need help with a run.

[fjsys]

I have been having a lot of trouble with the run at the end of this line:



other than the just keep doing it till you get it right (which is frustrating me to no end) are there any suggestions on exercises that may help with this?

I am afraid that I am running out of natural talent and also patience, but hopefully this is just another plateau.
Ben

 

[george garside]

If you are not already doing it take the run out of the tune and practice it over and over again without stopping i.e go straight from the end to the beginning without pause. do this for at least 5 minutes at a time and over and regularly until you can do it without conscious thought being needed i.e. on autopilot.

george

 

[dunlustin]

Can you say what "a lot of trouble " is?
Identifying the problem is a step towards solving it.
If you have specific sticking points repeating the "mistake" might be counterproductive.
Have you tried the veeery slowly approach?
Just playing the top line may give an acceptable version that you can then work on some more (using fingering suggested) - add in a second note or the chord on the start of each beat?

 

[BobM]

It only looks tricky (to me) if you have to use the marked fingering. It looks like it could be a Tango? You can always come back to it in the future; sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war..

BobM.

 

[rbs]

I suspect that this arrangement was done by someone playing a button accordion, where this run would be a lot easier!

One doesn't necessarily have to play a piece exactly as written, as long as you're true to the spirit of it. Notation shouldn't be a strait-jacket.

 

[fjsys]

by a lot of trouble I mean that I seem to be missing the F# in both octaves every time.

BobM- Yes this is a Tango. It is the arrangement of Jalouse that I have been working on.

One doesnt necessarily have to play a piece exactly as written, as long as youre true to the spirit of it. Notation shouldnt be a strait-jacket.

OK so now it is time to vent a little and perhaps this will explain where some of the frustration is coming from.

As I have said I have an instructor that I have been going to weekly for the last 5 years that I am really starting to have issues with.
The first real issue is that as of the last 2 years I have come to realize that I dont like the way that he plays, but that hasnt been a problem because he hasnt been playing with me for the last 6 months. His accordion straps have been broken, his big accordion is out of tune, his accordion is elsewhere (even though he is in a room with at least 2 that he has for sale), etc...
He has been teaching accordion for the last 50+ years and is unwilling to change anything about the way he teaches or the songs that I am given. I am given nothing but flack for not liking some of his standards. (Glow Worm, The Holy City come to mind.)
He believes that music should be performed EXACTLY as it is written with strict timing and his own interpretation of what the accents mean.
The one that I really have been having trouble with is that staccato notes should be played as regular notes with a little more accent, but do not shorten them at all. Either I am not understanding something about what he is teaching, or he is wrong because I feel that staccato should be shortened to allow air between the notes.
I am not allowed to have my own ideas on timing or expression if it is not as he expects.
I am not encouraged to bring in my own songs for help. I have brought song books into him and immediately regretted the decision, because I loose all control of how the song should sound.
With him I keep feeling that I am glossing over spots like this and never clearing what I would call Technical Debt (software industry term, but it works in this context) so while I would love to just move on and loose this battle, I feel that I have lost enough of them already that I am not happy with where I am.
At the lesson when I slow this passage (or others that I am having trouble with) down to the point of not making mistakes I am immediately chastised and told that I should be playing it faster. At that time he will start counting at me and expect me to keep up, which only makes me worse.

So after reading this you must be asking why I still go to him. The answer that I have is that he is cheap, close, and convenient. The other problem is that after 5 years it has become the status quo and I really have a problem pulling myself out of ruts...

anyway if you are still with me thanks for all the help.
Ben

 

[BobM]

Time to move on, this guy is a control freak. Ask yourself what you're wanting from playing the Accordion, and is there a better way for you to get it. I'm pretty sure that there is; life's too short to be abused in this way.

BobM.

 

[george garside]

He should be paying you!

george :lol:

 

[simonking]

:lol:

I don't know this guy - so to give hime the benefit of the doubt, there's a chance he might get on fine with some students...
But clearly not your style as you have well explained! You could find someone to give you lessons over Skype if you've got a decent 'net connection??

 

[losthobos]

Teachers are merely guides...if he's looking at the wrong map find another teacher....
As to that run as others have suggested just play the top lie and add harmony notes on as time passes rather than miss playing a whole tune happily for the sake off 2 bars..if this is the section i imagine it is i often just play a chromatic run starting on A,and bounce it up over the last bar to take you up to D as the first note of the next (start) bar....hopefully that makes some sense.... sometimes you just have to use what'll work for the moment the suits your skill level and mood...

 

[JIM D.]

On that last measure try holding a A bass and A7 chord and only play the single notes on top of the triads. If you use it with expression it should work just fine.

