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It does depend on your personal style of learning. Something will be the way that makes sense. (You have to be looking however.)

You also have to get comfortable with the idea that you will see...

There are 'apps' out there. I've used a number of them. However, my experience has taught me that unless I do 'the work myself' they just waste my time. Somehow they 'go in one ear and out the...

Last year, 2023 at the Savannah Music Festival. Caterina Lichtenberg, Sharon Gilcrest and Darol Anger joined the band.


https://youtu.be/rxi-5yOmO_I?si=C_9KrWSkZflP4nrs

A good question, 'how do you learn a new tune'?

Posed from a beginner to more advanced players. It gives some insight into different methods, common methods and odd methods based on the...

Looking at this problem from a little different perspective, I see that there are different situations that can 'mess you up'. The very idea of 'combating' your memorized' notes is one. So trust what...

To 'keep it going' we have to look at why 'playing slow and quiet' works and fast and loud does not.

One has the time and attention to handle technical problems at the slow speed. So that leads...

I think when people say, 'to play fast one should practice slowly' there is an implied notion of a lot of assumptions, too many to describe in a short manner.

Many of these assumptions are now...

The tune is also called the Howling Wind. About twenty years ago, we were at a sessiun at Kieran's Pub in Minneapolis. There was a tornado that night and as the sky turned black, and we should have...

Continuing the open ended 'kind of random' theme:

Often capo's are used (in Trad Irish at least) to get a certain voicing. Sometimes accompaniment is done with two guitars, one with a capo, the...

I wonder if there are banjo players doing something like this.



https://youtu.be/Qc63_gd2r-M?feature=shared

There are a couple of factors that affect tone that have little to do with strings. My wife has taught violin for nearly 40 years, and I'm a violin luthier, if you need some credibility, ha, ha....

A joke inserted here:

When do you know that your singer has arrived?

When he's still at the door. Can't find the key. And doesn't know when to come in.

To "clarify the issue" as A 4 asks, I'll try to answer. No silence here my friend...

I don't know why anyone would say that singing is easy. It is not. And it's not related to speaking very much....

Interesting mandolin. And this maker is right here in Minnesota. Cool. We will have to hear a sound sample, as the choice of woods seem unusual. I noticed that it has an ebony nut as well as a 'three...

This is the same Robin Williamson who wrote "the Penny Whistle Book" back in 1977?
That book was a huge influence on my interest in Irish Music.

This is Martin from emando website, not Martin Guitar Company. He is a great guy and knows his strings. BTW the flatwound strings are about half the price of T-I's and almost as good. If they sound...

F models tend to be a bit more 'punchy' and they often project more. That helps to be heard in group performances. It is possible to have these characteristics in an A model, mostly because of the...

The similar aspect among the two, to me at least, is in knowing how the instrument works. How the thickness, strength and abilities of wood to vibrate in a certain way make the thing work. Since...

The name Bill Hart has been familiar here - waaay over here in Minnesota. (Kevin too BTW :)

Sometimes I wonder just what people mean by 'classical mandolin technique". Is it how you do tremlo, and duo picking? The type of pick used? What about musicianship? What about theory? What about...

This depends on your 'self knowledge' or in other words, your awareness of 'how you learn'. Do you start 'from paper' or do you 'play by ear'? How do you organize your way of learning a new tune?...

There are two issues that help decided to change strings. Both are subtle and have to be carefully examined. The decision is always difficult, however I try to remember that I'm a 'cheap - skate' and...

Yes indeed. Furthermore if there is 'transverse bracing' at the 'f' hole area, then the whole point of having an area to rock in between (violin makers call this the island), is pointless. There can...

Chava and the Klezmatics do such a nice version of that song.

Another idea would be a yiddish song called Shayne vi der Lavone (Beautiful is the Moon), a tune made famous by the Barry Sisters in...

Joshua M Franklin
It's remarkable that our books were compiled almost 20 years apart. The tunes and needs of the players, are still the same.

We had few people in our group that used TAB but...