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The FM Family
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
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Ferret
Byron Bay Australia
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April 16, 2014 - 8:51 am
Member Since: April 22, 2012
Forum Posts: 1575
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On seeing FM's request of of members of the forum to post and to keep the forum alive and 'fresh', I am prompted to share some thoughts that I recently shared with a friend.

 

I was sitting, having a talk to my good mate 'Jack Daniels'. (Jack doesn't say much but he is a good listener)

 

We had been practicing on and off and I said to him, "Why do I find the Fiddlerman Forum such a 'comfortable' place to be?"

 

And after some thought we realised that one of the things that I liked most about the FM forum is that everyone seems to be equal. 

 

When you are chatting or posting, or replying to a post , unless it has been mentioned at some earlier time or someone's username gives it away, you often have no idea as to other's age, gender, socioeconomic group, religious beliefs, geographical location and more, and it doesn't matter.

 

You will find many sources of instructional videos and other 'learning to play' the violin resources on the internet, but you will not always find a community of like minded, friendly violin / fiddle players as those of the Fiddlerman Family.

 

The FM forum has the equality that many of the politicians of the world should aspire to.

 

It's a comfortable place to be. Friends and a fiddle are a great combination.
 
Thats what we reckon :)

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
April 16, 2014 - 10:05 am
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
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@Ferret - well said !   

I'm a recent member - and I have met folks here who are beginners like myself, and others with a much longer history of violin playing - all are equally happy to share their thoughts - especially those with a solid musical background - who have taken time to answer my "dumb questions" at a level I can understand!

I've had interesting chats about the physical basis of music and the mathematical relationships behind it, I've chatted about the technical issues of waveform analyses using Fourier Transforms, and to top it all - today I was chatting in Spanish with Xavier.

And let me not forget the primary purpose of being a member - learning, study, practice, tips and techniques regarding everything to do with the violin and how to make it truly sing - I would surely agree - we have a great Fiddlerman Family !

I might add - I have had similar one-way-chats with my less-than-communicative friends Mr Whyte and Mr Mackay in the wee small hours - although I do sometimes get annoyed with them for upsetting my fingering and making me perform classic guitar pitch-bend on the fiddle.  Was that supposed to be vibrato, Bill?   Grrrrr....

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

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RockingLR33
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April 16, 2014 - 10:41 am
Member Since: September 21, 2013
Forum Posts: 492
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i would like to add my 2 cents onto this because you two hit it right on the head.

 

This place is so wonderful because there is not fight here. maybe an occasional disagreance over stuff or mis understandings but no one here is straight up in your face "better then you" personality. No matter what type of music is being play'd in a video or questions being asked, everyone is nice and friendly and supportive! 

 

Its so hard to find that anywhere these days that it makes this place a top notch place that i seriously look forward to being on. Its wonderful to have such an open, honest and supportive place for everyone to "gather" and just have fun without the worry of hateful criticism! constructive yes but never hateful or demeaning! :D  

 

I hope we are able to keep these forums going for many many many years. besides is so much fun to see how everyone has progressed and just to have fun conversations. Hopefully we will get more...how to say it...interactive members of all levels and types of playings so even more knowledge can be shared! 

Lead me, Follow me, or get out of my way!

             ~General George S. Patton

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StoneDog
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April 16, 2014 - 11:53 am
Member Since: January 14, 2013
Forum Posts: 888
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Yes, I agree that this site is truly a huge help with learning and support. Being able to put vids of ones playing is really helpful. The members are very mature with critique which is important when one is learning. There is no dissing, just helpful comments. The projects and parties ROCK > they motivate one to learn a variety of tunes > SWEET!!!!!!!!

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Panda-P
Texas
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April 16, 2014 - 4:59 pm
Member Since: February 14, 2014
Forum Posts: 124
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As Ferret said:

 

When you are chatting or posting, or replying to a post , unless it has been mentioned at some earlier time or someone's username gives it away, you often have no idea as to other's age, gender, socioeconomic group, religious beliefs, geographical location and more, and it doesn't matter.

I thought Mad_Wed was a guy for a while. (Sorry!)

And we are all equal here, unless you're Composer.

I'm just always nervous about posting here because I'd rather sit in my room and read than interact with people, but the forum is helping me to be more social. (Also, you guys convinced me to clean up my room, so be proud of yourselves!)

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 16, 2014 - 7:15 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Panda-P said
................I'm just always nervous about posting here because I'd rather sit in my room and read than interact with people, but the forum is helping me to be more social. (Also, you guys convinced me to clean up my room, so be proud of yourselves!)

Happy we got you to clean your room and even more happy that you have taken the opportunity to socialize with us. :-) You are a great addition to our family.

Thanks for the posts everyone. I agree about how friendly this forum is. :-)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Panda-P
Texas
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April 16, 2014 - 7:20 pm
Member Since: February 14, 2014
Forum Posts: 124
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Yup, and my mom thanks you from the bottom of her heart! 

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Georganne
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April 16, 2014 - 7:38 pm
Member Since: August 28, 2013
Forum Posts: 993
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One of the reasons I love it here is that there are players here who are more experienced than me and less experienced than me.  The more experienced players are friendly and helpful and encourage me to be better, practice more, don't worry that's normal you'll get there.  The newer players then me, while also being helpful and encouraging, remind me how far I've come.  When they play something that I remember struggling to learn and knowing that NOW I can play it with ease, helps me to keep things in perspective. 

 

Opportunity is often missed because it wears suspenders and looks like hard work.

