Vi Wickam

Champion Fiddler, Inspired Performer

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Irish American Jig – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 202

Today, I didn’t have any specific tune in mind to play, so I went to Cole’s 1000 Fiddle Tunes, as I often do when I’m lacking tune inspiration. I played through a handful of tunes before coming to this one. It has a memorable melody, and I liked the fact that the B Part is […]

My Darling Nellie Gray – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 201

My Darling Nellie Gray is another tune that I first heard at the Gambler’s Draw contest at the American Heritage Music Festival in Grove, OK. As I recall, somebody else got out on the tune, and after the contest, I had Junior Marriott teach me the tune. He said that the first part is basically […]

Big John McNeil – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 197

The only thing I know about Big John McNeil is that it’s a popular Canadian fiddle tune. It’s a fun tune to play, not too difficult, but when you play it as fast as they do, just about anything can tie your fingers in a not. It also has some similarities with Durham’s Bull. I […]

Red Skinned Gal – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 162

Red Skinned Gal is a fun and swingy tune (at least the way I play it.) I originally learned the melody from Tony Ludiker, but there is some Orville Burns in my arrangement as well. Red Skinned Gal is a variation based on the tune “There’s a Brown Skinned Gal Down The Road Somewhere,” which […]

When Johnny Comes Marching Home – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 159

When I hear (or play) When Johnny Comes Marching Home, it totally transports me mentally to civil war times. I can hear the drummer and the marching, and I can Imagine a soldier coming home to his family who had been missing him, and wondering if he would ever return alive. It’s a sad melody […]

Lamplighter’s Hornpipe – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 155

I picked up Lamplighter’s Hornpipe out of Cole’s 1000 Fiddle tunes a while back when I was reading through some tunes. I think it’s fun to play and it has a catchy melody. It’s not especially difficult, but it’s playful and gives you some room to play around with it.     Lamplighter’s Hornpipe according […]

Sally Growler Hornpipe – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 143

Sally Growler is just plain hard to play. On it’s face, it doesn’t sound that tricky, but it sure feels that way to my fingers, especially the B part. Sally Growler is another hornpipe that I learned during my infamous week at Dale Morris‘ house. That week, he gave me a bunch of hornpipes to […]

Peekaboo Waltz – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 125

This morning, I had the opportunity to support KRFC – Fort Collins Public Radio by playing on the Air with Steve Eulberg (together we are known as Fiddle Whamdiddle). Since I had someone else to play with, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to play my fiddle tune a day. Steve suggested we play […]

Calgary Polka (Gaudet Polka) – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 122

The first time I heard Calgary Polka was on Mark O’Connor’s album Soppin’ the Gravy, which I TOTALLY wore out when I was a teen. And, I started working on it when I heard Hanneke Cassel playing it in the warm up room (cafeteria) one of the first times I wen to Weiser. I remember […]