Hi, I started the discussion entitled "crossing over from classical to fiddle" etc, and after reading the responses, I am slightly confused. Many of the kind souls keep imploring me to drop in on a session, pub, or fiddle school as if I am actually able to do so. Perhaps I should clarify. Normally, I would be delighted to stroll by my friendly neighborhood pub, but alas, pubs do not exist in Arkansas. Yes, I freely admit, I am an American (but I am also Australian, I have duel citizenship) Unfourtantly, I live in one of the more remote areas of the USA where the local attraction is to drive around in big dirty trucks and yell at cows. Needless to say, violin players are few and far between. I'd have enough trouble scraping together a quartet of semi-experianced players, let alone a whole session, and this is assuming they all wanted to cross over to fiddle like I do. The closest violin teachers are a whole state away. By the way, there is some hope for me. I will be getting out of this "wonderful" state and it's depressing lack of culture or anythin that remotely resembles a musical heritage or tradition........this summer, I go to Ireland for 6 weeks for a studies program through my college. Anyways..........anyone got advice for this poor college girl from the USA?
It's an Arkansas Celtic music site. It could be worth contacting them. I always had the impression that there was lots of old time fiddling in Arkansas although that might not be to your taste.
No musical heritage or tradition in Arkansas? What about all those hillbilly fiddlers? So much of old-timey American music traces back to the Irish, Scottish, English, etc., it seems like you could find somebody who plays fiddle that's similar, if not identical, to what you're interested in playing. Are you isolated on a mountaintop, 20 miles down some rutted dirt road that takes you an hour and a half to drive to the nearest village, or is there any town nearby? Do you have a telephone? Maybe you can just holler out across the holler and see if anybody answers that plays the fiddle. Surely you can find somebody to hang with.
Sorry if I came off as being sarcastic, Flash. That wasn't my intention. My parents owned some land in northwest Arkansas not quite, but almost, as remote as I described in my previous reply. A little old log cabin with no roof, floor or windows, beautiful wooded ridges --- but devilishly difficult to get to. (I did take my fiddle up there and play it.) Would have loved to have restored the cabin into a vacation home, but the cost, etc., would have been prohibitive, and then I would have never gone there! Living in a place like that would, indeed, make getting together with other fiddlers difficult, if not impossible. But on re-reading your post, I realize you're in a college town, so at least there are some other folks nearby. Maybe you can find some hillbilly fiddlers. I think some of their techniques might prove useful in ITM. (Until you make your escape, you might try listening to Michelle Shocked's Arkansas Traveler CD. It has some good old-timey tunes, including the title tune, of course, some of which she plays slow before kicking it into gear. Playing along with the slow parts is a good way to learn. Anyway, good luck.
yes, I DO have a telephone, lol. NO, I do not wish to hook with Bill Clinton. I strongly dislike him. I don't know about hillbilly fiddlers either....maybe they are out there but with no transportation, I am stranded at my college. No I can't transfer to a better school b/c I have phat scholarships here. Thank-you for all your suggestions though....I totally forgot about the whole rural country fiddler scene...I could probably find some people somewhere....maybe we could all ride our cows to the session, lol.....
My suggestion is to drop the "ride a cow to the session" jokes when you are talking to your neighbors.
When you hear a large farm boy say "So you think you are better than me?", the safest response is to start running.
Apart from concerns over courtesy, in my experience, no matter how good you are - you will find some unprepossesing musician that you have never heard of that can clean your clock on your best day.
I graduated last year from uni... hmmm... in Missouri. I know what it's like to feel rather isolated... and have fun encounters with "townies".
Now, I live in Japan. Yep... Japan... I play tunes with an Irishman who plays the pipes.　I don't really have the option of sessions or anything like that. But when you're first starting to play, finding a patient and experienced person willing to help you is a really good thing. Good luck!! Have fun in AR!
