I’ve been playing 4 years. This summer two different respected people told me my ornamentations were a bit loose so I’ve been spending at least 10 mins a day just doing rolls, bubbling notes, cranns, double rolls, really concentrating.
My family are complaining like mad.
However the difference it has made to my playing is quite amazing, a real leap forward. Rolls are flying out, cranns creeping in, plain notes all bubbly and confidence up because it’s easier to stay on the beat.
It’s not a miracle or trick. It came down to some plain hard work, but the hard work is hugely paying off. Previously I thought that it would ‘all come if you play enough tunes’ but by concentrating on rolls etc in isolation and really getting those fingers moving it’s made a big difference and I would recommend anyone to give it a go.
Tunes are really coming to life and I’m very happy.
Have you ever tried something a bit different only for it to work?
Got any other good tips which would help me as much?
I agree that practice is good - even if it ‘contaminates the purity of my artistic interpretation’ (yes I have heard that opinion voiced).
I have ignored some advice in my time, my favourite to ignore is ‘practicing with a metronome will make your playing too predictable’ (or mechanical, or regular).
I’ll piggy-back on DrPhill. Unless you have a built-in natural ability to capture and consistently reproduce precise and complex rhythms while playing solo, use a metronome for at least part of your practice. I did this for the first 18 months and now I find that the rhythms come more natural. I still occasionally use a metronome when learning a new tune because I find that it helps me concentrate on the tune and my tone rather than my fingerings and breathing. Maybe that’s just my little flaw being exposed but new tunes that I’m learning by ear alone are challenging and I often become fumble-fingered and I tend to hold my breath in difficult passages. The metronome causes me to focus more on the rhythm and less about my fingers and breathing which, interestingly, seem to figure out exactly what to do if I don’t think about them too much!
The most valuable piece I’ve received yet came right here on C&F when someone replied to a comment I had made about a particular whistle’s squeakiness by suggesting that I might practice intervals on the whistle. I do this now as part of a warm-up exercise and it has made a big difference for me. I start with straight octave changes, then move on to thirds, fourths and fifths sometimes playing the interval low-high, then randomly playing high-low. I usually warm up for about 15 minutes then switch to tunes.
Another advantage I get from the metronome, though this may just be my peculiarity, is that it helps me ‘hear’ the tune in my head even when I mess up. I find myself keeping the time better after goof. For me this is an essential skill.
You may need to train the metronome when you first get it - they naturally speed up at the difficult bits.
Bubbling sounds - ooh, it’s where you infinetessimaly cut a straight note and requires a lot of practise it seems. Thus I’m running down from b over and over and over again cutting each note with it’s own finger as fast as I can.
Metronome. I have one but didn’t dare admit it. Will try and use it more as my timing can wander.
Intervals - do you mean popping between low and high notes and then trying arpeggegios? Will read your post again more closely.
On the clip of Orlaith McCauliffe - she’s amazing, I saw her a couple of weeks ago touring with John Devine on a Comhaltas thing. We had a little session after cause I know John and sometimes have lessons with him.
I downloaded a slow down app for my iPhone. This allows me to play along with my favorite artist. I can “hear” their interpretation of a piece and attempt to mimic it. I speed it up as I improve. Quite fun.
