I’ve always admired fiddlers. In jams at banjo camp and at old time festivals, I’ve been in awe at the ability of fiddle players. Humans can’t do this, I decided. These people must be our overlords from another planet. Along the way I’ve learned to… Read More
As some of you are aware, I’ve been attempting to learn to play old time fiddle, something I ought to have taken up 45 years ago if I expected to actually master the instrument. None-the-less, I’m doing my best and I’m gradually making some progress.… Read More
For some time now I’ve been working on learning fiddle. I have to say that compared to other instruments I mess with, it’s difficult. Early on I decided I would try to learn this instrument by ear, and dispense completely with written notation. This I… Read More
At the Rockbridge Festival, I had an opportunity to play banjo with some really fantastic fiddle players. They make that instrument seem so easy – but upon my return, when I picked up my fiddle again, I was quickly reminded how difficult it really is.… Read More
https://youtu.be/8OMuNnPoHPM As some of you know, I’ve started to learn fiddle, and I’ve been working hard at it. I’m taking an online course from the “Brainjo” guy, Dr. Josh Turnkett and taught by Adam Hurt. I’ve taken banjo classes from Adam at Midwest Banjo Camp… Read More
As some of you know, I have an old fiddle at home and I’ve been messing around with it, trying to learn to play. That’s more or less how I approached clawhammer banjo and while it may not have been the most efficient approach, I’ve… Read More
I’ve begun my first tentative steps learning to play fiddle. I’m reminding myself that my first days on button accordion were a struggle, figuring out to to manage air and cope with learning two sets of fingering, one for pushing and the other for pulling.… Read More
Sixty plus years ago, when my brother Joe (who I often refer to on this blog as my brother the trout, Salvelinus fontinalis) was a young boy and years before I was born, our grandpa – that’s our dad’s dad – gave my brother a… Read More
27th Street 