jason kleinberg

Good goals & incentives. Makes me feel like I can do this

Thank-you for reminding me, time to reflect and look towards next year! Since I started Feb. 7, ’22, I’ve only missed 2 days of practice, so I will also _aim to Play Every Day in 2024_ 🙂 My _2nd goal is to Practice Wisely_. In 2023, I tried to incorporate some Brainjo Principles into my practice, mainly that of “work” for ~ 30 min and then allow your brain to catch-up for ~4 hrs (so 3 mini sessions per day). I like to practice 1 – 2 hrs per day total, but for me, this seems to work better in 2 sessions of an hour-ish, so I’m going to work along those lines. For me, practice is some combo of Scales, Scales, Scales, Bowing, Bowing, Bowing (right hand rhythm development), finger independence exercises, playing 2 notes at the same time exercise, learning new techniques, reviewing songs that I know (this is fun time to me, especially with waltzes). I’m continuing to work towards playing at faster tempos (using an Atomic Habits approach). In 2024, I really need to work at learning by ear (I’m able to do this in your workshops because your pace suits me, but I need to do it quicker during jams). I will improve this area by committing to learning 1 song per week by ear. Happy New Year to you and your family Jason (thank-you for all that you do for us), and Happy New Year to all of you FiddleHeds 🙂🎻

Hi Jason, hope you had a great Christmas, I have had two cataracts removed from my eyes and as a result haven’t played any Fiddle for last few months, I have been depressed but I wil get back into it,as I always enjoy it once I start

I never had trouble reading Music,but my bloody mood got in my way, sorry for boring you with this but any tips for getting back to playing,

Thanks Hannah

I like this a lot – a LOT! My fiddle’s with a local luthier getting a new bridge, but I should get it back tomorrow (knock on wood), and I can’t wait to start using this approach!

Thank you!!!!!

Excited to get my new violin delivered from Fiddleshop.

Gonna. Be. Epic.

Sue

Now this makes since to me gonna try it out I am working on silent night and other holiday songs this year then find a small audience to play for and see what they think maybe lol Jeff

My first fiddle teacher, Del Bassett, recently passed at the golden age of 90. I am so grateful to have had him as a teacher and a friend. He taught me much about “Faith, Family, and Fiddle” in that order.
Grateful for my wife Ann, two fabulous stepdaughters, Caitlin and Kyah, and two “fabulouser” granddaughters, Amelia, and Eleanor.
Just turned 70 myself, and besides the aches and pains of arthritis in my hips, fingers, and shoulders, I am in good health.
Grateful for the knowledge of Jason. Learning so much more!

I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place – the Pacific Northwest. Grateful to have raised two healthy children with a loving partner. Grateful to have found the Fiddlehed community and to be having such fun learning music. Thank you everyone for sharing!

Grateful for my health today and that despite many joint issues, I can still play fiddle and participate in Fiddlehed, Strung Alongs and with some friend musicians. Grateful for my kids and grandkids and that I can travel to visit them. I love the State and National parks here in Virginia, where I love to wander and I’m grateful for that. Grateful that a puppy may soon be in my future.

Hi Jason!
I am grateful for Fiddlehed, and all babies, including your beautiful daughter and my 1 year old granddaughter Johanna, who brings such joy into her every day! I am grateful for my dog, who gets me out in nature every day, and shares his playfulness and joy with me. I live near the ocean, so I am grateful for the two beaches near me, and also for meditation, family, and musical friends, and of course – so grateful for music!
Re: your back – my physio told me to set my alarm for every hour to get up and move – stretch, touch your toes (knees bent), do some yoga. And thanks, Vicki – I will be checking out those “Jen Hilman lower back” videos too!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Everyday there is so much to be thankful for, I love your “categories”–
Family, all the love even with the challenges
Health–my fingers mostly still work! Grateful for my Jeanne doctor
Music–my medicine for living
Teachers–yes, Thich Naht Hahn taught me how to breathe
Mr. Graubard taught me how to learn
My children taught me about myself
My bees taught me how to move slow
My students have brought me joy
Friends–where would I be without them?
Water, Sun, Clean air
Thank you, Jason!

