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
Learning tunes by ear is no easy feat. It takes time, patience, and then more time, and more patience. Read more for tips on how to work through the hard stuff. … More How to work through the hard parts
This week’s tune is a hoppy Irish hornpipe. Check it out. … More The First of May: Tune 26 of 52
It was the year 2013 and I was visiting Ireland for the first time. I was heading to a place called Glencolmcille in county Donegal for a week-long fiddle school. I arrived a day early and a friend who was picking me up asked if I wanted to make a pit-stop in Ballyshannon for a … More Glen Road To Carrick: Tune 25 of 52
Every good sessioneer has a list — a running tab of all the tunes you’ve heard at a session and plan to learn for future sessions. Sometimes it’s just a tiny piece of paper you keep in your instrument case. Sometimes it’s a whole notebook. Other times, it’s just an imaginary collection of tunes to … More Sporting Paddy: Tune 24 of 52
Now that I’m fully vaccinated and more and more people are on their way, I’m excited to start playing music in person again. It has not been an easy journey playing solo for the last 23+ weeks and it has definitely taken some discipline to keep up the practice. What I’ve learned most throughout this … More Silver Spire: Tune 23 of 52
Session Obsession 