John
I began playing the lute about 30 years ago. I briefly had a teacher
(for a few months until he left Paris) but I thought I had acquired
the basic technique.
I stopped after about two years, because I realised that when ever I
needed to sit down to write my thesis, I found I picked up my lute
instead.
I began playing again, just a couple of years ago when I retired
almost completely from my work.
I bought the Damiani book (I already had the Diana Poulton) and
believed that my technique was still alright, but that I just needed
practise.
I did made some progress during the first year and a half, but then I
came to a halt. Several people told me that I should take a lesson,
but I really did not feel like it.
At my age, I did not want to become a pupil again.
However, recently I gave in and took three lessons, and the progress
I have just made on both left and right
hand technique is quite spectacular (to me at least). I just had not
seen what I was doing wrong. It is very difficult to observe
what you are actually doing from the playing angle. Perhaps if you
film yourself, you might be able to get round this.
Nevertheless, I would suggest you try to find a way of at least
having a few lessons. Perhaps you could enroll for a short holiday
course, or similar.
I notice that Ron Macfarlane http://www.ronnmcfarlane.com talks a
little about the lute for guitarists, and he has also made a video of
his playing,
Ronn McFarlane - Contemporary Lute Virtuoso, for sale at http://
www.melbay.com/
Regards
Anthony
Le 1 mai 07 à 12:19, John Scott a écrit :
> Ok, I'm into week two of learning to play the lute, and already I'm
> fervently wishing there was a teacher (or even another player) in this
> part of the world. Instead I've got myself a copy of Diana
> Poulton's tutor.
>
> I feel like I'm having to unlearn all my 'good' guitar habits! I've
> started keeping my pinky 'glued' to the soundboard (shiver!); I've
> even
> trimmed my precious right-hand nails (and how traumatic THAT was!)...
>
> But what's driven me back to the list is a question about right-hand
> thumb technique. It feels very odd (and a bit inefficient and
> counter-intuitive) to have the thumb bouncing around so much,
> playing a
> base note, then immediately jumping up to the first or second
> course to
> play one of the melody notes, then down for another bass note, and
> so on.
>
> I keep wanting to use my thumb for the bass notes, and my first two
> fingers (guitar style) for the melody line... however, I DO want to
> learn to play the lute 'properly', so I'm going to try to stick with
> it. But it's driving me crazy!
>
> I'm just wondering - do any of the sources give a reason for this kind
> of thumb technique, or is it just some odd quirk in the evolution of
> playing?
>
>
>
>
> To get on or off this list see list information at
> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
