How do you put in ornamentation?

Whistle
1

I know a few tunes which I learned to play without ornamentation. I can also play many tunes by ear.

I’m trying ever so SLOWLY to learn some ornamentation techniques. An example is the one where you touch on the next higher note before dropping down to the note that comes next in the tune (whatever that’s called)

My problem (among others) is in using the techniques in tunes I already know.

Is it necessary to go back and re-learn the tunes with ornamentation, or can better musicians just toss these in and continue playing without thinking about it?

I have no problem playing a familiar tune by ear. My fingers almost always play the right note automatically. However, if I try to play even an absurdly simple tune (Mary Had a Little Lamb)using the above mentioned ornamentation technique, I am unable to do it. I guess my brain can’t unconsciously pick the note I want and add 1 to it.

What do the rest of you do?

[ This Message was edited by: paulsdad on 2002-03-14 20:40 ]

2

Keep trying. Go slowly. Keep in mind the rhythm. Keep the original melody notes where they were before and get the ornament in between without moving the position of the beat/melody notes. Try practicing a run of about three notes and repeat while adding a cut or tap between the first and second or second and third. Try playing a bar of jig time and taking one of the 3 note groups and playing 4 notes in that same time space.

Eventually, you’ll be able to throw ornaments in at will. Then, you’ll have the task of figuring out where they work and where they don’t belong. The main thing is keeping the melody notes on time and not pushing them back to make room for an ornament. (Same goes for pauses for breathing.)
Tony

3

I’m just about where you are, Paulsdad, as far as ornamentation, but I am learning and it seems to come pretty easy for me, all things considered. I like airs best, and those nice fat, long notes leave lots of room for ornamentation. I visited several on-line tutorials to get the idea and to learn the possibilities, then this is how I go about applying it. Since I play alone and basically do “slow” tunes, I have a lot more freedom than someone who has to worry about keeping up with a band or a singer.

First I learn the tune well, then I start playing with the length of notes - for instance, if I have three quarter notes in a row, if it seems to fit the flow I might play dotted quarter, a quaver for the second, and another quarter note, or maybe a quarter note, dotted quarter, and a quaver. But always keepng in mind the correct beat. Then I add maybe a grace note or a slide here or there, not trying to ornament the whole piece at a time, but sort of everytime I play it, I might add something new. Then on the longer notes, I try maybe a roll or put something of my own inside the note that works - a short arpeggio, for instance, or a triplet at the end that leads to the next note. Basically, I let the song “tell me” how it wants to be played. I have some musical experience (but not much on the whistle) and that has helped a lot.

The main thing, though, that has helped me is to LISTEN!!! There are no “live” Irish musicians in this area, but I listen to CD’s and pay close attention to the artist’s ornamentation, try to find it buried in the tune, and try figure out what “ornament” it is.

My playing is still clumsy and not fit for public performance, but I am starting to get the hang of it. Progress seems slow, but I just try to remember that patience is a virtue.

[ This Message was edited by: Kendra on 2002-03-14 21:24 ]