Roland White

Hi Oliver, Welcome to FiddleVideo,

Great to have a new Fiddler so excited he can’t practice enough. Casey is spot on for mixing your practice with some technique, and then moving on to your other tunes in learning or practicing. Here are a few of my kernels of insight that have helped me.

I think the most important thing is Focused…[Read more]

Hi Singalong,
Thank you for your kind words to FiddleVideo. I know Casey will appreciate the sentiment. I know I’m excited about all the new fiddle content and Andre is a great addition to the instructors. Thanks for chiming in on the forum. Best, Roland, Moderator

Ah ha, Today is the day as I discover at 3 am on a sleepless night that the first batch of Andre’s lessons are now now on FiddleVideo.

Thank you Casey for all your hard work bringing FV new material. OK Fiddlers Time to Start tapping your feet and while moving your arms and fingers. Have fun. with this exciting fiddle style. Roland

Hi S, I understand your dilemma when it comes to groove. Keep trying I think you will get it and I see you’re quite dedicated and perseverance will get you to your goal. Keep up the good work. Roland

HI Sabrina, Just thought I would chime in on your dilemma here if you don’t mind. I have consistently found that I cannot pick up the most intricate parts of some tunes no matter how hard I try. Over the years this has caused me much frustration not being able to decipher these difficult master gymnastic musician licks.

I have come to…[Read more]

Thank you Kevin and Ulla for bringing a new tune to the forum. I just checked on YouTube and see that there are a lot of postings for this tune. A few have done the 2 step version which sounds very Cajun and upbeat. Nice piece of music.

Thanks for sharing, Roland

Hi Renjenn, That sounds really fun and you have really great questions. I think a lot of them can be answered from a set of the rules and to talk to judges to see what the proper format is. That will give you a lot of guidance. Also tune in YouTube you might find some Scottish Fiddle Competitions and this will be your best live resource. You might…[Read more]

Hi New Fiddler, I love my good wood bow but everytime I try a Carbon Fiber Bow I’m really impressed. I personally know some folks that have gone from wood to Carbon and in fact I’m saving for one myself. I know you can do free trials so if possible try the bow out before you buy it. Each will sound different on the same instrument. Good luck and…[Read more]

Hi Casey, Wow Thanks for the sneak peak. Andre is Truly a master at his craft showing unbridled joy and freedom in his performance. I love fiddlers whose joyful souls come out in their music. Cheers, Roland

HI New Fiddler,

This is a great thread from lots of folks talking about learning by ear. I think overall any approach to learning that works for you is one that you should use. I also think being open to learning by any means necessary is the spirit of the fiddler and if the written music helps then by all means use it.

I would like to add an…[Read more]

HI New Fiddler,

This is a great thread from lots of folks talking about learning by ear. I think overall any approach to learning that works for you is one that you should use. I also think being open to learning by any means necessary is the spirit of the fiddler and if the written music helps then by all means use it.

I would like to add an…[Read more]

HI New Fiddler,

Great that you read it and its a reliable fact and comparison. Not being a Classical player I’ve only observed no one is tapping their feet in Classical land so I have no idea where the downbeat would be in a classical tune with out trying to figure it out.

Fiddling on the other hand is primarily dance music in the folk tradition…[Read more]

Hi New Fiddler,

Good question you pose there. I really don’t have any answer for that other than maybe listen to some Scottish bowing in their slow tunes as they have more technique in that style of paying. Or consider tunes with harmonics or intricate moving double stops with good intonation and pitch as I would think are challenging for bowing…[Read more]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for that post as its really a good suggestion. Carol Ann Wheeler is one of our Oregon Fiddling treasures and I had the lucky opportunity to attend a week long workshop and a few private lessons with her many years ago.

She is awesome. Her background as a Classical Violinist is very valuable as a lot of her teaching is to build…[Read more]

hi Casey & Newfiddler,

Great thread with Champion players contest advice! Exactly how I practice except i don’t have my guitar player handy so I stay w/ the metronome.

Regarding Vibrato it can really identify you as a classical player not a fiddle player. Over the years I have come to appreciate the sweetness of the tone of advanced…[Read more]

hi Casey & Newfiddler,

Great thread with Champion players contest advise! Exactly how I practice except i don’t have my guitar player handy so I stay w/ the metronome.

Regarding Vibrato it can really identify you as a classical player not a fiddle player. Over the years I have come to appreciate the sweetness of the tone of advanced…[Read more]

Hi FiddlDeDee,

Nice fiddle handle you have, and thanks for joining FV and chiming in on the forum. In regards to your questions on warm ups, stretching really helps. If you can start from the fingers first begin there, and move to the wrist, arms, shoulders and neck with some basic stretching moves, even to the point of swinging your arms to…[Read more]

Hi FiddlDeDee,

Nice fiddle handle you have, and thanks for joining FV and chiming in on the forum. In regards to your questions on warm ups, stretching really helps. If you can start from the fingers first begin there, and move to the wrist, arms, shoulders and neck with some basic stretching moves, even to the point of swinging your arms to…[Read more]

Hi RIGISM,

Nice job on that recording and thanks for sharing it with our FV fiddlers. Its great to hear your FV lessons are going well and the proof is in playing In time in tune with a nice lilt keep up the good work. R