Author Archives: rileylaurie

Good Practice Habit #1: Focus We’ve all heard the term “getting in the zone”, and we all have a different idea of what that means, but we know it refers to being in a state of mind that allows us to accomplish a task at hand. I’ll call it “focus”. Focus is a quiet stateContinue reading “Effective Practice”

To get the most from this article, please see my first post on Modes  (“Demystifying Modes”, published on this site on 5/30/2012),  in which I presented the basic concepts of modes in an easy-to-understand format. When a folk or traditional musician sits down with a group to play a tune, the usual question is, “What keyContinue reading “More on Modes”

(To get the most from this post, please also read last week’s post.) For those who play an acoustic stringed instrument, the term “technique” refers to the way we use our hands to play. Good technique produces the melding of four elements: optimal relaxation of the hands through good ergonomics of the hands and armsContinue reading “More About Hands: Technique Issues”

To get the most out of the following information, reading the three previous posts will give you the background information on this subject. The information here is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment. ***  Musicans’ hand discomfort or injury most often develops from holding the hands stiffly or awkwardly while plucking or pressingContinue reading “All About Hands (part 4 of the Discomfort and injury series)”

To get the most out of the following information, please read the two previous posts in which I discussed neutral posture (in contrast to the posture most of us have been taught is “correct”), ways in which the holding and playing of an instrument affects the body of the musician, and specific physical problems oneContinue reading “PART 3 – Discomfort and Pain Related to Playing Your Instrument: Symptoms, Causes and Solutions”

This week’s post will be most useful if you’ve read last week’s post first. Last week I wrote about the ways in which the holding and playing of an instrument affects the body of the musician, and about neutral posture (in contrast to the posture most of us have been taught is “correct”). Now let’s talkContinue reading “PART 2 – Discomfort and Pain Related to Playing Your Instrument: Symptoms, Causes and Solutions”

This information is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and/or care. This discussion will be a five-part series (I’ll post one part each week for five weeks) on the subject of avoiding and correcting discomfort and pain related to playing your instrument.  It also addresses the causes of awkwardness or lack of agility and control whenContinue reading “Discomfort Related to Playing Your Instrument: Symptoms, Causes and Solutions”

Last week I posted the first part of this article. The information below will be most useful if you read last week’s blog first. By the way, if you click “Follow”, you’ll automatically get notices when I post each new blog. (I’ve been sending e-mails when I post, but at some point will stop doingContinue reading “Session and Circle Etiquette, Styles and Skills, Part 2”

For eons in every culture, musicians have gathered to play together. In some communities, regular music sessions and circles provide entertainment and growth opportunities for musicians of all ages and skill levels, a tradition that is worth nurturing. What I love about them is that we get to hear music made by everyone and anyone,Continue reading “Sessions and Circles: Styles, Formats and Etiquette – Part 1”

His post is twofold: It contains today’s new subject (Modes), followed by photos of some things I’m selling – to see those please scroll down to the end of the post. Today’s Subject: DEMYSTIFYING MODES When I was a kid learning clawhammer-style banjo, my teacher referred to one of the common tunings as “G Modal”.Continue reading “Demystifying Modes”