I’m grateful for my husband of 14 1/2 years and that he’s willing to be get involved with my music. I’m grateful for my church and church family. I’m grateful for where I live in the beautiful PNW and my warm cozy home. I’m also grateful for Fiddlehed and how I’ve improved since getting involved. 😌

Counting our blessings every day, it is even important as playing every day.
I am grateful that I have the chance to help people in my job as a pharmacist
But even more when I can recharge by playing music
and that I can enjoy the fun lessons of Fiddlehed.
And there are still many small and big things that I am grateful for
Sometimes we just forget how lucky we are
Grateful to take some time to think about it again
So big thanks!!
( also to google translate 😉 )

Right up there on a list too long to share are my strung along fiddle friends and the fiddlehed community!

Hey Jason. I am thankful for this great season in my life. My home, marriage, kids, and finally having time for my music. This includes how much I am learning from Fiddlehed!!! I am an intermediate player but have been going through the beginner lessons to pick up things I missed before. So amazingly helpful!
I have joined some jam sessions with my mandolin and working up to bringing my fiddle. Just about ready for that.
Thankful!

HI Jas’n, so happy to see your lovely family and glad that your sweet Veda is doing so well. Your kindness and sharing of the fiddle has always been appreciated, you are the best, bar none, teacher of this music. I signed up last May, and summer was a rush, so I wanted to practice but put it aside for just a “bit”. I am so grateful that you are helping all of us learn to understand and play the fiddle. And I am grateful for the joy that I feel when I practice. Also I am forever grateful for my loving and supportive hubby, for our darling SpoilerKat, for enjoying this most wonderful life .. sunshine, greenhouse, growing plants, walking in the sun, Plus, grateful that I am going to plant more garlic in the greenhouse before the frost arrives.

Cool!

Love the bluesy Swallowtail! Great ideas, Jason! Thanks!

Love it! and happy that my log in all sorted, thanks

Absolutely stellar advice for learning songs/tunes, especially for those that the fiddle may be their first foray into music/a musical instrument. Also a great reminder to all of us old timers who tend to forget this when learning a tune. Rome was NOT built in a day, folks!

I think the “Play Slowly” is suitable for framing, for its message and its style! 🙂👍

I needed to hear this today. Yesterday,’s practice was clear evidence that I need to slow down.
Mary

I am learning to play every tune as a ballad. Great reminder and offered structure will be very handy. Sometimes, I like fast tunes better when they are slow. It’s fun try the different tempo and slow it right down — and for beginner me, often sounds better.

Yes, my mind wanders all over. I had a teacher say that sometimes we practice with other music on or the tv on and that has something to do with the mind wanting multiple inputs. Yet to make fast progress it is best to be totally present and mindful of what we are working on. Like doing homework with the tv on takes 3 times as long to do as when you shut everything off and just get it done.

I deal with this sometimes….. The thing is, life ebbs and flows. When things are flowing with usually-but-not-always good stuff – my business, my grandkids, holidays, health issues, a new dog, travel, a personal problem popping up…. all this stuff can fill up a day so much that carving out time to read a book or practice the fiddle can just add pressure to a day blasting by too fast.

That is when I begin to feel a touch of …. guilt – trying to squeeze in the fiddle and in particular learn something new. I find I really need “play days”, where I am not trying to improve at all, just playing with the instrument, pulling back into the joy of just messing around, without the pressure of learning a skill or a specific amount of time.

For some reason my go to tune is Whiskey Before Breakfast! I only ever play it when I’m struggling! That leads to Over The Waterfall and then I’m back & into my playing. On tired days I love to play soothing tunes; Midnight on the Water, Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Dawning of the day, Lovers Waltz.