Things have really gone downhill this quarter. My progress over the first three months was strong. In the last three months, however, my playing time has slowly dwindled to the point that after June was over, I was 10 hours behind on my goal progress on fiddle and one hour behind on banjo.
I'm still playing every day, but only the bare minimum to keep my streak going. Although, I am excited to have reached 200 days in a row. Otherwise, my motivation and enthusiasm is lacking, and I'm just not excited about the music. With jams and festivals cancelled, there's nothing to pull me out of this malaise.
As I reported back in May, I attended a couple of workshops and a virtual jam, but otherwise I'm feeling very disconnected from my old-time community. My to-learn list hasn't inspired much joy, and I'm just not sure what to do about my current state of affairs.
I've thought about taking some lessons, but I find it difficult to follow along through video conferencing and obviously in-person instruction is unavailable. I'm just feeling in a rut.
About the only upshot has been adding to my record collection. I'm sure you got bored of my repeated "Vinyl Hunter" posts, but I've added some great old-time albums over the last couple months.
Now, with all that Donnie Downer stuff out of the way, let's get into the details of my banjo playing, fiddling and blogging over the last three months.
While I can play and sing the song, I'm still not entirely happy with my "arrangement" on banjo. It sounds rudimentary and feels a bit clunky to play. Overall, it still needs some work.
I would probably benefit from recording myself, but I haven't found the time to do so. My playing time goal for the quarter was 18 hours, which I fell short of with 17 hours, for a total of 35 hours for the year. I feel pretty confident that I can make up for the shortfall next quarter.
This is a tune I know well on banjo, but I'm not playing it on fiddle the way I hear it in my head. I've tried noodling around with it a bit, but I'm still not happy with my playing.
This is the part of me that just wants to take some lessons and have someone show me how to play these chestnuts I skipped when I first started on the fiddle. Fill in these gaps and help me navigate my way through playing the "Ohio tunes" I'm most interested in learning and playing.
My playing time goal for this quarter was 52.5 hours for a total of 105 hours for the year, but I was way off with 41 hours over the last three months and 95 hours total. I'm not sure I can catch up with such a deficit.
Here are my Top 3 Glorious Posts of the Quarter:
Hopefully, the next three months will provide more positive results. Enjoy your holiday weekend. Happy belated Canada Day and happy Independence Day. Stay safe and healthy.
As I reported back in May, I attended a couple of workshops and a virtual jam, but otherwise I'm feeling very disconnected from my old-time community. My to-learn list hasn't inspired much joy, and I'm just not sure what to do about my current state of affairs.
I've thought about taking some lessons, but I find it difficult to follow along through video conferencing and obviously in-person instruction is unavailable. I'm just feeling in a rut.
About the only upshot has been adding to my record collection. I'm sure you got bored of my repeated "Vinyl Hunter" posts, but I've added some great old-time albums over the last couple months.
Now, with all that Donnie Downer stuff out of the way, let's get into the details of my banjo playing, fiddling and blogging over the last three months.
Banjo
My focus song this quarter was "John Henry." There are so many different versions of this song to choose from, but I decided to base my playing on "Gonna Die With My Hammer in My Hand," by Williamson Brothers & Curry, from Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music.While I can play and sing the song, I'm still not entirely happy with my "arrangement" on banjo. It sounds rudimentary and feels a bit clunky to play. Overall, it still needs some work.
I would probably benefit from recording myself, but I haven't found the time to do so. My playing time goal for the quarter was 18 hours, which I fell short of with 17 hours, for a total of 35 hours for the year. I feel pretty confident that I can make up for the shortfall next quarter.
Fiddle
My focus tune for this quarter was "Soldier's Joy," which I learned from Alan Kaufman's Beginning Old-Time Fiddle book. I gotta say, I'm having way more trouble with this tune than I thought I would. Kaufman's arrangement has some interesting string crossings and slurs that I'm finding difficult to play in time.This is a tune I know well on banjo, but I'm not playing it on fiddle the way I hear it in my head. I've tried noodling around with it a bit, but I'm still not happy with my playing.
This is the part of me that just wants to take some lessons and have someone show me how to play these chestnuts I skipped when I first started on the fiddle. Fill in these gaps and help me navigate my way through playing the "Ohio tunes" I'm most interested in learning and playing.
My playing time goal for this quarter was 52.5 hours for a total of 105 hours for the year, but I was way off with 41 hours over the last three months and 95 hours total. I'm not sure I can catch up with such a deficit.
Blogging
I've been pretty active with the blog this quarter, especially in June with six posts. I was excited to cover a some virtual happenings in the old-time music world, which are still ongoing with online workshops, concerts, slow jams and festivals. Be sure to check those out, and I'll try to keep you updated via the Glory-Beaming Banjo Facebook page.Here are my Top 3 Glorious Posts of the Quarter:
- Interview: Greg Galbreath on the New Standard Models at Buckeye Banjos
- Going Virtual: Old-Time Music in the Time of COVID-19
- A Look at My Ohio Old-Time Collection
Hopefully, the next three months will provide more positive results. Enjoy your holiday weekend. Happy belated Canada Day and happy Independence Day. Stay safe and healthy.
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