...uh...what was the question? Oh yeah...being, being aware, consciousness, here and now, etc. Yeah, I don't know anything about it, except that one thing for certain is that we can never know another's experience...we are all solipsists sorta, I mean in a way...not meaning the type of definition you hear these days...these days you hear people say that solipsism is self-centered, egotistic or something. Well the way I remember learning about it back in the old days was that it was the idea that one exists within their own experience and cannot know another's experience. In other words, if you say you love the taste of chocolate...I cannot know what the actual taste of chocolate is for you...I can only know what the taste of chocolate is for me (and believe me, it's pretty doggone GOOD!), and so we must communicate as best as we can by using assumptions that are built on our own experience and seem to make sense.

Well I've been logged off here for a while, speaking of being here now or aware or whatever...our lives have gone through one unexpected wild turn after another, and it's been a rough ride. I find myself so isolated and depressed I realize I'm not good company for anybody, which then makes me turn away and become even more isolated and depressed...more "aware" of nothing outside of our own experiences these days with crazy stuff to deal with and no apparent way out. So...here I am...I'm being here now, and ready to sever my experiences that are tough to deal with long enough, hopefully if I can manage, to be here at FHO now, and leave the other in the room...speak of the spoken of this very moment, and try to quit dragging everybody else into the pits of doom with us, where we dwell...lol...seriously...but try to focus on things outside of that experience so that it doesn't drag anybody down, and maybe even can lift me out of the dumps a little bit if I can focus on the here and now of other stuff. Yeah...maybe I can do that. And if it turns out I can't, I will once again log off and keep to myself...gonna try to be a happy groundhog now though, at least when I'm in the FHO sphere of consciousness/existence/experience.

So here we all are!

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 03/30/2024:  15:01:41

I gotta quote a David Bowie line here. Its from his album Aladdin Sane (or it that A Lad Insane?), written during the period the always outlandish rock-and-roller was at this most outlandish.

"Jung the foreman prayed at work
That neither hands nor limbs would burst
It's hard enough to keep formation
'Mid this fallout saturation."

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/30/2024:  15:09:40

Peggy, your comments remind me of that old saying, "If you find yourself walking through Hell...keep walking".. cheers. 

gapbob - Posted - 03/30/2024:  17:17:27

I've *sorta* paid a bit of attention to this thread, but not in depth.

There are times when I haven't played for a month, then other times when I have a burst of playing daily, but those times it sounds good to me, my playing is adequate, are pretty fun. I wouldn't be happy if I had to walk away from it all, though.

In January I was doing a nasal flush and some saline got up into my ear and then a while later I had a coughing fit (which was why I was doing the flush) and I ruptured both my eardrums. It was quite disheartening to me, since in some ways I am not a socially adept individual, having a fiddle to carry me through has been a blessing—one that I have relied on a fair amount—and to not be able to do that was half of a one-two punch to the gut. I love the sound of the fiddle, and during that time of healing it sounded bloody awful, so that was the other half of the punch.

It has healed up pretty well, I can hear again, though I never heard that well beforehand, but this is leading me down the hearing aid route, which I probably needed before (could have used them 40 years ago, I suppose).

I am not really a "jam devotee," I know a fair amount of tunes, but I don't sit around trying to learn new tunes to introduce to jams, I am more of a "someone is playing a tune, I'll play along" sort of jammer, though I can play tunes, but for most folks in old-time jams, they would be less interested in learning a polska, hambo, strathspey, or tunes from Cape Breton, Ireland, etc., which would probably be jam killers.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/30/2024:  18:03:18

quote:

---

Originally posted by gapbob

I've *sorta* paid a bit of attention to this thread, but not in depth.



There are times when I haven't played for a month, then other times when I have a burst of playing daily, but those times it sounds good to me, my playing is adequate, are pretty fun. I wouldn't be happy if I had to walk away from it all, though.



In January I was doing a nasal flush and some saline got up into my ear and then a while later I had a coughing fit (which was why I was doing the flush) and I ruptured both my eardrums. It was quite disheartening to me, since in some ways I am not a socially adept individual, having a fiddle to carry me through has been a blessing—one that I have relied on a fair amount—and to not be able to do that was half of a one-two punch to the gut. I love the sound of the fiddle, and during that time of healing it sounded bloody awful, so that was the other half of the punch.



It has healed up pretty well, I can hear again, though I never heard that well beforehand, but this is leading me down the hearing aid route, which I probably needed before (could have used them 40 years ago, I suppose).



I am not really a "jam devotee," I know a fair amount of tunes, but I don't sit around trying to learn new tunes to introduce to jams, I am more of a "someone is playing a tune, I'll play along" sort of jammer, though I can play tunes, but for most folks in old-time jams, they would be less interested in learning a polska, hambo, strathspey, or tunes from Cape Breton, Ireland, etc., which would probably be jam killers.

---

Bob, you have always sat in very well in jams I've noticed at Clifftop.. You are what us fiddle players call a "fun guy"..

Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 03/30/2024:  18:28:59

I'm truly happy your malady has healed. You are far more patient than I am. I'm sure it would've driven me totally nuts.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/30/2024:  19:18:00

Oh ouch! Glad to hear the ear drums are healing. I had them rupture when I was 3 years old with the measles that got into my ears really bad...to this day, if a doctor looks into my ears they are like..."My gosh what the heck happened in there?" I do remember how painful it was. Would not wish it on anyone. But anyway...seems pretty amazing that eardrums can heal, which is definitely a good thing to have happen...amazing our ears and eyes consist of components that are so delicately constructed to perform the enormously important task of connecting us to the world we live in.

DougD - Posted - 03/30/2024:  19:44:29

Bob, sorry to hear about your health problems and hope you continue to heal.
I went back to the beginning of this thread to try and see what in the world it was about, and found UsuallyPickin's comment about music and cats, and NCnotes lovely sketch of the cat in the violin case (loved the whole rests on the staff - these guys are really serious about their naps!) Thought you might enjoy these photos of me playing with my friends. I'm the only one left of the group, and I guess the loss of my audience is one of the reasons I don't play much anymore.

Edited by - DougD on 03/30/2024 19:46:55

Backyard Fiddling

The Cats and the Fiddle

Old Scratch - Posted - 03/30/2024:  20:41:02

quote:

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Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

I thought Dylan Thomas (whoever he was...lol...from Paul Simon...the man ain't got no culture...lol) died of Pneumonia...or Peee-new-moanie, as my grandmother called it.



 

You got me second-guessing myself, and I headed off to wikipedia - from which: "At the post-mortem, the pathologist found three causes of death – pneumonia, brain swelling and a fatty liver" - but then:  "Tremlett [biographer] argues that many of Thomas's health issues stemmed from undiagnosed diabetes."  So I didn't just make that up ... apparently.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/31/2024:  05:01:28

Well you done good, for sure, Scratch. Well it seems that diabetes itself, especially uncontrolled, can open the door for many maladies. I can remember the guy at work who used to come around checking on our temps and humidity...one day they had to haul him off to the hospital...he said it was just one of the worst, scariest days of his life and he thought he would die before they got him to the hospital...turned out he had pneumonia but they found that he also had raging diabetes and apparently that was one thing that had set him up for the bad case of pneumonia he suddenly came down with out of the blue. Scary stuff...ain't no fun. It's pretty scary that apparently you can have it and not know.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 03/31/2024:  05:04:02

Doug...looks like the very best audience!

Brian Wood - Posted - 03/31/2024:  11:07:39

quote:

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Originally posted by DougD

Thought you might enjoy these photos of me playing with my friends...

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I have cats too. One in particular likes to get on my lap while I play. But then she reaches a paw up to stop me after a while.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 03/31/2024:  14:23:25

quote:

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Originally posted by RobBob

Reading the name of this thread I was reminded of the spiritual practice of giving something up so you can have it, Fiddling has always been very spiritual personally. It is like not looking for something so you can find it, like glasses or your phone.

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Robert, I'll award you a prize for that  perspective.. Giving up an attachment opens one's mind to all the other things that are present at the same time.. It doesn't  exclude the 'attached', it includes everything else..including the attached.. Let me relate this to fiddling.. If there is a jam and ONE person only listens to themselves, then they don't hear what the other musicians are doing.. they are Attached to their own sound..and that can cause havoc with the group sokund..  I have a fiddling friend who I admire because she listens to everyone in the jam all at once.. She hears every guitar chord ( and is bold enough to mention if it is the Wrong chord ).. and she listens carefully to all the other musicians all at once.. I really admire that ability..That idea can play into all parts of our lives.. Like the TV comment I made to George....

Edited by - TuneWeaver on 03/31/2024 14:29:42

RobBob - Posted - 04/01/2024:  07:00:54

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

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Originally posted by RobBob

Reading the name of this thread I was reminded of the spiritual practice of giving something up so you can have it, Fiddling has always been very spiritual personally. It is like not looking for something so you can find it, like glasses or your phone.

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Robert, I'll award you a prize for that  perspective.. Giving up an attachment opens one's mind to all the other things that are present at the same time.. It doesn't  exclude the 'attached', it includes everything else..including the attached.. Let me relate this to fiddling.. If there is a jam and ONE person only listens to themselves, then they don't hear what the other musicians are doing.. they are Attached to their own sound..and that can cause havoc with the group sokund..  I have a fiddling friend who I admire because she listens to everyone in the jam all at once.. She hears every guitar chord ( and is bold enough to mention if it is the Wrong chord ).. and she listens carefully to all the other musicians all at once.. I really admire that ability..That idea can play into all parts of our lives.. Like the TV comment I made to George....

