Back in July, I went to Music in the Valley, an annual festival at Hale Farm, in Bath, Ohio. It was my first opportunity to play Ward Jarvis tunes with other people who also knew some of the same tunes. There was only one problem: It turns out I learned one tune the wrong way.
When I joined the jam circle at the festival, a longtime friend introduced me to local fiddler Paul Kirk and mentioned that I'd been learning Ward Jarvis tunes. I suggested "Icy Mountain" and "Head of the Creek," as I felt most comfortable with those two in particular, and because they were already playing in Cross-A (AEAE).
Paul kicked off "Icy Mountain," and I was pleased to find that we were pretty much in sync with our playing. Afterward, he turned to me to start "Head of the Creek," and it was a mess.
Everyone seemed confused, and soon I was playing to a baffled audience. At first, I chalked it up to my inexperience and discomfort in leading tunes. But then, someone asked if I was putting an extra note in one of the sections. I wasn't sure.
Paul played the tune, and everyone followed along just fine. Something indeed was off about the way I was playing the tune.
"Head of the Creek" is the very first Ward Jarvis tune I learned, through the Field Recorders' Collective album and notation in The Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes. I had trouble getting my playing of the written source to match what I was hearing in the recording, but I eventually figured out something I thought sounded right. Clearly, it was not.
Perhaps it's natural to make such mistakes when learning tunes by ear, at least early on. Regardless, I decided it was time to revisit this tune. First, I went back to my slowdown software to play along with Jarvis and identify where my bowing was going awry. Then, I went back to the notation and reworked my playing.
"Head of the Creek" is a bit irregular. It has three parts, but it's not your typical AABBCC configuration. The second part is just a single bar, played only once. It's more like a bridge. Where I was having trouble is the transition from this short B part to the C part, which was throwing off my understanding of how the third part goes.
Like a beginner, I've had to go back to playing very, very slowly and deliberately to unlearn my mistakes and relearn the tune. Next time I have the opportunity to play "Head of the Creek" in a jam, hopefully it'll go much better.
Paul kicked off "Icy Mountain," and I was pleased to find that we were pretty much in sync with our playing. Afterward, he turned to me to start "Head of the Creek," and it was a mess.
Everyone seemed confused, and soon I was playing to a baffled audience. At first, I chalked it up to my inexperience and discomfort in leading tunes. But then, someone asked if I was putting an extra note in one of the sections. I wasn't sure.
Paul played the tune, and everyone followed along just fine. Something indeed was off about the way I was playing the tune.
"Head of the Creek" is the very first Ward Jarvis tune I learned, through the Field Recorders' Collective album and notation in The Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes. I had trouble getting my playing of the written source to match what I was hearing in the recording, but I eventually figured out something I thought sounded right. Clearly, it was not.
Perhaps it's natural to make such mistakes when learning tunes by ear, at least early on. Regardless, I decided it was time to revisit this tune. First, I went back to my slowdown software to play along with Jarvis and identify where my bowing was going awry. Then, I went back to the notation and reworked my playing.
"Head of the Creek" is a bit irregular. It has three parts, but it's not your typical AABBCC configuration. The second part is just a single bar, played only once. It's more like a bridge. Where I was having trouble is the transition from this short B part to the C part, which was throwing off my understanding of how the third part goes.
Like a beginner, I've had to go back to playing very, very slowly and deliberately to unlearn my mistakes and relearn the tune. Next time I have the opportunity to play "Head of the Creek" in a jam, hopefully it'll go much better.
Hey Bradley! Just stumbled upon your blog. Thanks for linking my name to my YouTube channel. I have no doubt Head of the Creek will go much better for you next time around! We should get together sometime to play it and other tunes.
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