638 Get That Guitar* From Under the Bed…and Learn by Ear (*or fiddle/violin, mandolin, bass, uke)
Class | Registration opens 2/3/2025 11:00 AM
The course is for beginners who have played some but maybe not much recently. You need to be able to 1) sing “do re mi fa sol la ti do” and 2) play a scale or some chords on a stringed instrument (guitar, bass, violin family/fiddle, mandolin, ukulele) that you can bring to class. Bring a smart phone for several uses.
You can expect to:
- learn three to five songs or tunes by ear.
- sing, hum, and play in front of your classmates.
- learn a little music theory.
- discuss the challenges and advantages of learning by ear.
- discuss books on how people get really good at something (like music), and see why continuing to learn to play is not just for the young!
- help each other in small groups.
- explore what kinds of practice will be most effective for you.
REQUIRED TEXTS/MATERIALS:
The Immutable Laws of Brainjo, Josh Turknett, 2020.
NOTE: If you can’t find the paperback, try https://clawhammerbanjo.net/the-immutable-laws-of-brainjo-the-art-and-science-of-effective-practice/ for a free copy.
Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool, 2017
A stringed instrument. A smart phone if possible.
Carl Kirby
CARL KIRBY taught geology and geochemistry at Bucknell for 29 years. He also had another life. Starting in school as a trombonist, he moved into several genres of acoustic music on guitar, acoustic bass, fiddle and mandolin. He has been in about a dozen bands and many jam sessions featuring folky stuff, old country, Appalachian old-time, bluegrass, swing, Celtic, and jazz. Carl loves to share ideas and practices with other musicians.