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Your friend sounds interesting . I teach kids how to play in a band and how to listen and to isolate each part and see how they work together by blending and diverging tone and rhythm, all of the while serving the tune. Each one of us is a part of the sound, each instrument has a distinct role. Listening is one of if not the most important skills of a musician.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 04/02/2024:  05:11:39

I thought of this awareness and be here now fiddlers' reflections inspired by Lee...last night when I should have been sleeping...lol...suddenly a book occured to me that was required reading for some or other class I took in college...Don't Push the River; it Flows by itself, by Barry Stevens. I just suddenly remembered it. In this time where I have felt like I've entered the Twilight Zone...lol...in my own personal existence, and grappling about, deciding the state of being depressed is just not for me...yet, the Keep on the Sunny Side approach is too much of a forced state, a facade that hurts the individual more than helps, although keeps them more fit for company...lol...so anyway I suddenly remembered this book. I don't remember the contents much, except that it was a delving into a personal navigating the current flow of events and the practice of appreciation of one's being, as the journey continues on its way. Something like that. I think this thread came to mind maybe, which kicked in that memory. I don't really have reading time at the moment, but it would be neat to read through that one again.

One thing I've thought about lately too, is, rather than live life waiting for whatever happens next so that we can respond or react...it would be good and probably just more normal for most life situations to live life in more purposeful way...not reacting constantly, but ACTING more. Yeah that sounds great...lol...how to achieve it...hmmmm. Anyway...if anyone interested in all this be here now kinda stuff, I mainly remember it struck me as a very good book, the Barry Stevens book, all those years back when I read it for a college class.

TuneWeaver - Posted - 04/02/2024:  07:29:10

quote:

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Originally posted by groundhogpeggy

I thought of this awareness and be here now fiddlers' reflections inspired by Lee...last night when I should have been sleeping...lol...suddenly a book occured to me that was required reading for some or other class I took in college...Don't Push the River; it Flows by itself, by Barry Stevens. I just suddenly remembered it. In this time where I have felt like I've entered the Twilight Zone...lol...in my own personal existence, and grappling about, deciding the state of being depressed is just not for me...yet, the Keep on the Sunny Side approach is too much of a forced state, a facade that hurts the individual more than helps, although keeps them more fit for company...lol...so anyway I suddenly remembered this book. I don't remember the contents much, except that it was a delving into a personal navigating the current flow of events and the practice of appreciation of one's being, as the journey continues on its way. Something like that. I think this thread came to mind maybe, which kicked in that memory. I don't really have reading time at the moment, but it would be neat to read through that one again.



One thing I've thought about lately too, is, rather than live life waiting for whatever happens next so that we can respond or react...it would be good and probably just more normal for most life situations to live life in more purposeful way...not reacting constantly, but ACTING more. Yeah that sounds great...lol...how to achieve it...hmmmm. Anyway...if anyone interested in all this be here now kinda stuff, I mainly remember it struck me as a very good book, the Barry Stevens book, all those years back when I read it for a college class.

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During tough times I remind myself that Nothing has ever 'gotten' me.. I never missed waking up in a morning and have never missed being able to take a  breath.  Something in me is always there...untouchable..

tonyelder - Posted - 04/02/2024:  11:59:38

all this talk reminds me of a book that I once read by Hermann Hesse "Siddhartha", Siddhartha learns about how to discover "true spiritual enlightenment" by rejecting his "self" and renouncing all physical desires - while still consuming the essentials to sustain life.   hmmmmm...  how very ironic....

But I did enjoy the read. I was somewhat inspired - but not converted.    

TuneWeaver - Posted - 04/02/2024:  12:14:46

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

all this talk reminds me of a book that I once read by Hermann Hesse "Siddhartha", Siddhartha learns about how to discover "true spiritual enlightenment" by rejecting his "self" and renouncing all physical desires - while still consuming the essentials to sustain life.   hmmmmm...  how very ironic....

But I did enjoy the read. I was somewhat inspired - but not converted.    

 

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I'd guess (could be wrong) that to renounce all physical desires could easily be interpreted as to renounce "attachment" to physical desires... same result...

wrench13 - Posted - 04/02/2024:  12:38:10

I spend my free time hanging outside Buddhist temples, hoping to catch a new convert who is ready to toss the keys to his Mercedes to me. Never happens though. 

TuneWeaver - Posted - 04/02/2024:  12:52:24

quote:

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Originally posted by wrench13

I spend my free time hanging outside Buddhist temples, hoping to catch a new convert who is ready to toss the keys to his Mercedes to me. Never happens though. 

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Good one!!

tonyelder - Posted - 04/02/2024:  13:40:36

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

all this talk reminds me of a book that I once read by Hermann Hesse "Siddhartha", Siddhartha learns about how to discover "true spiritual enlightenment" by rejecting his "self" and renouncing all physical desires - while still consuming the essentials to sustain life.   hmmmmm...  how very ironic....

But I did enjoy the read. I was somewhat inspired - but not converted.    

 

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I'd guess (could be wrong) that to renounce all physical desires could easily be interpreted as to renounce "attachment" to physical desires... same result...

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The mechanics might operate similarly when those principles are applied, although the objectives may not be as certain.

groundhogpeggy - Posted - 04/02/2024:  19:50:42

Well the weird paradox of the whole thing is that if we renounce all physical desires than can we also live in this moment...be here now? Or will we be turning our backs on the here and now?