Posted by mudbug on Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I liken learning the fiddle to a young child learning to read. When I was making my first notes on this instrument, it was analogis to reading a Dick and Jane primer in first grade. Yeah, I know, I'm probably dating myself, but they were great for their intended purpose, and I think I remember really liking the pictures.
Anyway, when reading Dick and Jane, you were concentrating on each word, slowly sounding it out. That's the way my beginning fiddle sounded like. Trying to get each note to sound as good as possible. Good for it's time, but tiring for those who must listen ( yes, dogs and cats included............ Maybe especially dogs and cats), yourself , maybe most of all.
At some point I left Dick and Jane behind, and now I am thinking and playing in phrases. I think the first book that I remember this happening with was Dr. Seuss. I love Dr. Seuss to this day ( great stories and pictures), and one of my favorites was about the star bellyed Snees. Great moral lesson for impressionable young minds about the obsurdity of human beings.
Now that I'm thinking in phrases, it is hard to remember my first tentative notes only 4 months ago, and sometimes am impatient , and want my progress to be faster. But you can't run until you can walk without falling over, and you can't read the great works of liturature, until you've progressed though the basics of reading.
So, I'm trying to enjoy my journey, and concentrate on the slow evolution of my playing.
See Spot Run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 comments on “Goodbye Dick and Jane”
bj Says:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @7:54:34 PM
I think I'm up to The Borrowers. Or maybe it's Alice In Wonderland, since I still occasionally fall down rabbitholes . . .
FiddleJammer Says:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @9:14:20 PM
Keep at it Steve, soon you'll be playing with the big kids...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8V9Rl9IneA
:-)
mudbug Says:
Thursday, May 28, 2009 @4:17:44 AM
Boy Howdy! If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!
hwcox Says:
Friday, May 29, 2009 @6:26:38 PM
Boy, I can relate to that! I just watched a video short video my husband secretly took of me back in the first few weeks of playing and it sounded very much like my little girl when she was learning to read. Tortuous, in other words.
Ozarkian DL Says:
Saturday, June 13, 2009 @6:01:40 AM
Look...Look...see Mud run.....run Mud run.
Bonniepick112 Says:
Thursday, July 8, 2010 @11:04:41 AM
Ha haaa.... You have learned the process!!!
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