Anyway back to learning quicker as we get older. As older people, we know that 'the way you eat an elephant is one bite at the time.’ So if we realize we know one musical phrase properly, then we can move on to the next challenge with confidence. In fiddling that may mean playing just ONE note in tune with good tone - then we can move onto getting two good notes. Step by step we will get it done.

When I started cleaning up my fiddling, it took two weeks trying to clean up intonation of certain notes and fixing bowing problems, along with making bow grip adjustments all at the same time.

During this time I attempted NO tunes. It was tough to discipline myself to just play long tones. But starting with the fundamentals cannot be stressed enough.  For me after I have confidence in one thing, I can move on to the next challenge and then conquer it. Click on the image on the right to watch my very first Video Exchane® with Darol Anger:

Once I learn a note or a phrase or a bowing pattern I can confidently duplicate it in other tunes. This is an important piece of my learning. This is rudimentary but worth saying.

Another thing my friend said was that he had to listen properly, to make sure he was hearing the right notes and rhythms.

This is something I have learned here late in life. Now, much more than when I was young, I listen very carefully to recordings to accurately understand what is being played. Am I playing the notes even close? Do I have the rhythm? Sometimes, I also use the shoot then aim method.  

Now, I’m still not perfect at any of it.  But I like to think I am much more efficient than when I was younger.

I encourage everyone to think about how you learn your instrument. Think about how you practice. Think about how you compare your playing to what you would like to sound like. If you are mature like me, you know that this kind of thought process can be rewarding.  

ArtistWorks student Glen T. Learn fiddle online with Darol Anger at artistworks.com/darol-anger

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