Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Improve your creativity!

You’ve noticed that you’re most creative in the early morning? Yep, it’s true for most of us. Ideas pop into mind when we’re just awakening. The reason: that’s when our mind is getting itself organized. That’s when we’re most open to new insights.

You may also have noticed that taking a shower has a similar effect. You’re standing there, streams of hot water on your back, and BANG! another new idea or insight. The reason could be more of the early morning effect. Or maybe you it’s a kinesthetic effect. « Read more »

Filed under: Practice tips by Skip | July 9, 2009 | Comments (0)

Playing by Ear: More Fun Than You Thought Possible

The idea is subversive: eliminating the middleman, playing music without the notes or chords! But think about it. This is the way most of your teachers play. Yet they weren’t born with this skill; they learned it. If you can “carry a tune,” you can learn to play by ear. For guitar/banjo/mandolin/uke etc. an easy way to begin is with songs that have three chords; songs you already sing, with chords you already know. Bill Brickey’s tip: start by remembering the beginning chord, then try singing and playing without tab. When the chord sounds wrong, try one of the other two.

For playing melody, Here’s a site primarily focused on playing melodies on other instruments: www.treelight.com/music/playByEar.html.

Need song suggestions? For a searchable index of the Old Town School Songbook – for example, songs that use only D and A7 – sign up free for oldtownfolks.org (a wonderful student/teacher resource!)

Filed under: Practice tips by Skip | September 6, 2008 | Comments (0)

Practice tip – “the Ray Tate”

When you’re home, never put your instrument in its case: keep it near the television set and use the commercials for practice time. Numerous short practices are better than periodic long ones.

(from Ray Tate, Executive Director and Teacher, circa 1979)

Filed under: Practice tips by Skip | March 22, 2008 | Comments (0)