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Meet "MGN" from Fiddlerman's "Fiddle Talk" forum
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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
October 25, 2011 - 11:57 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

If you like, please begin by telling us anything you would like to about yourself. Age, place of birth, residence, etc.
I was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota Dec. 5th 1963 and raised in Bloomington, MN. I was kind of a trouble maker. Always looking for trouble as a kid. I liked adventures including camping, fishing, hunting and sneaking out at nights to explore. I went to summer camps in the boundary waters on the MN - Canada border from about age 8 to 15. I always loved music. My grandfather played violin in a professional jazz band. He is on many records that I would jam to on drums to practice to and I started writing lyrics and writing songs at about 8yo. I was in school bands playing 1st chair trumpet until they kicked me out for skipping school. I then started playing guitar writing original music and organized after school concerts with a band we put together. I was also taking piano lessons and later started taking saxophone lessons. My mom said the music will keep me out of trouble. I played and still do as a lead guitar player - song writer in original bands and cover bands. I moved to California about 11 years ago to keep playing music.

What made you decide to play the violin?
I have always loved the violin by listening to my grandfathers old albums. It took me many years to actually start fiddling until I was 47 yo.

How long have you been playing the violin?
I've only been playing violin for about  4 months now.

How often do you play? How long are your practice sessions?
I practice violin everyday. I can play for many hours but take a lot of short breaks.

In your opinion, what's your proficiency on the violin?
Beginner all the way but I feel I'm learning pretty quick.

Your greatest personal experience with playing?
That my wife says I'm doing great and my cats (one being half bobcat) seem to like the sound of the violin as much as I do.

What other instruments do you play?
I play guitar, piano, sax, trumpet, dulcimer and harmonica.

What does music mean to you?
Music means the world to me. I still love to camp and fish but there is nothing better than music to me.

What or who has been your greatest influence?
My Grandfather, many of my cousins that play, my wife, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

What are your goals for playing violin? short and long.
To bring it on! Make some original music.

What type of violin training?
Fiddlerman.com and some books that I bought.

How do you warm up?
Scales.

What is your favortie type of music?
Good old rock n roll and Irish music.

What is your favorite piece of music? Why?
The song Frankenstein  because I have always been a fan of scary movies and I hear a version for violin in my head for that song.

What are your 2 favorite things to do other than playing violin?
Sex and fishing.

Do you come from a musical family? If so please tell us about them.
I have many family members that play music but choose to be discreet about it.

Are you a member of any orchestra?
Nope.

Do you ever perform publicly?
All the time but not with the violin but will as soon I can.

What do you work with?
This would take writing an essay. I own tons of equipment.

Please share information about your violin and bow and if you have several please tell us about them as well.
I own a black metallic Cecilio, CVN 500, Mendini 650, Cecilio e-violin and a Silver Creek electric/acoustic and have many low cost bows. I really like the Cecilio bows but I'm still exploring to know what will work best for me. I also own a couple violins that were built in the late  1800s that are not playable at this time.


Next week, get to know "David Burns"

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

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RP
Illinois

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October 26, 2011 - 12:44 am
Member Since: October 21, 2011
Forum Posts: 121
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Nice write up MGN. I particularly like how blunt you were about your two favorite things to do besides violin. fish

It's really nice you have a very musical family.

On "Cheap eBay violins" … Just tell people they are like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  With a little love, and some practice, they too can be made beautiful.

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Robyn.fnq
Queensland, Australia

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October 26, 2011 - 1:41 am
Member Since: July 8, 2011
Forum Posts: 587
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Good post MGN, thanks.

FM, is he allowed to say 'sex' as a favourite pastime?

roflol

If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
October 26, 2011 - 7:25 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

@ Robyn.fnq - Let's be happy he didn't go into details. roflol

And what the heck, Sam has spoken about it openly. rofl

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

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Oliver
NC

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October 26, 2011 - 9:27 am
Member Since: February 28, 2011
Forum Posts: 2439
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The only violin forum that can trip parental controls dancing ( and has a hearing aid company as a commercial sponsor!)

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Samuel L Boogie
Oxford England

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October 26, 2011 - 9:54 am
Member Since: September 27, 2011
Forum Posts: 195
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Fiddlerman said:

@ Robyn.fnq - Let's be happy he didn't go into details. roflol

And what the heck, Sam has spoken about it openly. rofl

It's all the things I am barely keeping in you need to be worrying about!

 

amuse

The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese!

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Mad_Wed
Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city
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October 26, 2011 - 4:14 pm
Member Since: October 7, 2011
Forum Posts: 2849
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Fiddlerman said:

@ Robyn.fnq - Let's be happy he didn't go into details. roflol

And what the heck, Sam has spoken about it openly. rofl

Hmm.. What's wrong with sex? MGN could lie and write some other favourite thing.. but he didn't - honest man!

 

Very nice to meet you, MGN!!! You were a talented  kid. That kind of kids always a trouble =) You're very lucky with your Grandpa! 

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Lost Fiddler
Dallas Texas

Honorary tenured advisor
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October 26, 2011 - 4:46 pm
Member Since: October 12, 2011
Forum Posts: 563
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Yes, MGN you are very lucky to have three favorite things you can still do!      

 O- yeh. thumbs-up

No matter where you go, there you are!

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Paul
Indiana

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October 26, 2011 - 6:24 pm
Member Since: May 30, 2011
Forum Posts: 157
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Great to meet you MGM, looks like music has been a part of your life from the start.

I think your other favorite things are in the same list as a lot of people.

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myguitarnow
Laguna Beach

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October 26, 2011 - 9:51 pm
Member Since: June 16, 2011
Forum Posts: 1094
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Thanks for the responses people. jimi-hendrix

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