Fiddle Studio

We're talking about tapes on the fiddle, or stickers, or fingerboard stick on charts, or whatever you're curious about. Did you use tapes when you started? What are they useful for and how long does it make sense to use them? Our tune is Broken Down Gambler , an Old-Time reel in G. Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on Amazon ! It ha...

When I talk about articulation I'm referring to the beginning of the note, or the attack, and how long the note is generally. Articulation, or catching the string, or getting a "scrubby" sound, has a huge effect on your sound. Our tune is Dusty Miller , an Old-Time modal reel in A. Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on Amazon !...

Have you wondered what it's like to compete in a fiddle competition? So have I. So I signed up for one and we'll see how it goes. I talk a little about how I'm planning to prepare. Our tune for this week is Old Billy Hell , a half length crooked Old-Time tune.  Our album release party contra dance will be May 30th at 7pm in Baltimore at the Mobtown Ballroom. Come on down! Thanks for...

A repeat this week, as my family is on spring break. This very early episode has been pretty popular, and has a lovely slip jig for the Irish fiddlers. It's never a bad time to break out the old metronome. I'll be back with Old-Time tunes for you next week! -Meg This episode features the fiddle tune House of My Own and describes working with the metronome and how it could help your fiddl...

This week we have an interview with Tricia Spencer! Tricia is a well known, award winning Kansas fiddler who grew up on her family’s farm learning the tradition of old-time fiddling knee to knee from her grandpa and grandma, Vernon and Iona Spencer. Tricia takes us on a deep dive into Kansas and midwest fiddling, how she thinks about the left hand and the fingerboard, and a primer for finding your...

Have you ever been uncomfortable saying the name of a fiddle tune? How about tunes with slurs in the title or the Irish tune I Buried My Wife and Danced on her Grave ? Without using racial slurs, I discuss problematic fiddle tune names, how I think about them and approach them. Find the Contranella album here: https://megwobus.bandcamp.com/album/contranella Our tune is Magpie's Nest , an Iris...

This week we talk about where the fiddle neck meets the hand. Different ways to grip the neck of the fiddle and how it can change- even while you're in the middle of playing! Our tune is Madam if You Please from a jam at the ArtHouse Bar.  Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on Amazon ! It has over 30 easy beginner fiddle tunes with sheet...

Hear all about playing and performing on the 5 string fiddle with a bonus question from last week with Jenna Moynihan. Hear about Jenna's fiddle and how she uses it! Jenna's Interview: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2040333/14620847 John Blessing's Delight is an Irish jig in G major. Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on Amazon ! It...

An interview with Jenna Moynihan, a fiddler and an extraordinary member of the Boston music community. Jenna performs with harpist Mairi Chaimbeul, the Seamus Egan Project, the Hanneke Cassel Band, and has appeared as a soloist at Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops. In addition to touring, recording and teaching at fiddle camps, Jenna is also an Assistant Professor in the String Department at Berk...

Let's talk about the different kinds of fiddling you find around the US and Canada. I share what I know about the genres more closely related to dancing and dance music, and a little about fiddling along with songs. Our tune for today is a version of Billy in the Lowground in the key of A, played in either Calico (AEAC#) or Cross A (AEAE) tuning. I use cross A. Thanks for listening! My Fiddle...

What?! Stop playing the fiddle? Why would I ever do a podcast on that topic, and who am I to tell anyone what they should do or not do? Our tune for today is Chinquapin Hunting, a three part tune in A, played in cross A tuning. (I originally put the wrong tune up- even I can't keep these Old-Time tunes straight- but it should be Chinquapin Hunting now!) Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio...

Listen in to hear how you can supercharge your practicing, or at least give it a refresh. This is the last podcast devoted to a topic from my new course How to Play Faster , which is available now on Fiddle Studio ! A quick addendum to the description of mindful practice: I somehow blanked on the best use of slow, mindful practice: improving your tuning! Our tune for today is Old Granny Rattle Tra...

Janie Rothfield is a powerhouse Old-Time fiddler and banjo player who performs and  teaches at camps and weekends all over the country and the world! Janie shares what she thinks is important for fiddlers to learn and work on. Is it the fingering or the bowing? Hear all about Janie's Jumpstart camps and about her current projects. The tune today is Waiting for Sandy  from Janie's album O...