Deepest apologies if my country humor is taken the wrong way. For the record, I have known many "unpreposessing" musicians who can, have, and will continue to "clean my clock." Also, for the record, the only reason I poke fun of country people is because I am one myself! Yes, I am a farm girl, lol, and I think farm people are just fine. Unfourtantly, humor and subtle wit doesn't carry well over the internet. Also, I never said I was a good musician - I just try hard, is all. And, also for the record, I did ride my cow around a couple times when I was young and sometiems I get so desperate for a ride places here at college, that I might be tempted to ride a cow again.
Alisha, would that be Pol that you play with? Er...well, you know what I mean -- if it is Pol, tell him hello for me and tell him I want to hear how that fiddler is coming along. Or is that you?
um - I meant cause you already have an aussie passport and there are tunes here and stuff - but then again - if you chose to live in the desert here you probably wouldnt find that many anyhow.
What country are we talking about??
What country are we talking about??
Hi, I started the discussion entitled "crossing over from classical to fiddle" etc, and after reading the responses, I am slightly confused. Many of the kind souls keep imploring me to drop in on a session, pub, or fiddle school as if I am actually able to do so. Perhaps I should clarify. Normally, I would be delighted to stroll by my friendly neighborhood pub, but alas, pubs do not exist in Arkansas. Yes, I freely admit, I am an American (but I am also Australian, I have duel citizenship) Unfourtantly, I live in one of the more remote areas of the USA where the local attraction is to drive around in big dirty trucks and yell at cows. Needless to say, violin players are few and far between. I'd have enough trouble scraping together a quartet of semi-experianced players, let alone a whole session, and this is assuming they all wanted to cross over to fiddle like I do. The closest violin teachers are a whole state away. By the way, there is some hope for me. I will be getting out of this "wonderful" state and it's depressing lack of culture or anythin that remotely resembles a musical heritage or tradition........this summer, I go to Ireland for 6 weeks for a studies program through my college. Anyways..........anyone got advice for this poor college girl from the USA?
# Posted on March 9th 2003 by flashbaxz
Re: What country are we talking about??
If you were a guy, i'd say hook up with Bill Clinton, but under the circumstances, better not!
# Posted on March 9th 2003 by glauber
Re: What country are we talking about??
I found this site on the web:
http://www.celticmusiclive.com/
It's an Arkansas Celtic music site. It could be worth contacting them. I always had the impression that there was lots of old time fiddling in Arkansas although that might not be to your taste.
Steve
# Posted on March 9th 2003 by SteveKendall
Re: What country are we talking about??
Is it possible for you to transfer to a college in Boston or New York? Or any other city in the US with a good Irish trad music scene?
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by JMH
Re: What country are we talking about??
No musical heritage or tradition in Arkansas? What about all those hillbilly fiddlers? So much of old-timey American music traces back to the Irish, Scottish, English, etc., it seems like you could find somebody who plays fiddle that's similar, if not identical, to what you're interested in playing. Are you isolated on a mountaintop, 20 miles down some rutted dirt road that takes you an hour and a half to drive to the nearest village, or is there any town nearby? Do you have a telephone? Maybe you can just holler out across the holler and see if anybody answers that plays the fiddle. Surely you can find somebody to hang with.
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by carolsviolin
Re: What country are we talking about??
carolsviolin is right. Here's an article that's sort of interesting.
http://www.arkansasstories.com/irish-music-two.html
The Ozark Folk Center has many traditional musical events throught the year including a bit of Irish music.
http://www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/
Steve
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by SteveKendall
Re: What country are we talking about??
