If you play a banjo or fiddle....question!

[cc-rider]

We've got a full day of instruction on all sorts of instruments coming up, taught by famous musicians from bluegrass and old-time bands, and two of my instructors have never taught a "participatory" workshop before so are clueless as to what to teach. They've always done "here is how I play....here is a cool lick....watch me play this". I want them to teach their audience HOW to do something, and all the participants will have instruments and some experience. So they are asking me what I think they should teach.

I told them I can envision three types of things. Repertory, technique, or elements of a style. Oh, these are 1-1/2 hour long workshops. There are 17 different workshops during the course of the day, but they only have to teach one each.

Since I don't play fiddle or bluegrass banjo (I do know some roll patterns, however, but play clawhammer when I have my druthers...), what would *YOU* want to learn if you took a fiddle or a bluegrass-style banjo class?? Assume you are at least the past-beginner stage of experience.

Thanks!

[cc-rider]

I can't believe no one on here plays fiddle or banjo! What DO you play? I play hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, ukulele, autoharp, harmonica. And radio.

[Pigeon Lady]

CC-rider, I'm teaching myself to play the fiddle. Your students may be far ahead of me but I would be looking for help on Vibrato. Can do it on Guitar but just can't get my fingers to wobble at that fiddle angle. At first my problem was the "bouncing bow" syndrome but I seem to have got a handle on that now

I think I would also like to go home having learned a new tune. So maybe breaking a tune up into parts and learning to play each part slowly and then putting it all together at the end would be great..

David Kaynor has some videos like this on You Tube:

YouTube

.

I learn best by ear, just following along with someone else. Don't know if this is the kind of thing your guys would be looking for.

Pauline

[Maura]

I asked my DH because he plays both and he is befuddled. How about starting with what makes bluegrass bluegrass? How is it different from another form. You'd think people would know, but you probably have students who don't. If I were to play (?) I'd choke, but when playing blue grass, I want a brighter sound, so I play my chords up the neck. When I play (?) I pluck one string at a time allowing the sound to permeate, but when I play blue grass I pluck two, one immediately after the other so the strings sound individually, but also together. (I have no idea what I'm talking about)

I'd have every one play a chord in different styles so they can hear the sound and feel the style. I'd teach a lick, and have the students play the lick in different styles. This opens up possibilities.

The same with the fiddle. Does bluegrass always play one string at a time, or two? Two strings will be less clear, but louder.

[MidwestGal]

Maybe with the banjo you could have clawhammer style taught?

[cc-rider]

Clawhammer/frailing will be a separate class. Don't want to confuse those banjer players, you know!!!

[Use Less]

I'm a fiddle-player, also a classically-educated violinist with a long career in public-school strings & orchestra. I would suggest that someone who hasn't taught the sort of class you are planning would have an easier time teaching a couple tunes than giving a group lesson on technique. Fiddle classes commonly are by-ear with sheet music made available at the end for those who want it. An hour-and-a-half isn't enough to do enough to be that rewarding around elements of a style. Teaching technique in a group lesson takes teaching experience, imo. If there are experienced teacher/players participating who have taken tune workshops, you could pair one up with each inexperienced one, to help with timing, keep the class moving, help the person teaching avoid pitfalls of getting focused on the participants who try to treat a group class like a private lesson, etc., etc.

[Bret]

Piano, violin, banjo.

I am too new to violin and banjo at the same time. I am not qualified to suggest anything.

I study, listen, try, imitate and repeat. I am goal oriented and want to learn fast enough and keep improving that I might be able to play for people when asked and for hospital and nursing home patients and residents against their will. I have started the latter.

I too wanted to achieve a certain level of violin vibrato and used this as a carrot leading to the banjo that I wanted very much. I have moments of vibrato satisfaction that is growing but there are some moments that I know I rushed to get the banjo. I will earn it. I know that vibrato training is to be put off by teachers. It will always improve and make take a lifetime. I am self taught and life is short. There is no time to put off anything. I would rather use driving time to a teacher for practice. I would be be a teachers nightmare, maybe.

I gravitate to any string playing education and information. I like to practice and play every chance I get.

I would want to learn anything that would keep me developing.

I can get lost for a half an hour on just one violin note or a run, but have offered nothing to help with your workshop needs. Sorry.

[TheMartianChick]

I play piano, saxophones, percussion, clarinets and I whistle all the time. I took violin in the third grade and it is the only instrument that I failed miserably at!

God bless those that can play a fiddle and not cough uncontrollably from the rosin on the bow.

[rancher1913]

don't play a thing and have no musical talent, but used to love the get together s my landlord back in Virginia would have. he knew all the big names in bluegrass and country and they would "drop by" once in a while and jam. the statler brothers, earl scruggs, and others, most including scruggs I did not know who they were till years later but it was fun. If you've ever seen the country bear jamboree at Disney, that's what it was like even down to the washtub bass. there would be hundreds of people drinking and playing music in the back yard.