Happy New Year to all! I’ll be continuing with my broader musical observations here for all subscribers, but just now I have a special invite for all who are learning or playing the fiddle or violin. (Also a special discount until Jan 12 for new paid subscribers, see below just above the subscribe button.)
First, a few observations:
Ultimately, you are always your own teacher. A good teacher guides you to improve the thing you need most at the time you’re ready for it.
You never get good, you just get better!
It’s not the minutes practicing that count most, but the mindfulness that goes into it.
Although the number of minutes may not be the big ticket to success, you do have to actually do play/practice! Knowing how to do something is never the same as doing it.
Practicing can be a loaded word for some. I often use the word “playing” instead, for many reasons, but it all boils down to engaging physically with your instrument and your curiosity.
Practicing with others, but with the freedom to do it your own way, can be the best of both worlds.
So let’s do something about it! Kick off your new year by gaining and firming up your musical skills. Fire up your musicality, ability, self confidence, and dig into a dream tune.
Starting January 12, I’ll be offering 7 Monday (lunchtime EST) online get-togethers, supported by online videos, sheets, notes & audio, all accessible now through March. The weekly live sessions will run from Jan 12 to Feb 23.
Although the full experience — live classes and all supporting materials — will be available to you over on my site at fiddle-online.com for US$75 (or the equivalent in your currency), I’ll also be making class videos available right here on Substack every week for paid subscribers, making the cost of trying it $5 and up.
If you’re not currently a paid subscriber, you may wish to take advantage of the 20% New Year’s discount, between now and Jan 12, at this link. All other subscription options are shown below if you click on the “Subscribe now” button. You can at any time sign up for the full experience at fiddle-online.com and starting using materials immediately. The site uses account “credits” for simplicity and convenience, but if you’re not a fiddle-online member yet, you can join and pay in currency by using this direct link.
What we’ll be doing
Although I have have lots of ideas and material to work with, I like to pivot at some point in each get-together to accommodate requests, suggestions, hopes & dreams of any who join us. This makes it more fun and helpful for everyone.
Each time, we’ll do some regular warmup games as well as new ones that can spark new ideas and fire up helpful muscle memories of fingers, wrists, arms, body.
We’ll address common patterns of movement for fingering and bowing, through technique games. (I say “games” because they’re brief, focused, and like any game, when you get comfortable with them, you get better, and starting “winning” on a regular basis.)
We’ll explore musicality phrase by phrase, with backup sheets and audio so you can learn some tunes, but we’ll mostly aim to develop awareness of timing, phrasing, and the techniques that support them.
Do you have a dream tune? In any style or level of difficulty? Why not start on it now? We can all benefit from digging into at least a key phrase of your dream tune so you can get started and keep working on it afterwards.
In general, we’ll have fun with the instrument, fit in some regular practice, and you’ll meet people from all over — a fiddle fam (at least for 7 weeks)!
If you limit yourself here to Substack, you will be able to use the class videos to practice along, spark new ideas, and tickle your muscle memory with useful games. Above all, you’ll have a reason to practice and get better at your own pace.
Remember: The more you play, the better you get. And the more mindfully you play, the faster you get better.
Join us!
Comments from fiddle-online
“I have enjoyed every fiddle-online.com class for the past nine years. The teaching is always clear and supportive and all my classmates have been very welcoming.” — Donald Paulson, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
“Though Zoom is not my favorite way to interact with people, the music workshops have been good for me. They give me new pieces to work on with Ed guiding us through the different styles of those pieces, which I would not get on my own. I also like meeting other people from around the country who are working along with me.” — Marianne P., Oregon
Comments from Substack
“Sight reading approach is the best I’ve found over the years!” – Kenneth L.
“In your text teaching (clearly written) I am beginning to know/learn how to pull all of this together. Thank you Ed for all the time you spend clarifying my fiddle.” – Dan G.
“The information is well-written and informative.” – Trevor S.
Hi! This will be great. I have a standing commitment already on Mondays. Will you have a recording available to subscribers?