Hi, I'm Lisa. I'm 44 and have been playing violin since third grade. I think I was 9 then? That being said, there are several years in between that I didn't pick up my violin. I took lessons in/through elementary and jr high school, but by the time I was in high school my parents wouldn't allow me (didn't want to pay for) lessons. I played sometimes, but it only annoyed other people in the house, so it wasn't usually a pleasant time.  I was often frustrated because I wanted to play well, but never seemed to be able to. It took me a number of years to realize that I never actually learned how to read music and what I was doing was playing by ear.  When I was in my 20's, I needed some extra cash and decided to try giving lessons to kids. That's when I realized that I really didn't know music.  lol. I started teaching myself, but it was before the age of the internet. Since I'm mostly a visual learner, I could have really benefited from the internet to learn. So, what I do know is very basic. I love to play, but I have always wished I could learn from someone who could play well and I could watch. I've only ever played in first position (except on the E string's higher notes) and I have been trying to figure out how to know when to play in the other positions. That's how I found Fiddlerman just today. I have watched about half of the videos already, but since it's one in the morning now, I'll have to save the rest for later. Needless to say, I'm really excited to find you all!

A couple of years ago, a few people at my church asked me to teach them how to play. I told them I could only get them started, but my class grew and I now have six kids and four adults in my classes. I'm still not sure how that happened. Then, at the end of this summer, I was asked to join the churches orchestra for the Christmas music. Mind you that it's now only an "orchestra" because I joined. Yes, I'm the only string. And, evidently, they were expecting someone who could play like the Fiddlerman and not how poorly I play. However, I have been playing and practicing like crazy and I'm determined to do a good job. Which is what brought me to searching google today looking for videos on how to play properly and not how I learned with all my errors still firmly in tack.

Anyway, I'm a Stay-at-home-Mom of three kids who are now 18, 15, and 11. I've been Homeschooling them for the last 12 years... mostly because my husband is active duty in the Air Force and our schooling has been only the one 'constant' in their lives. We have moved into 19 different homes in the first 18 years of our marriage. He's been in the AF for 17 years. My husband and I are happily married for the last 22 years... well, okay, there was a year or two in there that we weren't all that happy with each other but we're over it.

So, I'm hoping to learn a lot from you all and most especially to quickly learn something to help me before Christmas . I'm looking forward to "meeting" you in the forum here.