Performance Blog

More performances on Thursday.   We had an interesting talk about trills.  Most people attempt them too fast apparently.  Its a good idea to start slower and speed up and we were given some practice tips about how to get the speed up.  Finally, trills usually start from the top.  I know that about classical music - but I don't think that holds true for folk music.  There aren't many trills as such but they do feature in some folk tunes and the way I have often heard them is as a decoration to a long note. So you start on the note and then you might trill up from there.   For example, you  might trill from an open string to a flat first note or a first to a second.  Hmmm. I wonder. 

I will be performing on 27th.  

There is a lot to practice just now, Telemann,  Folk Band tunes, performance and improvisation. 

Still fine tuning sets to play.  I had been considering a G major tune followed by a G minor but tried running them and didn't like the change. Its the wrong way so I think I'll stick with all G minor in one set.  I have found a great G minor reel which has a bit in third position which I think I'll try. 

I have been comparing the Shetland tunes I am playing with the transcription of Peter Fraser's playing and they are definitely a bit different.  I then checked the recordings of Catriona MacDonald's versions (which I learned) and I am definitely playing in line with them so I'll stick to that rather than change and put it down to variations. 

Adding double stopping but this is still a work in progress, as is ornamentation.

Changed my strings today - don't like them though and have ordered Aricores again which seems to quite suit my fiddle.  

Bought a Coda bow.   Feels quite fast compared to my old one - must be the balance.  Not quite as good as pernambuco but cheaper and the upper end ones seem to play well.  It'll do me for a while and is good for playing outside.