Author Archives: KindaScratchy

About KindaScratchy

I'm a novice fiddler and mandolinist. I've played the guitar for many years and also play the recorder, fife, flute, and, more recently, tin whistle. I work in the communications field and, in addition to music, I enjoy photography, writing, gardening, golf and travel.

Lexington violinist teaches kids to tell musical stories

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom the Boston Globe: Anwell Tsai is an accomplished violin soloist who has performed with many regional symphonies, so he knows a thing or two about classical music. Tsai, founder of Lexington based Playful … Continue reading

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Violinist unearths mystery behind her 345-year-old violin

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom Tuscon.com/Arizona Daily Star: Chee-Yun plunked down a small fortune for her 1669 Francesco Ruggieri violin, an instrument whose provenance was a mystery. The seller offered no list of violinists who had played it. … Continue reading

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Three Quick Lessons From The Violin Wunderkind Who Became A Master

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom NPR.org: Joshua Bell was once a boy wonder of the violin. Now, at 46, he leads nine young musicians in Masterclass. HBO’s 30-minute documentary series pairs young artists with world-renowned mentors such as … Continue reading

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Air Canada Makes Public Declaration of No Violas in the Cabin

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom the Violin Channel: Air Canada has today published a detailed explanation of its musical instrument transportation policy – declaring violins and cellos are permitted to be taken within the cabin, but violas must … Continue reading

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Buddy MacMaster, renowned Cape Breton fiddler, dead at 89

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom cbc.com: Renowned Cape Breton fiddler Hugh Allan (Buddy) MacMaster has died at age 89. A friend of the family confirmed MacMaster died in his home in rural western Cape Breton in Nova Scotia around 9 p.m. … Continue reading

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Woman quits career in NY to make violins in Mass.

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom the Washington Times: CHATHAM, Mass. (AP) – Lots of people harbor dreams but never follow through on them. Rosemary Clancy’s was to craft violins by hand. She was 42 years old when she … Continue reading

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‘Star-Spangled Banner’ author may have been tone deaf

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom the Chicago Tribune: By Jeffrey B. Roth Reuter GETTYSBURG Pa. – The author of the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which will ring out at thousands of baseball games and parades across the United States … Continue reading

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Musicians are probably smarter…

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom The Huffington Post: Musicians Are Probably Smarter Than the Rest of Us Want to keep your mind healthy and sharp throughout your life? Pick up an instrument. A new study found that musicians … Continue reading

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Kreutzer Stradivarius violin fails to sell at auction

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom The Strad magazine: The instrument has been valued at between $7.5m and $10m The ‘Kreutzer’ Stradivarius, due to be auctioned by Christie’s in a sealed bidding process on 18 June, has failed to … Continue reading

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U.S. Man Pleads Guilty in Case of Stolen Stradivarius Violin

Join the forum discussion on this postFrom the Wall Street Journal: MILWAUKEE—A U.S. man pleaded guilty Wednesday to providing the stun gun used to rob an orchestra concertmaster of a $5 million Stradivarius violin. Universal K. Allah, 36, faces a … Continue reading

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