Appalachian fiddle

Fiddling with life and learning with the occasional dad joke thrown in…

 

 

Playing Fiddle Backup On Girls Just Want To Have Fun

In this video I sing and play fiddle backup for Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. After I play it, I’ll talk about what we did…kind of a video “liner notes.” Chords Verse F / Dm / Bb Dm / C / Bb Dm / C / F Chorus F / Dm F … Continued

How To Play Fiddle On “Your Song”

In this video I sing “Your Song” by Elton John and play backup on the fiddle. Then after the performance I explain what I did. I’ve been learning to sing songs and play backup on the fiddle. Here are some tips I’ve picked up: Practice just singing Just like learning a fiddle tune, I’ve been … Continued

Musical Conversation

  You can approach music practice and creation as a conversation. In the conversation, you continuously alternate between areas of practice. Musical conversation generates insight. It helps you to break through obstacles and it makes daily practice fun. Call-and-response is a simple form of conversation. You hear something and then play it back. You can … Continued

Fiddling With A Growth Mindset

What connections can you make between fiddling and the rest of your daily activity? Asking a question like this is the activity of a growth mindset. A fixed mindset is a belief that your abilities are permanently fixed. A fixed mindset says, “I am what I am, and I’ll never change”. A growth mindset is a … Continued

Music is a fun way to upgrade your mind

Why do we play music? For most of the answer is, “I do it for fun and enjoyment.” Here’s another reason people start playing an instrument: they want to upgrade their thinking. How does learning music upgrade your thinking? Here are some cognitive processes that improve as you learn and practice an instrument. Focus Memory … Continued

Ask Questions As You Practice

  Ask questions as you practice. Don’t worry about the answer. The question brings awareness to what you’re doing. Ask questions before, during and after a practice session Asking questions before a session will prepare you, helping you to focus. Asking questions during a session will keep you engaged with the practice. Asking questions after … Continued

How To Build Your Fiddle Skills

You can steadily learn and improve any skill if you move your skills through a series of stages: Can’t do yet Can do with effort Can do with flow   In this lesson, I’m going to give you a method for doing that. It’s based on a framework Kathy Sierra teaches this in her book … Continued

Is it harder to bow on certain strings?

It’s easier to bow on the D and A strings for most beginners. Why are the G and E strings harder? The E is challenging because it’s temperamental. It tends to sound screechy. It requires a lighter touch. Also, if you’re sitting down, it can be awkward. The right arm might be hitting the right leg. G string … Continued

4 Tips To Improve Your Bowing Precision

Are your string crossings sloppy? Do you unintentionally hit other strings as you play? Are the fingered notes a bit mushy? If so, you’re not alone. These are common bowing pitfalls. In this lesson I’ll give you strategies to practice precision. This will also help you with fingering precision. 👌🏼 4 tips to improve your bowing precision. … Continued

6 Ways To Get A Better Sound With The Bow

Do you struggle with getting a good sound on the fiddle? Are you unsure of how much pressure to use? Do you want a smoother bow sound? If so, take heart. You’re not the only one. In this lesson I’ll show you some ways to improve your sound on a daily basis. If you do this, … Continued