The first time I heard Topeka Polka was at Weiser, and it was Carol Ann Wheeler playing it. I thought it was dumb, and annoying, and repetitive. At some point, I realized that it was in Bb and I tried to play it, and my perception shifted. It’s really a fun tune to play. So, I don’t think Topeka Polka is dumb anymore. In fact, I think it’s pretty cool. Based on the info I can find, Spade Cooley wrote the tune. Here’s an old Recording of Spade Cooley Playing Topeka Polka
Topeka Polka According to the Fiddler’s Companion
TOPEKA POLKA. American, Polka. B Flat Major (‘A’ and ‘B’ parts) & E Flat Major (‘C’ part). Standard tuning (fiddle). AAAABB’BB’CC’. Source for notated version: Donnell Cooley and Tim Hodgson [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 2, 1995; p. 356.
The first thing that struck me about this video was the mirror.
I have a mirror in my teaching studio, and I consider it one of the most important practice tools for beginners who want to get a really good bow stroke. Bow control, after all, is the way to get the best possible tone your instrument is capable of producing. I even devoted more than one issue of my now-defunct newsletter to the use of a mirror for improving bow control.
I find it interesting that the choice of key had a large effect on your perception of a piece. Do you have absolute pitch? I don’t have absolute pitch, but I can closely approximate absolute pitch because I have a low-level constant-pitch tinnitus, which I can reference from if the room is sufficient quiet. Unfortunately, it’s about halfway between a b and a b-flat, so I have to compensate a bit.
A mirror really is a great tool for being aware of your posture and movement when you are playing. It can really help a student get clear on where their technique is breaking down. Bowing and shifting are two areas where a mirror is especially helpful. I have some great bow control exercises posted on http://www.myTalentForge.com
I don’t have absolute (perfect) pitch, but I do have very good pitch and interval recognition. And when I hear a song in my head, it’s usually in the key I would play it in. What I find very interesting is that I can usually transfer what I’m hearing onto the violin without thinking in the key that is in my head. And still I’m surprised when I do it. 🙂
Fantastic musical performance !
Thanks, Michael. This is a really fun tune to play.