 

Alaska, the Madness; Bloggity Stories of the North Country

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Barry
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April 16, 2014 - 7:40 pm
Member Since: June 30, 2011
Forum Posts: 2690
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hmmm..wonder if I can get my son on here so he'll clean his room  rofl   tell your Mom she is welcome  thumbs-up

There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart

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Uzi
Georgia

Honorary tenured advisor
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April 16, 2014 - 8:08 pm
Member Since: January 19, 2014
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All this is exactly right.  Heck, I didn't even initially intend to play the violin.  I bought it for my violist grandson, whose viola teacher, when he learned of it, forbid him to touch it.  So I figured, well heck then I'll learn to play it.  Fate works in funny ways sometimes. I'm finally learning to play an instrument that my late musical relatives would have considered to be a "real" musical instrument and it's been really fun to learn. I really wish I had started playing it many years ago.  I like it so much, in fact, that I bought a FM soloist a couple of weeks ago for myself -- on purpose. 

I was around musicians (some famous and others infamous) for much of my life,  but I don't recall being around any that were any nicer or more helpful, more mutually encouraging and less egotistical than the people on this forum.  

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 16, 2014 - 8:18 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429
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I actually had the pleasure of meeting Uzi and his grandson as they drove down to Fiddlershop to buy a Soloist. The greater majority of sales are online for us but occasionally a customer calls and wants to drop by.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
April 16, 2014 - 8:18 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2012
Forum Posts: 1760
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I wholeheartedly second all of the above! I've been on this forum for over two years now and am thankful every day that I found it. From the very beginning, folks were supportive and friendly.

Now, it feels like having a brewsky with good friends at the end of a long day.

cheers

I check in occasionally on other fiddle/violin forums and this one is the friendliest by far. Not just friendly to beginners...friendliest, period. I think the reason is exactly what John @Ferret said.

While it's great that everyone is equal, I really enjoy the differences: that there are folks from all over the world, different walks of life, different musical tastes and experience, etc. Despite these differences we all get a long (mostly) and share a love of music.

Oh sure, every now and then a couple of members might get a little grouchy at each other, but it blows over, just like in any family.

violin-bangheart

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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Ferret
Byron Bay Australia
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April 16, 2014 - 9:45 pm
Member Since: April 22, 2012
Forum Posts: 1575
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@BillyG 

Bill

I'm not familiar with Messes Whyte and Mackay.

But I'm sure that they are great guys. rofl

 

Oddly enough, our youngest ferret is called Bill. And he 'is' totally mad. roflol

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

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Tyberius
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April 17, 2014 - 8:21 pm
Member Since: November 8, 2012
Forum Posts: 555
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I have not been here in quite some time. Last fall I broke my left hand in several places and that pretty much ended my playing...until now. I have had physical therapy and continue it, but I can now play, albeit, even more miserably then before. I saw an old email Pierre had sent me and thought about dropping in - so I did. The page that came up was this one, so, instead of making another topic, I preferred to troll and spam this one. I hope all is well with everyone. maybe I can start again my journey. I just don't seem to have the fire and drive. maybe that will change. I have a hard time looking at the violins, knowing where I was practicing 3 or more hours a day and now I fear to even rosin the bow.

"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader

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KindaScratchy
Massachusetts
April 17, 2014 - 9:22 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2012
Forum Posts: 1760
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Welcome back, Ty. So sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you're back in full playing form very soon. Glad that you checked back in here. You'll get your fire and drive back, I'm sure. You just need to ease back into playing. Keep us posted!

When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,

I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.

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Tyberius
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April 17, 2014 - 9:30 pm
Member Since: November 8, 2012
Forum Posts: 555
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its nice to see familiar faces and have the support to help you find your way. I just tuned one of them... it was horribly out of tune. I tried a 2 octive G up and down, after about 5 minutes my hand/arm was tired. i'll keep at it and see where it goes. its like being on square 1 again. maybe someday i'll work up to "twinkle" again ... *sigh* lol

I guess I should break (bad choice of words) out a Suzuki book and my fiddler fake book if I can find it.

"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
April 17, 2014 - 10:09 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429
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Yes, welcome back Tyberius. You are always welcome here. :-)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Tyberius
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April 18, 2014 - 11:15 am
Member Since: November 8, 2012
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Thanks FM! :)

"I find your lack of Fiddle, disturbing" - Darth Vader

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Mad_Wed
Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city
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April 19, 2014 - 5:49 pm
Member Since: October 7, 2011
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Hi, Tyberiusm welcome back! Glad that You're recovering and things are getting better! Nice to see You!cheerleader

Panda-P said

As Ferret said:

 

When you are chatting or posting, or replying to a post , unless it has been mentioned at some earlier time or someone's username gives it away, you often have no idea as to other's age, gender, socioeconomic group, religious beliefs, geographical location and more, and it doesn't matter.

I thought Mad_Wed was a guy for a while. (Sorry!)

Hahahahaaa! Hmmm, i wonder, what particularly uncovered me? XD

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coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
April 25, 2014 - 8:41 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 4180
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Welcome back Tyberius. Nice to see you. Good luck in the continued healing process and your violin journey.birthday_balloon

As for this place... I LOVE YOU GUYS...heartheartheartheartheartheart Everyone has been so kind and thoughtful and helpful. I never felt dumb and I recently saw some of the stuff I posted two years ago...OMG..you are Saints!!! I was really bad...ha ha... facepalmfacepalmfacepalmfacepalmfacepalm

As I am progressing I owe most of my violin progress to this site. I have made treasured friendships here, learned a wealth of musical information, laughed, drank, and stayed on WAY too long soooo many nights. droolingjimi-hendrixpartydazeddancinbunnyviolin_girl

THIS IS the place to be.1st-place (((((((GROUP HUG!!!!!))))))) ha ha you knew I was going to say something mushy like that!!heartheartheartheartheartheartheartheartheartheart

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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