"Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
"Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
O.K. We've often been advised not to buy puppies or exotic pets etc for the kiddies at Christmas but musical instruments still appear to a popular choice--solicited or not.
Do you think that it's a good idea to give a child or even a grown up friend a musical instrument in the hope that he/she will learn to play it? Let's be even more generous here and suggest that they can play any type of music they want. In your experience, does this encourage an interest in music or are they left with another unwanted gift--though they might scrape, pluck, or blow away at it for a day or two? Obviously, if the person has shown a keen interest in wanting to play music, you should consider a purchase but is it right to do so just because you want to see/hear them play?
Also, as musicians yourself, how would you feel if you were presented with a new fiddle or guitar etc for Christmas?
Personally speaking, I sometimes shop around for months-sometimes years before finding a musical instrument that suits me. Would you be delighted with such a gift or is it just "another Christmas sweater" that you'll never wear or, in this instance, play?
Of course, it will often depend on the circumstances and choice of instrument. For instance, several years ago I presented my girlfriend's nieces (aged 9 and 5) with tin whistles. On Christmas day, they showed no interest at all preferring to play with their new computer games-Sonic the hedgehog, I think. Years later, however, they were still "tooting away" on the penny whistles long after Sonic had been forgotten.
Oh, if you like wearing Christmas sweaters, please don't take offence. )
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Tin whistles, cheap guitars for kids or even adults, sure. Relatively easy to play with at least the possiblity of giving a 'positive return with minimal investment'. On the other hand for someone who already plays an instrument (even as badly as I do) it has already become too personal to let someone choose on their belhalf.
Golly
p.s. But hey, if someone is handing out uilleann pipes for Christmas, all bets are off!
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
demonstrating my disagreement with parental tuition over the bad time of six years I quit my violin lessons with almost 14 ... to the great disappointment of my father. but only three month later he gave me my first guitar as a xmas present.
it was a swedish made ("Levin") western guitar which I still own and play today. And my father never again tried to force me doing this or that in learning/playing music... so this was quite a nice and acceptable present.
my younger daughter used to put on the headphones and play my fathers yamaha keyboard for hours each time we visited my parents house. so I decided to buy a used yamaha keyboard (cost me 800 deutschmarks that time) and gave it as a xmas present to her. she was 9 or 10 that time. she never made great effort to really learn it and three or four years later she gave the keyboard to some schoolmates who formed a band (and finally she sold it to them for about 200 deutschmarks ... if she had to buy it instead getting it as a present I
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
My husband gave me an accordion for Christmas about four years ago and it was the best gift I've ever received. I've since upgraded my box, play it all the time and have made a lot of great friends , so if anyone is inclined to play an instrument don't feel shy about giving one as a gift!
Heather
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Kevin Glackin got a fiddle for his 6th birthday and when he expressed his disappointment was told that that was his gift and he was going to learn to play it, like it or not.
I'd probably never give someone who didn't play in the first place the gift of an instrument unless they'd expressed an interest in the first place. Likely, though, I'd only give an instrument that either was something cheap like a whistle or was a "starter" (ie: not great quality) instrument unless the giftee was certain it was something they wanted to do. Long term.
Now, if I was rich, I'd probably buy the best possible instruments for all the players on my gift list...which would likely mean I wouldn't be rich for long!
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Gave my 8 years old god child a lovely 3/4 fiddle last Christmas. She unwrapped the case eagerly. When she found out that it was a fiddle case she did not bother to open it. Next present, please! The disappointment was more on my side since there were plenty of other pressies for Julia. We won't make her play if she is not interested but the fiddle is there and if she wants to give it a try, she knows we would encourage her. I would have probably started earlier if there had been a fiddle in the house.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I know someone who as an adult was given an unasked for new fiddle for Christmas. At the time she thought it a really stupid present. She couldn't read music, hadn't played anything else, wasn't interested and as she didn't know the notes couldn't even get it in tune. Twenty eight years and many thousands of dollars in lessons later she plays every day and really loves it. Like a pet or a pony the rewards were life changing, but the fiddle has outlasted five dogs and four horses and should even outlast her. What a present! A fiddle isn't only for Christmas.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I think that if somebody expresses interest in a particular instrument, that getting it for them would be good idea. My brother said he wanted to learn the whistle, so I bought him one, and now he plays it all the time. Although, when I got my first instrument for Christmast when I was six, a guitar, I never learned to play it until years later. So I think it depends on the person, and how much they are interested beforehand. If they are not interested, and you really want to give them an instrument, a whistle would probably be best because they are so simple to learn.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I got one of my band members a whistle for her birthday,as she plays flute and recorder,and I thought maybe she'll play the whistle insted of the recorder.She has started doing so(yay!).
The uilleann pipes I'm getting(see my profile) are a combination Graduation/Solstice(we celebrate the winter solstice cause we have solar power,and after the solstice we get more sun.)/Christmas present,and the only gift I get.I have wanted them for a long time,and I'm deffinetly going to learn them.I'm so thrilled to be getting pipes! : )
On the other hand,my aunt and uncle gave my sister a ukelale for Christmas last year,and she hasn't really showed much interest.A couple of times she's draged it out and plunked at it for a few days,then it goes back in the case for six months.
So I say,if there is a very good reason to think that the person will play the instrument,or if it's cheap,then go ahead and give it.
Re: "Remember folks. A bodhran isn't just for sessions"
Remeber folks: A bodhran isn't just for sessions.
You are better to leave it at home for the first year, train it to play in time in 3, 4 and 6 at the local bodhran obedience classes and after having passed with flying colours, only then is the bodhran ready to go "walkies".
