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
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
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
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
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
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
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
I’m not sure if it’s age or what but it seems when I learn a new tune, I forget an old one. Last night I played with my band for the first time in over a year. It’s been too long since I sat down and played music with live people sitting right next to … More Learning new tunes and forgetting the old
Whether you’re a mountain biker, road cyclist or just a casual rider who pedals around the neighborhood on your bike, you’ll notice that there is nothing flat about Vermont. No matter where you go, there is likely a hill you’ll have to reluctantly climb. I live near Perry Hill trails which is a mountain bike … More Learning tunes is like riding a bike
I had only been playing the fiddle for 5 years when I wrote my first tune. I called it Mothers and Daughters. I wrote it for my mother on her 50th birthday. It was one of only two tunes I’ve ever written (the other was for my dog). As a child I always wanted to … More Mothers and Daughters
Session Obsession 