Bluegrass Mandolin Week 4

Hi Bluegrassers-
Here is that version of Cherokee Shuffle. This is slow, but it will speed up nicely after you learn it.
-Colby

Cherokee Shuffle

Filed under: Uncategorized by Colby | November 15, 2009 | Comments (0)

Learn to take a solo, play some waltzes

Hello Fiddlers,

If you haven’t signed up for a class this fall perhaps you’d enjoy studying with me. I’m offering two classes one waltzes and the other on improvising (just a fancy term for knowing what to do when a guitar-playing friend tells you to get out your fiddle). The details are below. To register call 773-728-6000 or go to oldtownschool.org.

Jordan

Fiddle 3 Improvisation–Saturdays at 2:30 Starting Sept 5th
Did you ever need to take a solo and not know how? This class will teach you! You’ll learn a “magic” scale where you can’t play a bad note, try new ways of phrasing, experiment with blue notes, and get ready to join a band or ensemble class.You’ll work hard but you will get to experiment with soloing in a totally accepting and encouraging environment.

Prerequisites–Fiddle 3 Improvisation works for people at many different levels. The minimum is the ability to play several tunes confidently and relatively in tune. There is no upper level. Many students with music degrees have taken and benefited from this class. The class is pitched to fiddles and mandolins, but if you are trained in viola or cello you could certainly benefit.

Fiddle Waltzes–Saturdays at 4:00 starting September 5t
Just waltzes for seven weeks and then a performance in week eight playing for real dancers. There will be lots of old time waltzes but we’ll try some cajun pieces and waltzes from other traditions as well. We’ll mix up the easy and difficult tunes according to who registers for the class.

Filed under: Fiddle 2,Fiddle 3,Fiddle 4,Jordan Wankoff,Old Time Ensemble,Uncategorized by Jordan | August 25, 2009 | Comments (0)

Old Time Ensemble (Weds) – Week 5

If you haven’t listened to Alexander Campbell “Eck” Robertson, what are you waiting for? There’s a CD out from County Records that contains all of his 1920′s recordings. It’s called Old Time Texas Fiddler (1922-1929). It was in 1922, that Eck Robertson and Henry Gilliland made what were arguably the very first recordings of real country fiddling. In the mid-1980s, County issued an LP from later in Eck’s life and billed it as perhaps the last vinyl recording by an authentic old-time fiddler. It’s worth finding and adding both of these recordings to your collection.

Here’s Eck playing Great Big Taters [link to iTunes store]

And here’s a slower version, by Steve & Paul of Great Big Taters in the Sandy Land.

Eck may have played the tune in cross tuning (GDGD or AEAE). I taught it in standard tuning with fingering in the key of G. That may have been Eck’s way as well.

Filed under: Old Time Ensemble,Paul Tyler,Uncategorized by Paul | July 23, 2009 | Comments (0)

Fiddle 1 (Tues) – Week 6

An important piece of Americana . . .

Little Brown Jug

slow

medium

full speed

It’s up she goes and down it goes.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Paul | April 10, 2009 | Comments (1)

Old Time Ensemble Graduation at Paddy O’Splaines

What a great night. Lotsa folks played their hearts out. Two Old Time Ensembles (4 bands), Early Country Ensemble and two banjo classes. And fiddle classes. Jim’s Fiddle I, my Fiddle 3 and Walter’s brand new Fiddle 4: New England

We’ll do it again in 8 weeks. Here’s “Get Aboard the Ship” by Jim, Steve & yours truly.
Paul

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Filed under: General Interest,Old Time Ensemble,Uncategorized by Gregg | February 26, 2009 | Comments (2)


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