 

[Zevy]

<FONT font=Garamond><SIZE size=125>Its not all that difficult. Take the phrase - only this measure - nice and slow. Then play the preceding measures before; connecting to this measure. I would substitute the 5th finger on the last chord - a small change. Otherwise, it looks more or less very basic.
If you still have issues with your teacher, come to NJ!
Good luck!

 

[Johnniez]

You must have seen something in him to stay with him for 5 years. Are you sure its not a bit of big headedness now that your a much better player and thinking that your way is better. Thats what I see in your vent,rant, paragraph,, pick one ;-)

You might want to consider moving on to a new teacher ,, Maybe its just that time.. You might have a time of it mind you finding someone that will teach you in the direction that 'you' want to go. If you do get someone like minded make sure you explain the direction you wish and tunes your working on then after discussion decide if you want to give it a try. One also needs a few sessions just to 'Clik' with the new teacher.

Thats what I would do, thats what I use to tell my guitar students.
Yes I use to teach guitar for about 55 years or so am now 70 to younguns' olduns and inbetweenuns'... and you know what.. A few students ended up doing and talking to me about exactly what your talking about only different songs and different instrument.. But, at end of day , its all music and we love. Good , Bad , or Indifferent.

 

[fjsys]

To all that have contributed, thank you for your help and suggestions.

Johnniez - You are correct in your analysis and one thing that I struggle with is my own thickheadedness and stubbornness. But honestly I don't think I am a better player than he is or even on the same level as he is. I know that I am bad at some things and worse at others. It is just that the "map" of where we are going is something that I am having a hard time agreeing with.
The path that I have taken has really become hard since it is now outside of any type of method book and to the point of him just throwing random Charles Magnante arrangements at me and expecting me to like them.

He is a good teacher and I would recommend him to older students.
Ben

 

[Happy girl]

So now you have had your 'rant' & you agree with the analysis, what is your remedy?

 

[BobM]

As an ex father-in-law used to say, "a problem shared, is a problem doubled".

I think the best use of forums is talking about hardware etc, the minutiae of music; forget it..

BobM.

 

[Johnniez]

Ones thoughts are ones thoughts. We are all different and have different thoughts. Does not mean to say its 'the rule'.. just a thought. ;-)

 

[Soulsaver]

I'm not saying you're wrong, just consider.. And just to balance it, I'll 'stick up' for the teacher - although maybe he could do with developing his customer skills.

If he is a good teacher, he knows what is 'right', and he knows you're capable of delivering it - so he won't let you off with you 'in' your comfort zone.

Mine says to me 'You can & will play the music as written. When you can play it 'as written' then you can add all the embellishment you like..'

That is what his job is - and to get the best out of you... and maybe you think it's beyond you, but he knows it isn't - so sometimes that means pushing you.. and sometimes that causes friction/frustration.

I'll bet its not the first time you've thought 'I cant do this...', but you could later?

Time for a full & frank discussion- you need to tell him how to get the best out of you - discuss why you're unhappy with his approach - rather than sack him.. Or at least before you sack him.. Maybe you owe him that after the 'good' years.?
Even the best players need coaching, whatever the instrument - an accordion, piano.. or a football.. even.

 

[Johnniez]

Yes I see your point.. And does happen.

Anyway, I think after 5 years with this teach you might want to start thinking about, if you haven't done already, what your main goal is.. Professional and constant study. If you decide that. you must listen to the teacher cuz thats what you pay him fork. He has a set program to follow and has to stick to it. Conservatory Of Music here in Ontario rules a good portion of the music teacher, including instruments. At the end of the lessons you do exams. then what ? to much work for me when I was young. I just wanted to play and that was that. I was 13 when I picked one up, in a band playing dances etc at 15 . great time.

For me it was all about gigging and getting paid I ended up on the road pretty much all over Canada but mostly Ontario. Had a ball . Had a great wife and 2 kids.

Sorry for the reminisce

Point is what do you enjoy the most? Play for people on stage. Playing in your house. That.s what I do since 89. or do you enjoy Jammin' with fellow musicians over a 24 of beer and bit of w""d. ;-) OR you get off on doing scales and exercises etc etc.

So there ya go. Make a descission and get to it.. Life is really too short

Good luck

Johnnie

 

[spacetrakker]

I'm afraid I can't help you with the run but with regards to your "Teacher", I would have thought that after 5 years he is not going to teach you any new tricks.

So, If you find his dogged inflexible style annoying and unpleasant I would unshackle and walk elsewhere.

Creating music should be a rewarding and pleasurable experience! But then I suspect you already know that.

Best Wishes, John