Rosin up your bow--it's fiddle lessons time!

Sly had his first official fiddle lesson last night.  Yes, fiddle, not violin.  He specifically wanted to learn to play bluegrass fiddle, so fiddle it is!  And today he's been working on finding "Old Joe Clark" on YouTube and trying to play along.  While he can't exactly keep up with the videos on YouTube, he has managed to "find" the melody and can pluck it out mandolin style or squawk it out with the bow, and has also "found" the tune on guitar as well.  Not bad for a brand spanking new beginner!

Sly's instructor we chose is quite the guy.  He's young (maybe 20?), been playing violin since he was 4, Suzuki trained, plus certified to teach Suzuki, plus a performing member of the city symphony, plus in a string trio with his brothers, plus in another band, plus pre-med, plus a Spanish minor, and of course teaches lessons, including one night teaching underpriveleged kids in a nearby town. Whew!  Is that wild or what?  Oh and he plays and teaches guitar also.  Makes my head spin!  (and yes, he was homeschooled--anyone surprised?!? Of course not! Ha!)  

When we first met this guy to "check him out," he played "twinkle twinkle little star" on the fiddle.  Then he played it "classical" ororchestral style.  Then he played it jazz style.  Then bluegrass style.  Then Celtic.  You name it, he can play it.  Pick your style.  Or make your own style!  Versatile doesn't begin to describe it!  He's willing and able to teach Sly what Sly wants to learn, with the approach that Sly wants to learn with, plus being able to throw in other twists and styles when/if Sly decides he's interested in that too.  There's not just one "box!"  How cool is that?!?  

Sly's first real lesson consisted of both note reading, including written homework, and some basic direction on how to hold the fiddle and the bow when Sly asked for clarification.  He was also given the assignment to listen to at least five different versions of "Old Joe Clark" on YouTube everyday and try to play along.  We both now have the tune for "Old Joe Clark" stuck in our heads, which was of course probably part of the whole point, of course!  AND Sly can play a squawky but definitely recognizable "Old Joe Clark" on the fiddle already!  Woo-hoo!

There are "bluegrass jams" at various local venues almost every Saturday around these parts.  I've been trying to get Sly to them for at least a bit when I can this month, but of course there's Jman's bowling which has temporary priority since it's only two months long anyway.  However, Sly's teacher says he's gonna try to get Sly ready to join in the jams as soon as he can, including teaching him "band ettiquette" about when and how to join in.  Way cool!  Afterall, that's part of what it's all about--learning how to jam with others!  We're both looking for more than "book learning" with his fiddle lessons, and like I said, I think we may have found the right guy to provide that.  Plus, he can provide crossover guitar stuff as well!  Woo-hoo!

So, anyway, Sly has officially begun fiddle lessons, and I think is off to a great start!  We're both excited!  Now I'm thinking maybe I need to start taking some banjo lessons, or maybe mandolin--we already have one of those!

Oh, and yes, Jman and SB3 are interested in the fiddle (and guitar) too, much to Sly's great consternation!  I think it's kind of cool though!  Sly's just worried about them breaking the instruments (or untuning them, or touching them, or looking at them, or looking at the case, or anything else related to his beloved, precious fiddle or guitar!).  We may have to get some "beater" instruments that they can play around with without wigging Sly out.  :)