Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
(8 votes) 
Member
Offline
Hi, everyone. My nickname is Altivo but I'm also known as "Gary Lee" in many circles. My middle name is appended there in order to distinguish me from my husband and partner over the last 41 years, who is also named "Gary."
I have been an active amateur musician for a very long time now. My mother sat with me at an upright piano when I was about three years old and began to show me how the notes on a page corresponded to the keys on the keyboard. A few years later I was taking regular lessons, and when the public schools I attended considered me old enough for a music class I was into the band room right away. I think that was about fifth grade, age ten. They asked what instrument I wanted to play, and I said "flute." There was no string orchestra in my school, so winds and percussion were the only choices. The teacher warned me that I would likely take some flack for picking a "girls' instrument" but he played the flute himself so I persisted. And he was right, of course. This was around 1960, and choice of instrument was a gender issue for some.
Despite that, I came to love the flute as much as I loved the piano. I still wanted to play violin, but it took many years before I had a chance. In the meantime I was exposed to and captured by plucked strings (guitar and lap dulcimer) and the marvelous pipe organ as well as its electronic imitators. I have always wanted a chance to play on a large theatrical pipe organ, but never had that opportunity.
Some 70 years have passed since my mother sat at that piano with me. I'm still playing the flute and have added the alto flute in G (marvelous sound) as well as the piccolo from the marching band in high school and the recorders and other wooden flutes. I play an electronic organ as well as piano, and have dabbled with the piano accordion as well. In more recent years, I added the four string tenor banjo and a baritone ukulele to my regular toys.
Gary and I play these days with ThingamaJig, a quartet based in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. We play at the farmers' market in Woodstock, and various other individual events as opportunity arises. Irish dance tunes, old standards and folk songs, and some jazz and blues make up our repertoire. Vocals are also included.
With respect to the violin/fiddle, I do have one and have taken lessons on it at the Old Town School when Gary and I lived in Chicago. I still would like to add it to the instruments I use in ThingamaJig, and that's why I'm here to pick up ideas and tips.
If you'd like to see and hear ThingamaJig, you can find us on YouTube. Do a search for "ThingamaJig off square" and you can find a full performance from the farmers' market back in 2022. I'm the guy with the banjo and the metal flutes. Neal does vocals and guitar, Carol plays whistles and a wooden flute, and my husband Gary plays hammered dulcimer and concertina.
Online
Thank you for that wonderful introduction. I am sure you will get a lot of terrific help on anything you need on violin/fiddle. There is a learning section for questions, a Critique corner for help with playing, a breakroom for music related discussion and questions you are not sure where to put, and the Off-Topic for non-music, plus many other rooms.
Don't forget theTOP MENU BAR. Fiddlerman has all kinds of lessons, videos, sheet music, etc.
Welcome to the forum.
🐭
The Bumblebee Flies!
Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.
Regulars
Offline
Altivo
Welcome to the forum
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
Regulars
Offline
@Altivo -
Welcome to the Forum - Great Bio!
I don't understand why anyone would make fun of you taking up the flute - historically, what could be more patriotic than drum/fife & flag on the battlefields? Bet kids thought differently once Ian Anderson became famous!
You've got such fabulous experience, I'm envious! For the violin - it's going to be focus on the bow 'hold' and bow use, lot's of help/support here.
LOVE you have a broad repertoire, will check out your Quartet & I'm looking forward to hearing more about your musical quest!
- Emily
Regulars
Offline
hi @Altivo and welcome. Ive always thought it would be neat to visit old town school. thats cool youve attended there! ive subscribed and liked your channel btw! thanks for the info on it. yall are good!
Regulars
Offline
@Altivo Welcome to the Forum! It's great that you want to add fiddle to your already accomplished musical skills. 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
Member
Offline
Thanks for the big welcome, folks. This is an overloaded week and I only got to see the replies now (Monday evening.)
Suddenly we have a winter storm warning featuring up to a foot of snow in the next 24 hours. My truck is only front wheel drive, may not be going much of anywhere for a few days. Time for practice and polishing a couple of arrangements, but only between shoveling sessions and taking care of the farm pets. Also I have sewing projects to catch up on.
Fortunately the pantry and freezer are pretty full and we have a cord and a half of wood for the stove if the power goes out.
I really appreciate the warm welcome and will be sticking around for sure. 🎠
Member
Offline
Response to Emily:
By the time Ian Andersen/Jethro Tull was on the scene those kids were all far away and forgotten, As far as some of my other faves, like Jean Pierre Rampal and James Galway, they wouldn't even have noticed them. I do like Ian Andersen but though I can emulate many of his musical tricks I could never dance around a stage the way he can.
Speaking of heroes and role models, on the violin I follow and really like Mark O'Connor, Jay Ungar, Natalie McMaster, and the late Peter Ostroushko. Liz Carroll is Chicago local and attached in part to the Old Town School, but my teacher there was Charlie Brown.
Member
Offline
I failed to add this to my intro above. I did not study music in college. I went to Michigan State with the intention of becoming a veterinarian. Two things helped break down that plan. One was an advisor who wouldn't let me explore outside that major field. I was getting A grades in pre-vet required classes, and wanted to add electives in philosophy, literature, and languages. He wouldn't approve that. Then I worked for a summer with a local vet who hated dogs. He was a cat lover, but treated the dogs badly when their owners couldn't see him. I switched to liberal arts and studied what I liked. Got my BA and went to work in the university library while I took advantage of my staff discount to take graduate level classes in English lit. Moved to Chicago on a job offer from DePaul University Law Library, and then moved on to a job at Time-Life. Eventually I ended up at Notis Systems, a producer of library computer software. Notis paid for my classes at Rosary College (now Dominican University) and I completed my masters in Library Science. After several academic library jobs, I finished my librarian career when I retired from the public library in Harvard, Illinois. I think I was much better off, if not as well paid, when working as a librarian.
My brothers were both musicians as well. The elder one, Loren, never pursued music as a career. But my younger brother, Larry, got his degree and teaching certificate from Michigan State and sought a career as a music teacher. Jobs were scarce and he ended up as a career officer in the Navy instead. He did get to noodle some with a military band, but it was never his main job.
"The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley," as Robert Burns told us.
Regulars
Offline
@Altivo -
Got a chance to watch your ThingamaJig 'off square' video - LOVED IT!
...I miss going out to Chicago for the SOFA exhibitions at Navy Pier. My parents hoped I'd go to Michigan State to be a Vet. (lol)
Peter & Liz both make some incredibly interesting music! Played Peter Ostroushko's "Lumberjack's Waltz" the other night (have to keep some tunes fresh) - have a few others I started learning of his & should get back to them. Love & have played music from the other names you mention. Caught Jay Ungar/Molly Mason at Fiddle Hell workshops (only online, unfortunately).
Hope you send some snow my way! I've been pretty upset - think Kansas has gotten snow & Michigan hasn't! ...keeping Xmas lights up until I see some stay on the ground. 😁
- Emily
Member
Offline
Brother Larry is in Traverse City and says they expect snow. Snowed most of last night here but thermometer was above freezing when I got up at 5:30 so no new accumulation. Less than an inch on the ground with grass sticking up through it. Forecasters calling for heavy wet snow but all we are seeing is flurries and it melts when it settles on anything. My horse has his blanket on but no white stuff on it.
I wish more of Peter Ostroushko's compositions were available in printed form, but I haven't found much. I'm working on a transcription of his East Texas Waltz now. ThingamaJig does Ungar's West Texas Waltz already and we need the other side.
1 Guest(s)
Mouse
ELCBK