Any time you mess with the left hand technique it's going to interfere with your playing. With this in mind how are some ways you can work on unlocking your hand gradually, or consider what's it like to drop everything and completely relearn the left hand. I made a mistake with the tune. I call it Fred Finn's in the podcast. That is a different reel. This reel is Fred Finn's #2...

Slow practice and rhythms are two different ways to practice and make your playing faster. But how does slowing down help? And how is that different from practicing with rhythmic variations? Our tune for today is Ne'er Shall I Wean Her, a jig from a session at the ArtHouse bar in Baltimore, Maryland.  Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on...

How to create speed by taking the thinking out of the left hand. My current favorite exercise for beginning and intermediate players. The tune for today is Tommy Mulhaire's , a jig by Tommy Mulhaire (or maybe by Martin his son).  Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on Amazon ! It has over 30 easy beginner fiddle tunes with sheet music, tab...

When I play out in the community and see folks who are still learning to play the fiddle, what is the biggest mistake I see them doing? Listen and find out! The tune today is The Birds , from a session with Brendan Hearn, Connor Hearn, and Dan Isaacson at the ArtHouse in Baltimore.  Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for the Complete Beginner is FREE on Amazon ! It has over 30...

An interview with fiddler and clawhammer banjo player Brad Kolodner. We talk a lot about the banjo, but Brad does more than just banjo. Topics include growing up as the children of folk musicians, the commercialization of Old-Time music, and the lack of women on bills at Old-Time Festivals. Hear all about Brad's upcoming projects, links below. Features the tune Stony Run by Brad Kolodner from...

FIRST AIRED ON JANUARY 10th 2023 (BEST OF) Let's talk about how to improve your tuning on the fiddle. If you're struggling with this, you're not alone! We'll explore three key elements in tuning your hand on the fiddle; where your hand is on the fingerboard, finger spacing and placement, and the art of micro-adjustments. This episode presents a setting of The Kilmovee from a se...

What is it that makes fiddling sound like dance music? Why does it sound so different when you hear a classical violinist play a fiddle tune, what's missing? We're talking about the variety of accents, volume, and quality of tone within the running notes of a fiddle tune. It's what makes the music sound like fiddling! We present a setting of the French Canadian fiddle tune La Moquin...

How does jamming help with your fiddle playing and how does practicing help your fiddle playing. We dive into this topic, exploring how each can help you improve on the fiddle and when one might be a little more useful to meet a specific playing goal. Our tune this week is called Sleeping on the Floor , from the French Canadian song Ma Pallaissse by La Bolduc. UPDATE: I discovered Mary Bolduc&apos...

This week we hear from New England fiddler Lissa Schneckenburger. Lissa  has been performing and recording New England fiddle and folk music for the past 20 years. Her fiddling is one of a kind, intensely danceable, with virtuosic technique and fluidity. She shares what it was like to fiddle as a kid, traveling to fiddle contests in Maine, her experiences studying music at the New England Conserva...

The bow hair can be flat. The bow can tilt away from you. The bow can tilt towards you. How does tilting the bow affect your tone and why and how do different players in different genres use this technique? The tune today is Half Past Four , a tune played by blind fiddler Ed Haley from West Virginia. This setting is from the Baltimore Old-Time Jam. Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fi...

Harmonies are a great addition to fiddle tunes, in most cases, and with some exceptions and guidelines. Get the lowdown on when it's appropriate and welcome to harmonize, a little about why you might not want to harmonize in an Irish Jam, and how to get started learning and creating your own harmonies. Our tune is a setting of Boys Them Buzzards are Flying by Gary Harrison from the Baltimore...

Does playing faster make it better? As a fiddle teacher, I've got a lot to say about this. It's pretty common for intermediate students to play faster just because they can, but I'm here to suggest a better way. Our tune is a setting of Gilsaw , a tune collected from Pete McMahon as played at the Baltimore Old Time Jam.  Thanks for listening! My Fiddle Studio Book 1: Fiddling for th...