Tutor Recording Blog

[Tim Twiss]

4/2/12 Started the Briggs tonight. Thought a lot about Jim Crow Polka and after watching some dance videos, decided to slow it down. Felt and sounded better. Also did Dan Tucker, Dandy Jim, and Boatman's Dance. Recored on Hartel Boucher. 

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/Briggs-Banjo-Instructor--4-.htm

[Tim Twiss]

4/7/12

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/Briggs-Banjo-Instructor--4-.htm

3 more.....Ephriam's Lament - a pleasing surprise how this turned out. A lament is a somewhat mournful mood. Is this "Old Eph" that is mentioned in the beginning of the book...Ephriam missing Tom Briggs? Anyway, I took it down a bit. Walk Along John was uptempo. Sebastopol Breakdown - I went Slow Slow Fast on this one.

[Tim Twiss]

4/7/12

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/Briggs-Banjo-Instructor--4-.htm

3 more.....Ephriam's Lament - a pleasing surprise how this turned out. A lament is a somewhat mournful mood. Is this "Old Eph" that is mentioned in the beginning of the book...Ephriam missing Tom Briggs? Anyway, I took it down a bit. Walk Along John was uptempo. Sebastopol Breakdown - I went Slow Slow Fast on this one.

[Tim Twiss]

4/7/12

I'm feeling another growth spurt from doing all these. Recommend "Briggs Therapy" to anybody. Sometimes the most difficult part is the pickup notes with a Strike on the inner strings. 

[Tim Twiss]

4/9/12

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/index.php?page=browse&genre=2

Added page 19 with favorites Briggs' Corn Shucking Jig, Circues Jig, and Camptown Hornpipe

Hartel Boucher.

[Tim Twiss]

4/10/12

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/index.php?page=browse&genre=2

Pg 20 today. Afew of my favorites - Old 76.Reel which chugs along like a machine. Lucy Long Polka often not played....taken at a tempo that might have been close to the waltz of of the 19th Century...certainly not a "burning" tempo. (in fact, I am not feeling a "burn" on any of these yet...I'm enjoying a different lilt to these tunes). Finally Walk Into De Parlor Jig.

[Tim Twiss]

Duh...not waltz. Polka.

[Steve Jeter]

 I want to prop this again,   I got Johnny Boker and just about got it down.  Its at a speed Ican comprehend,  and makes for easy learning.  Its in my head ,,, my fingers just cant quite keep up the pace.  Ive bought more. I just need to retire so I can do these important things :)

[Tim Twiss]

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/index.php?page=browse&genre=2

4/11/12

Pg 21...Darkey Money Musk, This Side of Jordan, and Darkey Fisher's Hornpipe.

Money Musk has a rich history and is found in the fiddle repertoire. It often appears with other titles and variations in the banjo repertoire. Jordan was played very slowly by Joe Ayers on his Briggs' recording. I did not go quite that slow, but tried to honor the rests written in. People usually play over them , letting notes ring through. Silence has a purpose too, and I always try to see what the music was after by doing so....sometimes it is an indication to "slow down". Darkey Fisher makes many folks uncomfortable because of the half-time feel at the end of the B section. I played it as written...perhaps it is a way of putting a banjo signature on a fiddle tune. I don't know, but I like it as Briggs' presented it.

[Tim Twiss]

http://timtwiss.com/musicstore/index.php?page=browse&genre=2

4/11/12

pg 22 Another page....stuff with 6/8 times. Classic licks. Then there is the short Carney Jig.

[Tim Twiss]

4/12/12  Those 6/8 tunes from page 22 were Philadelphia Jig, and Hard Times.