Sometimes the best way to get better at what you love is to step away from it for a little while. That’s something I’ve been discovering through my recent classical violin lessons. I’m a fiddle player at heart. I love the energy, the groove, the ornamentation, and the particular character that comes with playing fiddle … More Why Playing a Different Genre Can Make You Better at Your Own
Tune # 5: The Minor Slip I’m kicking off the new year with one of my favorite slip jigs — The Minor Slip (thanks for the suggestion, Harold!). Honestly, I don’t know why it took me so long to actually sit down and learn this one. It’s not a complicated tune; in fact, once it gets … More The Emotional Charm of The Minor Slip Tune
This week’s tune is The Rookery by Vincent Broderick. Hope you enjoy! … More The Rookery: A Tune for Intentional Playing
On Friday, September 12 at 7pm, legendary Irish fiddle player Kevin Burke will be playing a concert at the Telford/Connor residence at 1060 Bent Hill Rd in Braintree, VT. From his early days with The Bothy Band to his celebrated solo performances, Kevin Burke is considered one of Irish music’s luminaries. The recipient of a … More Kevin Burke House Concert
Fiddlers love the keys of D and G but not so much the key of F. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because D and G are some of the first scales we learn early so we train our fingers and it sticks with us. Or maybe it’s because we just don’t like those damn … More What the F?
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
In the last 14 weeks I’ve been diligent about either learning new tunes or dusting off old ones. I can’t say whether or not I am actually sounding better, but I can say I’m listening better. I’m listening to myself and listening to others with a keen ear. And I’m noticing things I’ve never noticed … More Stop, Look and Listen
This tune (also known as the Glasgow Reel) has haunted me since I’ve been playing the fiddle. I first learned it on the mandolin many years ago and even though the mandolin is strung like a fiddle, I couldn’t seem to transpose it to the fiddle and make it sound good. Bowing this tune is … More Tamlin: Tune 12 of 52
We’re at week 6 of my 52 week goal of learning a tune a week. This week’s tune is called Alice’s Reel and was written by the great Irish fiddler, Frankie Gavin. I hope you like it:
Learning tunes is the easy part. Giving them life is the challenge. Read more on how to give life to your music. … More Music that Make the Dancers Dance
