What’s in a Note?

Gordon Peery accompanies NHSMC on piano while also leading our group during performances. Learn more about Gordon at GordonPeeryMusic.com

When I was first starting to play music for contra dances (back in the late 1970s) I was vaguely aware that there were different genres of tunes - Irish, Scottish, French Canadian, Appalachian, etc. - but I had no gift for distinguishing them. This was partly due to being a piano player; the subtleties of the region-specific embellishments for the melody weren’t applicable. It was also because I took a very non-academic approach to music. 

Over the years my ears cultivated some modest skill at distinguishing tune genres, mostly due to my good fortune of playing with some incredible fiddlers. Today I’d place a modest bet on the ethnography of a tune, but I’m still fairly casual in my approach to music. 

Having now the opportunity to provide some direction for our Scottish Music group (which dabbles into some Irish and New England tunes as well), I’ve thought a lot about how to provide motivation and dare I say discipline, where my own expertise is visibly finite. 

When I was working in marketing, I often heard (and often used) the expression “you only get one first impression.” In a performance (or even a jam) that means that those first notes are so vital, and the first tune or set sets the stage (even if you're not on one) for what’s to come. Of course, once the bar is set, it is important to retain the quality of what you’ve established. That means being fully engaged with the tune, and especially having smooth (and sometimes interesting) transitions) and, of course, solid endings. 

Ultimately, it’s about setting personal goals to always improve musicianship, and feeling committed to listening to fellow musicians – not only their comments, but also as they are playing. What the audience hears is a blend of all of us together, so that is how we should try to perceive it as well. 

The good news is that our group already seems predisposed in this direction. I’ve been impressed by people’s willingness to make suggestions and to bounce sometimes conflicting ideas around. As we move into a new season, my personal goal is to become a better musician, improving the quality of each note. The best way to accomplish that is to surround myself with people who have a similar goal. That’s you! We want our playing to have character, and as we progress, I’m sure we’ll find that it is a strong Scottish character.