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I have signed up for a bluegrass jam camp using the Pete Wernick method that is going to be right here in town!! May 1-3 on Fri 5-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 12-4PM
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
I'm happy for you. Hope you have a lot of fun.....and learn stuff too.
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@MrYikes Thanks!
Have you figured out when you are going to the Bluegrass festival in Bean Blossom? I will be limited to a weekend day that is a good thing though - limits my choice. I don't know enough about the different bands to actually hand pick a day.
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
anytime is fine. Just let me know 5 tunes you play and the key so I can practice on those. It'll be fun.
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Oh and don't forget the Festival in my neighborhood. SATURDAY JUNE 21st - Ellenberger Park, FREE and open to all ages!
5301 E. St. Clair St.
http://www.irvingtonfolk.com/H....._4O63.html
It would be so cool to have the Fiddlerman Traveler by then!!
I actually have quite a few memorized!! I think going to the weekly jam has pushed me in that respect!!
Ashokan Farewell D- easy version
Old Joe Clark A- harder version but I play it slow!
Cuckoo's Nest D
Midnight on the Water D - a waltz
Tombigbee Waltz G
Jay Unger playing Simple Gifts and Tombigbee Waltz. He does play a bit fancier version then mine. I can't quite figure out those ornamentations he is playing on the Waltz.
OK as soon as I have the day figured out will let you know.
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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Just figured out the ornamentations!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
Isn't that a great feeling, figuring out what you want to put into a tune? I know its a high point for me. I'll plan on being there at Irvington.
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Tonight is the first day!! I can hardly wait. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas. Now if I can just get my family home on time tonight.
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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yahooo!
Report back all your fun times !!!!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Reporting in before I head out for today's jam classes. Last night was great. The teachers goal to keep us in our discomfort zone meaning we had to sing and play solos. Well we were not forced to lay solos but strongly urged to do so.
I was nervous which equals a bouncy bow but it quickly left which surprised me a bit, took me just doing a few potatoes!! So I took a break/solo for I'll Fly Away. An easy song but of course I couldn't make it all the way through. Memory loss, is that nerves or just not knowing the song and knowing how to fake knowing the song? Maybe all of the above! UUgghh!!
At some point we are going to learn a bit on how to improvise.
But then I led Soldiers Joy passed if off to one person and the instructor nodded to me to take it back. I shook my head and nodded to another player who took it. Then it came back to me. We sat in a couple of measure until I could jump in. Being able to nod or shake my head no, while playing? PRICELESS!!
We are playing at a very slow tempo. Once again the only fiddle, 4-5 banjos, 3 mandolins and 3-4 guitars. Two of the banjo players also play guitar.
One of the banjo players has been to a handful of jam cams which surprised me.
At some point we are going to learn a bit on how to improvise.
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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Wow... what a day...
I am glad it was Great. How fun. I'd have fainted. 
Good luck and happy times with Day two.
Toni
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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Having fun is what it's all about. Nerves are normal but it takes a strong person to keep going passed nervousness and to get to the period in which you can enjoy it.
Glad you had fun Schaick, and I'm glad that you are participating.
Thanks for the report.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Thanks!
Day 2 - It was frustrating!!! Almost to the point of tears!! I didn't know any of the songs, not even to hum them. The instructor was trying to get me to improvise when I did I was in the right chords, but there was no feel for the melody.
What I have witnessed is that the fiddler follows the melody fairly closely the first time around, then when more breaks are taken there is improvisation but the melody can always be found within the improvisation. What is the point of playing different songs if there is not the melody hidden in there?
All this explains why the classically trained fiddler we had a couple of months ago, while her tone was wonderful, didn't impress me. She basically played the same licks repeating them but on different chords, extended them a bit here for her break but never played the melody.
Here is what else I learned that day -
- 2/3 of a bluegrass jam is singing.
- 1/3 instrumentals.
- Fiddlers usually know the instrumentals.
- There are very few fiddlers at bluegrass jams. In fact the instructors said they rarely have a fiddler at a jam!! There is also rarely a jam class with a fiddler.
So then I understood why the instructor didn't seem to know how to teach the lone fiddler - me!!
Well on my ride home I was thinking I had wasted my money but then I realized the fiddler is so admired and loved!! Fiddlers are desperately wanted at the jam. We have a big job!!
Day 3 Once I realized the responsibility I decided I was ready to tackle the challenge.
- We learned how to harmonize singing.
- Learned about capos
- How not to be a jam buster - timing!!
- Had a mini performance.
We ended up jamming for 2 hours after the class ended!!
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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One idea that has helped me sort all this jamming out - the fiddle is the singing voice at the jam.
Violinist start date - May 2013
Fiddler start date - May 2014
FIDDLE- Gift from a dear friend. A 1930-40 german copy, of a french copy of a Stradivarius. BOW - $50 carbon fiber. Strings - Dominants with E Pirastro Gold string.
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