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.

$250,000 violin gets virtuosos bumped from airline flight, prompts viral video

Join the forum discussion on this postfrom CNN.com (CNN) — It’s a good thing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart doesn’t have an Internet connection. If he could see what happened to Zachary De Pue this week, he might turn over in his … Continue reading

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Stradivarius violin found in closet could sell for $10 million

Join the forum discussion on this postfrom the Bangor Daily News: NEW YORK — A Stradivarius violin forgotten in a closet for decades and formerly owned by a reclusive U.S. heiress to a copper fortune could sell for as much … Continue reading

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Maine violin maker repairs a cherished instrument

From the Portland Herald: When Mark O’Connor’s instrument shattered, he asked Jonathan Cooper to fix it. By Bob Keyes bkeyes@pressherald.com Staff Writer The violin crashed to the floor with a sickening thud. Mark O’Connor knew right away the damage was … Continue reading

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Spider silk spun into violin strings

From New Scientist: Spiders might soon give you goosebumps in a good way. Strands of spider silk have been used to make violin strings that have a unique and thrilling sound, thanks perhaps to the way the strands deform when … Continue reading

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Maria von Trapp, last of famous singing siblings, dies at 99

From CNN.com Maria von Trapp, the last of the singing children immortalized in the movie musical “The Sound of Music,” died at her Vermont home of natural causes, her half-brother told CNN on Saturday. The native of Austria was 99 … Continue reading

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Snow Queen: Violinist Mae to compete in Sochi

From CNN.com: Over the years, the Winter Olympics has thrown up a variety of competitors that defy logic. There was Jamaica’s legendary bobsled team, a cross-country skier from Kenya and Britain’s Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, whose inept performances in 1988 … Continue reading

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NewsBeat: Want Perfect Pitch? You Might Be Able To Pop A Pill For That

From WGBHnews.org: In the world of music, there is no more remarkable gift than having perfect pitch. As the story goes, Ella Fitzgerald’s band would use her perfect pitch to tune their instruments. Although it has a genetic component, most … Continue reading

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NewsBeat: Childsplay fiddles around with unique, energetic kind of music

From the Providence Journal: Making music takes on a whole new meaning for someone like Bob Childs, who has been a maker of fiddles for more than four decades. Beyond crafting the wooden instruments and coaxing a unique and rich … Continue reading

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NewsBeat: For Joshua Bell, the violin speaks to any audience

From the Boston Globe: Violinist Joshua Bell’s next Boston concert will feature pieces by Beethoven, Stravinsky, and Tartini. But his public profile is not restricted to the classical world. Bell, 45, has performed on the TV show “Dancing With the … Continue reading

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NewsBeat: Mattel Gives Barbie A China-Friendly Makeover: Now Equipped With Violin, And Cheaper Price Tag

From the International Business Times Barbie is getting a makeover! No, Mattel isn’t changing the notoriously unrealistic proportions of “America’s favorite doll.” The toy giant is giving her an educational upgrade for the Chinese market. According to a report by … Continue reading

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