Sorry if I came off as being sarcastic, Flash. That wasn't my intention. My parents owned some land in northwest Arkansas not quite, but almost, as remote as I described in my previous reply. A little old log cabin with no roof, floor or windows, beautiful wooded ridges --- but devilishly difficult to get to. (I did take my fiddle up there and play it.) Would have loved to have restored the cabin into a vacation home, but the cost, etc., would have been prohibitive, and then I would have never gone there! Living in a place like that would, indeed, make getting together with other fiddlers difficult, if not impossible. But on re-reading your post, I realize you're in a college town, so at least there are some other folks nearby. Maybe you can find some hillbilly fiddlers. I think some of their techniques might prove useful in ITM. (Until you make your escape, you might try listening to Michelle Shocked's Arkansas Traveler CD. It has some good old-timey tunes, including the title tune, of course, some of which she plays slow before kicking it into gear. Playing along with the slow parts is a good way to learn. Anyway, good luck.
Carol
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by carolsviolin
Re: What country are we talking about??
yes, I DO have a telephone, lol. NO, I do not wish to hook with Bill Clinton. I strongly dislike him. I don't know about hillbilly fiddlers either....maybe they are out there but with no transportation, I am stranded at my college. No I can't transfer to a better school b/c I have phat scholarships here. Thank-you for all your suggestions though....I totally forgot about the whole rural country fiddler scene...I could probably find some people somewhere....maybe we could all ride our cows to the session, lol.....
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by flashbaxz
Re: What country are we talking about??
Maybe you could ride a mule. Isn't that an Irish tune? Or is that "Riding a Mile"? Glad you have a sense of humor.
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by carolsviolin
Re: What country are we talking about??
A sense of humor is great, but...
My suggestion is to drop the "ride a cow to the session" jokes when you are talking to your neighbors.
When you hear a large farm boy say "So you think you are better than me?", the safest response is to start running.
Apart from concerns over courtesy, in my experience, no matter how good you are - you will find some unprepossesing musician that you have never heard of that can clean your clock on your best day.
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by mandocaster
Re: What country are we talking about??
I graduated last year from uni... hmmm... in Missouri. I know what it's like to feel rather isolated... and have fun encounters with "townies".
Now, I live in Japan. Yep... Japan... I play tunes with an Irishman who plays the pipes.　I don't really have the option of sessions or anything like that. But when you're first starting to play, finding a patient and experienced person willing to help you is a really good thing. Good luck!! Have fun in AR!
alisha
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by scaryakgrl
Re: What country are we talking about??
Deepest apologies if my country humor is taken the wrong way. For the record, I have known many "unpreposessing" musicians who can, have, and will continue to "clean my clock." Also, for the record, the only reason I poke fun of country people is because I am one myself! Yes, I am a farm girl, lol, and I think farm people are just fine. Unfourtantly, humor and subtle wit doesn't carry well over the internet. Also, I never said I was a good musician - I just try hard, is all. And, also for the record, I did ride my cow around a couple times when I was young and sometiems I get so desperate for a ride places here at college, that I might be tempted to ride a cow again.
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by flashbaxz
Re: What country are we talking about??
flashbaxz - maybe you should just move to australia
# Posted on March 10th 2003 by bb
Re: What country are we talking about??
why?
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by flashbaxz
Re: What country are we talking about??
Because then you can tell bb all your jokes in person
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by BluFiddle
Re: What country are we talking about??
Plenty of sheep up for a ride in Oz
...I'm told...
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Dr. Dow
Re: What country are we talking about??
Alisha, would that be Pol that you play with? Er...well, you know what I mean -- if it is Pol, tell him hello for me and tell him I want to hear how that fiddler is coming along. Or is that you?
Zina
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: What country are we talking about??
um - I meant cause you already have an aussie passport and there are tunes here and stuff - but then again - if you chose to live in the desert here you probably wouldnt find that many anyhow.
# Posted on March 11th 2003 by bb
Re: What country are we talking about??
bb, do you live in australia?
# Posted on March 12th 2003 by flashbaxz
Re: What country are we talking about??
sure do!
# Posted on March 12th 2003 by bb
Re: What country are we talking about??
awesome, what part? I originally came from Bunbury, West Australia
# Posted on March 13th 2003 by flashbaxz