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
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
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
I learned this week’s tune, Sweeney’s Dream, because it goes well after last week’s tune Humours of Lissadell. And now we have a set. We’re on week 19 of my tune learning venture and I have to admit, I’m pretty proud of myself for keeping it up for 19 weeks. It has definitely been a … More Sweeney’s Dream: Tune 19 of 52
As I get older, I find there is only room for so much information in my brain. There might just be a limit to how many tunes I can remember at any given time. I mean how am I expected to remember a tune I learned years ago when I can’t even remember where I … More Humours of Lissadell: Tune 18 of 52
Session Obsession 