Re: Developing Finger Independence
Originally Posted by
Sherry Cadenhead
Thanks to Ranald and Mark for their comments. I was trying to give context to the video I posted. In the process I seemed to have made the post about my teacher, which was not intended. I'm hopeful there will be a mandolin orchestra in my area soon; if so, what she has taught me will serve me well. In the meantime, I'm also doing what you suggested, Mark, and started a thread a few days ago on that subject.
I hope someone sees value in the video, which was the point of my posting it.
Sherry, I enjoyed the Danilo Brito video very much, and did absorb the point you were making about his playing. I certainly can't play like him, but after years of fiddling, my problems tend to be more with chording -- stretching fingers and having them land on the right place at once -- than with picking....I know, I'm working on it.
I agree with the others that anything you learn helps your playing. However, repeatedly attempting to do what your hands may never be able to is frustrating. It teaches you your limitations, but not how to deal with what you can accomplish. If you haven't talked with your teacher about your physical problems, I'd still suggest that you do. If your teacher is a young person, though she may be excellent in many ways, she might not understand the physical issues that many older people deal with. Teachers often talk about how much they learn from their students. Let's do our part to help them. Good luck with your learning process.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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