I had a great time at Weiser. I jammed until the wee hours. I had some great hangs with my fiddle family. I placed in a few contests (3rd in Swing Fiddle, 4th in Twin Fiddle with Doug Fleener, and 1st in Air Fiddle accompanied by Katrina Nickolayeff on real fiddle). And, I made some […]
Weiser Workshop – Essential Improvisation
I’m really looking forward to teaching workshops again at the National Old Time Fiddler’s Contest again this year. On Thursday, I will be teaching Essential Improvisation. We will cover how to improvise as a fiddler. This workshop covers how to go from playing the melody to really making a tune your own. Core material is at […]
Weiser Workshop – Twin Fiddling
Making music is more fun when you are doing it with a friend. Twin fiddling is a fun and important part of the fiddling tradition. This workshop will teach the participants the basics of twin fiddling – how to harmonize, and how to play lead when someone is harmonizing with you. It will also cover […]
Festival Survival Tip
Hi I’m Vi Wickam, and this another myTalentForge.com Quick Tip of the Week! Now, you may be thinking, “I’m fine! I drink plenty of fluids. I drink like 3 glasses of soda a day!” I’m here to tell you that your body will function better when you have more water and you are more hydrated. […]
Double the Harmonies by Yourself
Hi I’m Vi Wickam and this is another myTalentForge Quick Tip of the Week! This one is always fun for me. It’s playing harmonies above and below the melody. Now, this is a trick I learned from Paul Anastasio is a great swing fiddler – he’s also an expert ethnomusicologist. He studied with Joe […]
Weiser Workshop – Twin Fiddling
Making music is more fun when you are doing it with a friend. Twin fiddling is a fun and important part of the fiddling tradition. This workshop will teach the participants the basics of twin fiddling – how to harmonize, and how to play lead when someone is harmonizing with you. It will also cover […]
Weiser Workshop – Practical Music Theory
The Magic behind the Music. This workshop covers the basics of music theory, and how you can apply them to playing music. Topics covered include the physics of music, chord changes, the circle of 5ths, chord relationships, the Nashville Numbering System, and more. Bring your instrument, because there will be opportunities to play. Core material is […]
Weiser Workshop – Essential Improvisation
I’m really looking forward to teaching workshops again at the National Old Time Fiddler’s Contest again this year. On Wednesday, I will be teaching Essential Improvisation. We will cover how to improvise as a fiddler. This workshop covers how to go from playing the melody to really making a tune your own. Core material is at […]
Goin’ Places – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 289
Going Places is a pretty sweet tune. It’s swingy and fun, and just a little bit tricky. I first heard it on one of the Weiser CD’s that John Lardinois recorded. What a great resource those recordings were. I don’t know anything about the tune, but maybe the Internets will enlighten me. 🙂 Nope, no […]
Pete’s Waltz – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 237
Pete’s Waltz was written by Pete Martin. I first heard Pete’s Waltz when Pete Martin played it at Weiser in the early 1990’s, but I didn’t work it out until about 10 years later when one of my fiddle students learned it from Daniel Carwile. Pete’s Waltz is a beautiful tune that is as tough […]