Episode 14 - Practicing with Purpose: How Jack Hughes Builds Musical Confidence
Jack Hughes brings a fresh perspective to Irish fiddle playing, having begun his musical journey as a trumpet player before transitioning to violin in his early twenties. This unique background has shaped his approach to practicing and performing Irish traditional music in ways that can benefit musicians at any stage of their development.
The foundation of Jack's practice method begins with tone – a concept borrowed from his trumpet teacher who insisted on starting every lesson with long tones. Before tackling complex ornaments or driving rhythms, Jack focuses on producing a clear, resonant sound that comes naturally from the instrument. This concept of "natural tone," borrowed from Suzuki methodology, emphasizes getting out of the instrument's way rather than forcing sound production. By beginning practice sessions with this mindful attention to tone, Jack builds a strong foundation upon which the rest of his playing can develop organically.
What distinguishes Jack's practice philosophy is his emphasis on deliberate slowness and physical ease. Rather than rushing to play tunes at performance tempo, he advocates for a patient approach where every note receives its proper time and attention. This methodical practice transforms frenzied playing into relaxed precision, allowing speed to emerge naturally from comfort rather than forcing it prematurely. As he eloquently puts it, great musicians play "very relaxed, but it happens to be very fast" – a distinction that reveals itself when slowing down recordings of virtuosic players.
Consistency forms another cornerstone of Jack's approach. Having started fiddle relatively late, he understands the importance of repeated, contextual practice. While he doesn't literally count 500 repetitions (a number suggested by his teacher Brendan Mulvihill), he emphasizes living with tunes for extended periods until they become second nature. Rather than practicing isolated phrases, Jack recommends playing tunes in their entirety to build the muscle memory and confidence needed for performance situations.
Recording practice sessions plays a crucial role in Jack's development process. By separating the act of playing from critical evaluation, he creates space to fully immerse in the performance before later analyzing what needs improvement. This approach mirrors techniques from his composition background – create freely first, then edit with critical distance. The result is both more enjoyable playing and more effective improvement.
For those preparing for performances, Jack suggests practicing the entire set list without stopping, replicating actual performance conditions. This contextual practice builds the confidence to recover seamlessly from any mistakes, maintaining rhythm and flow throughout a performance. The goal isn't perfection but rather developing the resilience to present tunes with integrity regardless of small technical hiccups.
Perhaps most importantly, Jack emphasizes enjoyment as the ultimate purpose of playing Irish music. His definition of the "Jack Hughes sound" centers on having fun and conveying that joy to listeners. This focus on the emotional heart of music-making – rather than technical perfection alone – creates performances that lift spirits and stick with audiences long after the music ends. As he wisely notes, "there's no point in doing it if you're not having fun."
