Re: The “Intermediate “ problem
I'm with you, Don, though I have learned to play breaks a bit. Because of my focus on blues, after a while it started coming naturally. I find, as you say, that many teachers aren't great with adult learners who are neither beginners nor geniuses. I've had this experience with both fiddle and mandolin. Many music teachers have not been trained as teachers, and often don't understand such concepts as different learning styles. In fact, many teachers (not just music teachers) teach as they've been taught without giving much thought to their approach. After all, the way they were taught worked for them. If a teacher is explaining to me some concept like minor scales or arpeggio notes, and I already understand the concept, they sometimes assume that I know a great deal more than I do (e.g., they think I can easily play minor scales). One of my main problems with fiddling was getting my speed up, but my teachers generally didn't understand that teaching me how to play well slowly didn't get my speed up. Eventually, I bought Gordon Stobbe's DVD on bowing, which helped me considerably.
(for fiddlers: http://www.fiddlebooks.com/recording...FiddleWorkshop)
A few things that have helped me with soloing: getting my teacher to play melody or chords while I attempted to solo. On hearing what I was doing, the teacher could usually give suggestions. Playing by ear along with recorded music, trying to do on mandolin or fiddle what others are doing on guitar, trumpet, piano, or whatever. Using various teaching resources (books, CD's, DVD's) that specifically teach how to solo. The quality varies and they often teach specific solos rather than how to solo, but once you master a few of the solos, you get a sense of how they work. They tend to also teach techniques like using arpeggio notes or going up and down the scale, which may not be terribly creative, but work in a session. Finally, there are background tracks available commercially, in which you can play lead.
I too am intermediate. I agree there's nothing more frustrating than paying out your hard-earned money for a camp or workshop where you have the choice of a group learning Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or one learning the behind-your-back version of Orange Blossom Special.
Good luck and keep at it,
Ranald
Last edited by Ranald; Aug-19-2018 at 9:53am.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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