Think less, play more
September 7, 2021
Sometimes thinking gets in the way of playing. At some point you just have to trust yourself to know what to do. #tunetuesday #atuneaweek … More Think less, play more
On practicing
August 31, 2021
Fall is the perfect time to renew your commitment to your instrument. … More On practicing
Getting your groove back
August 26, 2021
Lately my band and I have been practicing for an upcoming wedding gig. Every Wednesday we’ve been getting together to hash out a set list, revisit old tune sets and come up with some new ones. Because of the pandemic we haven’t played a gig together in almost 2 years. So it took a few … More Getting your groove back
Keeping on task
August 17, 2021
Setting up a practice schedule is easy. Sticking to it is the hard part. Back in December I decided to embark on learning a tune a week for a year. I figured it would not only add 52 tunes to my repertoire but it would keep me on task with my practicing. And it has … More Keeping on task
Hello operator
August 7, 2021
In most traditional music, it is customary to learn tunes by ear and pass them along in the same way. Musicians add variations and ornaments to personalize their interpretation of the tune. I wonder though, where the line is and why sharing tunes doesn’t turn into a huge game of operator. Here’s what I mean: … More Hello operator
Take time to heal
August 2, 2021
I’m late in recording this week’s tune and it’s all because of Simone Biles. Recently gymnast Simone Biles, walked away from the greatest competition in the world to honor her team, her body and her mental health. I can’t even fathom how much strength and courage that must have taken. She reminds us all that … More Take time to heal
It’s all about discipline
July 21, 2021
My whole life I wanted to play fiddle but there was always a reason not to. It’s too expensive to buy an instrument and take lessons. I’m too old. I don’t have a musical background, no one in my immediate family plays, and so on. There is no shortage of reasons why not to do … More It’s all about discipline
Every little bit counts
July 13, 2021
My trainer told me a story of how he was listening to his kids play Monopoly. One kid landed on one of those properties where rent was only $5. The other kid said “don’t bother paying me, it’s only $5.” As my trainer was listening to their conversation he thought “clearly this kid hasn’t worked … More Every little bit counts
Dusting off old tunes
July 7, 2021
I’m going to risk dating myself here and tell you that when I started to learn how to play fiddle, I used a tape recorder with real cassette tapes. I may even still have some in the bowels of my basement, though nothing to play them on. I’d record, then stop, rewind, and play again, … More Dusting off old tunes
Let’s get the band back together
July 2, 2021
After over a year, my band and I were finally able to get together and play music on my patio (sorry neighbors). Though I’ve been playing my fiddle almost every day now for 31 weeks, it’s an entirely different experience playing with other people. And I’m so thankful to be able to experience it again. … More Let’s get the band back together
Session Obsession 