Hi,

I'm a 35 year old adult returner to violin and fiddle having not played pretty much since leaving school.
I picked up the violin 5 weeks ago and already I can play much better than previously (but that isn't saying much) , most likely due to having played other instruments in the meantime and the fact that my ear has improved and I'm much more self-critical.

I've set myself the goal of taking my Grade 8 before my 41st birthday.
I wasn't able to take exams while I played at school due to lack of opportunity and consistent tuition but now I'm extremely determined.

I have lessons with two teachers, one learning classical violin and studying toward ABRSM examinations and the other learning fiddle, particularly the English fiddle style and repertoire.
I hope to teach fiddle in the future but certainly want a solid classical foundation too.

So that's me.

Hello and welcome to the forums! Have a good look around and make yourself at home.

As well as the Adult Learners' board, you may find the Viva Strings board of use, for talking more detailed technical stuff.

I started the violin from the "never ever touched one" stage a couple of years ago, and am thoroughly enjoying it

Cheers

Katyjay

to the forum. I think you'll find this forum really supportive. I know I have.

I noticed you've asked for advice on Forum concerts in a couple of threads - Click here for the 2008 Events Calendar and here for general information about the different types of forum events.

I play the violin/fiddle as well (although with fiddle I concentrate more on trad. Scottish than English), and I'm sure you'll find something to interest you in Viva Strings, as well as around other parts of the forum.

Oh, and I really like your username!

Thanks,

I certainly hope I'll be able to get to most East Midlands events next year. I'm about to buy a new violin at the end of this month so money for days out will be somewhat tight between now and Christmas.
I love the wide range of these forums and the atmosphere seems good.

Thanks again for the warm welcome everyone.

Ms.

ello ello ello. to the forums!

Hello Ms.Fiddle!

Welcome to the forums, I'm sure you'll get a lot out of them

I'm in Leeds and I generally try to get down to most of the Market Harborough playdays so I'm sure we'll meet up at some stage. As well as Market Harborough, do try to come and play at the forum users concert in Leeds on 31 May next year - there are pix of us all at this year's concert in the second link that Miss Ross gave you

Getting a new violin sounds exciting!

Hello, Ms Fiddle! Welcome to the forum!

Hello Neighbour!!! (I live near Matlock and work in Derby)

I picked up the violin from scratch when I was 44!! Making steady progress...I need to practice more.

Welcome!

Welcome to the forums, fellow fiddler!

As a bit of advice, don't be too parochial about learning classical style - beyond where the notes are and a rough similarity of bow hold, the styles are different and you may find yourself (as I did) having to unlearn some of the classical stuff if you want to really play fiddle well with the right sound, feel, ornamentation and articulation (a classical violin hold will hamper your chances of really playing fiddle music authentically and well, for example).

If fiddle is what you really want to play - just take fiddle lessons! If it's classical you want to play, don't bother with the fiddle lessons, just learn the tunes from sites such as www.thesession.org and content yourself with that (knowing that by just playing the dots, and playing in a classical style, you won't really be fiddling).

Check out Youtube:

Here's an example of someone with a classical approach, playing a reel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w65438PCGM (it's a perfect example of how not to do things - possibly the worst version of this tune I've ever heard)

Here's an example of how you should do it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-cmK0WXPAw...ted&search=

Or anything that is played by Liz Carroll (blessed Saint Liz of the burning fiddle, as I call her).

Anyhoo, welcome and enjoy!

Allan

Ahhh you haven't heard me though... I could be the worst.

But she has a lovely smile

Thanks for posting those two links, it was great to compare. Reminds of the dear Yehudi Menuhin trying to play jazz with Grappelli. Wonderful as he was he just didn't really get it.

Aye, true enough - I've heard a fair few excellent classical violinists totally miss the point of traditional music (sometimes, just sometimes, it's because they get the 'sheetmusic' to this oral tradition and think it's easy 'cos there's not many notes and it doesn't frequently change position...)

That said, I've heard a fair few fiddlers attempt classical music and that wasn't pretty either... I think you have to, at some point, choose your camp and stick to it. I can't think of one single fiddler (with the exception of Apap, maybe, but even his Irish stuff sounds copied off a CD) who plays convincingly in both camps. I suppose that's why we say 'cross-over artist' and not 'plays-both-reall-well artist'!

Still, I'd pay money to hear your beloved Maxim knock out a jig - fifty quid says he'd prove me wrong with three days of instruction!

EDIT - if you are interested in hearing some REALLY top class fiddling, I can't recommend Liz Carroll enough. What she can't do with her fiddle held round the front, a pancake left hand, her bow help above the wire lapping and a really high elbow - is nobody's business! Vibrato, shifts etc on slow airs, and if you listen to her jigs and reels - well, just make sure you've got room to dance!

That WOULD be interesting

As I said earlier in the thread I indeed do have two teachers, one for studying toward my Grade exams and the other to learn fiddle technique, repertoire, improvization etc.
I'd like to teach in the future and so a foundation in 'straight' playing and a decent technique will be useful.
My fiddle teacher does a similar thing, she teaches fiddle but also takes classical pupils up to approx, grade 5, she also specializes in English fiddle style which is also where my heart lies.

Eliza Carthy is one of my favourite English fiddlers, not the most technically brilliant player but great nonetheless and she has a great singing voice (hardly surprizing given her parentage).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vBp5-Zd5W4...=Eliza%20Carthy

My teacher is glad when people want to learn English fiddle, so many people want to learn Irish or Scots but I'm English so it seems right, letc have some musical honesty and integrity.

I have to admit I much prefer Scottish and Shetland fiddle over Irish and day of the month.

Fair enough, then!

I agree about Scots fiddle, but where I live there are only Irish sessions so I have to play Irish stuff (although I play it with a decidedly Scots flavour!) I also play English fiddle - well, at least, Northumbrian fiddle. All of my family come from there. Because of Sarah Flute - the evil instrument virus spreader who you will come to love and fear like the rest of us, I'm also learning the northumbrian smallpipes.

Anyhow, weclome again and feel free just to jump in on any thread.

Allan

I'm not totally anti-Irish, I have been known to imbibe the odd pint (or 5) of Guinness.





Northumbrian smallpipes are a lovely instrument, to listen to anyway. How are they to play? They're expensive too aren't they?

Ah yes, I drink a small guinness or two *cough* when playing in sessions.

The smallpipes are gorgeous, I agree - but they're a devil to play! The tiniest pressure fluctuation and the note can go up or down as much as a semitone... and getting the drones in tune is really hard because I'm tuning the G drone, but actually listening for an F, which is in reality about 20 cents sharp of F, but my ear refuses to believe that such a note is in tune, so I end up tuning the drone to F, then the fifth to C so the fifth rings clear and then I play the chanter and realise the whole thing is out of tune with the drones AARRRRGH!

It's going to be difficult to get used to playing slightly sharp on purpose... still, the sound will be worth it when I can play a tune (perhaps in a hundred years or so?)

I KNEW I'd get blamed for this - I'd like to say that I didn't even know Allan was buying his pipes untill he already had!!!

(Though I make no claims to innocence in tempting people to play too many instruments... )

Do you like tea?

Yes, especially Earl Grey, Assam and Darjeeling.

Oh dear, we've only got PG tips I'm afraid.

In that case, milk, no sugar thanks.

I'm sorry but protocol does not allow the drinking of tea in here. Please pop next door to the CISD thread. The mods get worried about tea stains on the carpet in here.