Gstanzl with singing (Week 7)

Okay, so I learned two Gstanzl, the lyrics are quite funny in Austrian. I notice the progress, and that things are getting a bit smoother. Singing is hard though, and I think I have to pump up the volume quite a bit to be louder then the accordion.

I also go back playing the previous songs I learned quite often, and notice if I don't do that, I keep making a lot of mistakes. So I might have to slow down and focus more on the quality of things I already learned, rather then tackling a lot of new pieces.

Week 5: Scales

Last few days I have been working on some technical things. In particular I focused on learning how to play a scale up and down. It took a bit but practicing it for 10-15 minutes everyday makes wonder and eventually the fingers seem to find there own way.

I also tackled playing the scale with "two tones" at the same time. This requires a lot of practice and repetitions but I'm slowly getting there. There is a song called "Schuetzen Polka" that is based on the theme of playing the scale downwards with 2 voices at the same time, and I'll be learning that soonish. Here is a brief video of playing a scale up and down:

Additionally, I have been continuing to practice the Gstanzl and the next video should be a performance of a couple of Gstanzl! So watch out for that! 

Learning "Gstanzln"

I'm wrapping up the fourth week of learning the Steirische. Unfortunately Tuesday this week I had gotten sick, so my progress was a bit slower this week.

But I tried to tackle G'stanzl which is popular part of traditional singing in Austria. It's basically short phrases that rhyme and are funny - typically mocking somebody. And then go back to a refrain that everybody knows, and it's like yodeling. Some people are really good and can make them up on the fly - like my dad for instance. In modern culture rapping is somewhat similar. There is even a Wikipedia entry for it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gstanzl

I will try to learn a couple and sing to it next week! So stay tuned! :)