Non-classical string playing, Is anyone playing something other than western classical repertoire? Options

[StringThing]

Hi,

Just curious to see whether anyone out there is playing music other than the classical repertoire on their stringed instrument?

Any other jazz players out there? Or maybe folk/world/other classical traditions/etc?

Or maybe just interested in other styles but not playing them!

[Degzi]

The only other thing i play is rock and metal but i use my guitar not my violin

[BadStrad]

I play BlueGrass tunes. My teacher encouraged me to learn the pentatonic scales and then Blue grass tunes as:-
(a) something I could "achieve" while being an absolute beginner on the violin (the simple versions of the tunes).
(b) an aid to musicality - knowing the tunes off by heart gives me more freedom when I'm playing as I'm not focussing on dots on a stave. Also the improvisation aspect helps with that too.
© it's fun. I was resistant at first, but now I really enjoy playing "mountain music!"

Do you play non-classical pieces Stringthing?

[Jacobi]

In addition to classical music, I have been playing:

- Klezmer music (eg the Ilana Cravitz book)
- Scottish and Shetland folk music

[BadStrad]

- Klezmer music

Oh yes. I'd forgotten Klezmer music. I had a thing for that a while back, and still play the pieces.

[StringThing]

I play BlueGrass tunes. My teacher encouraged me to learn the pentatonic scales and then Blue grass tunes as:-
(a) something I could "achieve" while being an absolute beginner on the violin (the simple versions of the tunes).
(b) an aid to musicality - knowing the tunes off by heart gives me more freedom when I'm playing as I'm not focussing on dots on a stave. Also the improvisation aspect helps with that too.
? it's fun. I was resistant at first, but now I really enjoy playing "mountain music!"

Do you play non-classical pieces Stringthing?

Your teacher sounds great! Wish mine had been like that - anything other than classical music was regarded as a heresy.
Do you think that you will stick with the bluegrass/improvisation?

I played jazz on the trumpet for 20 years and just started playing jazz on the violin about 8 months ago - I'm not really playing any classical music at all right now. Getting deeply into gypsy jazz but also listening to some of the more modern players. Chris Garrick and Didier Lockwood in particular.

The Quecumbar in London has a great gypsy jazz jam session on Tuesdays which I have been going to as well - it's a great way to find out what needs working on :-)

Now just need to find a teacher to fix all my bad habits!

[BadStrad]

Yes, I think I will stick with the BlueGrass. At first I thought it was just for songs I learned at Primary school, but recently I went along to a BlueGrass weekend party and the players there were phenomenal! I was completely out of my depth, but it showed me the real skill involved at playing top level BG. So much so that I'm considering going to one of the BG festivals/summer schools next year. If nothing else It'll really improve my double stops!

Also as I'm gaining confidence I'm really starting to enjoy improvising. I loathed it at first and would whine things like "Why do I have to do this when there is all the lovely music that's already written?" Childish - moi?

Interesting to hear about your jazz developments - teacher's brother studied jazz violin at uni. I'd not thought of it until hearing about his uni time.

[lottie]

I started out learning violin for Scottish fiddle music. There's a lot of it about here where I live (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

But my background is classical and so I drifted into classical repertoire because I have a very poor memory and just couldn't remember the Scottish tunes. I still play them from a big book every now and then but I don't get the opportunity to play where I would have to learn them properly such as 'fiddle sessions' in the local pubs etc. I wish I could though.

I've got one fiddle-tunes book for viola which I can play... but I still can't memorise them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) It's spoiling the joy and fun of the traditional music (which is designed for joining in) so I'm mostly sticking to classical just now.

[Devil_Fiddler]

When I'm at home I play quite a lot of folk - mainly English but also bits of Irish/Scottish/American/European - anything goes really! Started off playing in a ceilidh band when I was 13, which was great for memorising and I love playing for dancing when I know the tunes and can watch the dancers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I mainly play in sessions when I'm at home now, but our local one is fairly relaxed and often drifts in to blues/rock/easy listening, so I'm starting to get better at playing along to that sort of thing, for instance adding a violin line to someone singing with a guitar. I honestly believe that being able to do this sort of thing and understanding the music enough to improvise along to it, however simply, is just as important for musician ship as studying and analysing harmony and such traditional approaches.
When I'm in Birmingham, folk's mainly just limited to the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble - there are videos here and here from our recent tour if anyone's interested (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[miffy]

I used to, for jingles, backing, session work etc.
When it's well arranged violin can work well for many types of music.
When it's well arranged.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[StringThing]

Yes, I think I will stick with the BlueGrass. At first I thought it was just for songs I learned at Primary school, but recently I went along to a BlueGrass weekend party and the players there were phenomenal! I was completely out of my depth, but it showed me the real skill involved at playing top level BG. So much so that I'm considering going to one of the BG festivals/summer schools next year. If nothing else It'll really improve my double stops!

Also as I'm gaining confidence I'm really starting to enjoy improvising. I loathed it at first and would whine things like "Why do I have to do this when there is all the lovely music that's already written?" Childish - moi?

Interesting to hear about your jazz developments - teacher's brother studied jazz violin at uni. I'd not thought of it until hearing about his uni time.

I'm doing similar and going to the gypsy jazz festival at Gossington in Gloucestershire at the end of July. Lots of great violinists are going to be there (in particular Ben Holder) so looking forward to picking up some tips & hearing those guys. It's incredible the level that some players are at...apparently Vengerov was quoted as saying "I wish I could play like Chris Garrick"! - and he (Vengerov) had also enrolled at Didier Lockwood's jazz school near Paris (there's a video of this on youtube). Very inspiring!

[delorfinde]

Any traditional music, eg Irish, Scottish and English. Want to have a go at some of the more gypsy-stuff as well. Really struggling to le a non-classical way!

[Sunrise]

I play alot of folk, all types, whether Irish, Scottish or Bluegrass. Also have called celidhs in the past - the most memorable was for about 300 people with daughter at 5 days old - her first gig and she stole the show (I ended up holding her onstage as she wouldn't settle with my dad!!).

I love it, it's fun, and great for giving your fingers a good work out....

[SkyT13]

I play anything I can get my hands on - currently a lot of pop and anime music as well (just need to play the melody line on the violin). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[inigo]

I play alot of folk,

I used to play a lot of folk music before I had lessons, mainly because that was the first music that really interested me as a child (my parents were big fans of English folk). Someone told me that I should stick to folk music as classical violin would be too frustrating for me as an adult learner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) I still run through old familiar tunes when messing about/warming up/playing along etc (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)