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Ach Geoff that's typical of this crazy, hyperactive younger generation of musicians with their need for instant gratification. When I was a young pup all the wise old boys reckoned it took 21 years to become a decent bodhran player. Their advice was to leave it in the attic for the first seven years, leave it at a mate's house for the second seven years, and then let the cat use it as a litter tray for seven years. Only then were you ready to break all the bones in your hand with a lump hammer.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
We have a plague of instruments at our house--fiddles, whistles, flutes, banjos, acoustic guitars, a mandolin, piano, recorder, harmonicas, etc. So our two boys had no lack of exposure or opportunities to pick something up and give it a whirl. Which they did, but never with lasting enthusiasm. But then just before Christmas three years ago, we bought our oldest an electric guitar and amp--*because that was the kind of music he listened to.* He wasn't too sure on Christmas morning, but by the end of the week (with a daily lesson from Dad on basic rock chords and rhythms) he was off and running. Three years later he plays for several hours every day, has taught himself dozens of tunes off cds, owns a nice Les Paul and Marshall amp, and rocks out. He's also learned electric bass, and has played in a few bands already.
The key, obviously, was tapping into the style of music he likes. The gravy is that now he (and his younger brother) daily sit down at the piano or haul out one of the acoustic guitars, and they both play a wide range of genres--whatever strikes their fancy.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I'm rather glad to have read this thread. I have been racking my brain to find the perfect gift for my 17yr old nephew. Since his birth, I have strived for that perfect something. After reading the notes on the Bodhran, I have decided that's it. My brother is not a gibbering idot yet, and with Nich learning the Bodhran, I think this just might do it. Wahoo (brother) complains of the head banging music, he hasn't a clue!
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
If you're not sure about a fiddle you could always get someone a case - then they can choose a fiddle later on!
I bought a pressy for my harp - a hard case which has since been to Sardinia and back and all over Ireland - and survived the worst that airlines can throw at it. For the first four years my harp was caseless (silly me) and has been blown over in a car park in Cheltenham and fallen down the stairs at home, and been knocked over more times than I care to remember - it's had its fair share of lumps and bumps. If only I'd bought the case sooner, my harp would be a bit better-looking than it is now!
But a harp is pretty robust - a violin isn't! - so a case might be a really thoughtful present. Or a tuner, or whatever, just something that someone will appreciate and maybe not think to get for themselves.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
We gave our teenager an electric guitar 2 years ago- he had really lost interest in the acoustic. It was a surprise and I was was worried since of course it was his "big present". He's looking for a better one soon ( but maybe not enought to get a job), plays with a group of friends who have 8 hour band practices.(? )
And an electric guitar has a volume control! And headphones!
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
My parents bought me my first anglo concertina back in August -- as an early Christmas present.
Now, if anyone wants to play Santa give me a nice Wheatstone English, say, 1920's or thereabouts with the black leather bellows and silver ends, I'd not say no!
But I remember getting at least one guitar as a Christmas present and basically ignoring it as a child -- wish I hadn't, now.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
The solution: rent it.
In our family, we also have tons of musicians. When my brother was trying to figure out a minor while studying classical trumpet at Peabody Conservatory, (he settled on percussion, or was it bass? he's a club deejay now anyway), we rented any number of instruments for a month or so, which inevitably got passed around the familia. But I specifically remember one Christmas coming down to see a gorgeous new cello under the tree with a big red bow. By the end of January, we were all playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, pizzicato or bowed. Then it went *poof* & we were all sated & happy with the experience. Gawd, where can I rent a set of uillean pipes for a month??
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Dave, I'm sure you could learn the fiddle, if you really wanted to badly enough. I know it's not quite the same as the mandolin but both of these instruments complement each other so you've probably got a head start on most people.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Thanks for the kind word John.
No - I've had this fiddle for 35 years. I can play one or two very basic tunes in a halting fashion. When I say I never will play it, I don't mean I feel unable to do so - just that life is full enough with the other things I do. I have decided not to learn the fiddle.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Hah, I read the topic and interpreted it entirely differently -- recall the horrible scratching noises new fiddlers make? Giving a fiddle to a child is like giving a sentence to his parents! "A fiddle isn't just for Christmas! -- It's for ending every peaceful night afterwards!"
This year we're giving mandolins to each of my two oldest boys, and a bodhran to my youngest son. I don't know if they'll play them a little or a lot, but even if it's "not at all" it's still better than a pile of toys that will surely be forgotten in six months, because just maybe -- even if it's not until they're away at college or even later -- maybe they'll pull the things out one day and get some real joy from it. And if we're lucky, one or more of them will start getting some real creative enjoyment out of the instruments right now, with me.
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
IF ONLY my family had given me a (proper) musical instrument I wouldn't have had to wait until I was 42 before beginning to learn flute and then fiddle. (Proper as opposed to the dreaded recorder which I had to teach myself to play cos no one else could bother to help me).
My dad played the fiddle and when I was 8 he placed a full size fiddle under my chin and wondered why I couldn't reach the g string! Still that memory made me persevere when I took it up seriously at age 44. But what might have been eh? In my dreams I feel I could have been another Eileen Ivers, or Natalie McMaster. (HO HO)
"Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
"Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
O.K. We've often been advised not to buy puppies or exotic pets etc for the kiddies at Christmas but musical instruments still appear to a popular choice--solicited or not.
)
Do you think that it's a good idea to give a child or even a grown up friend a musical instrument in the hope that he/she will learn to play it? Let's be even more generous here and suggest that they can play any type of music they want. In your experience, does this encourage an interest in music or are they left with another unwanted gift--though they might scrape, pluck, or blow away at it for a day or two? Obviously, if the person has shown a keen interest in wanting to play music, you should consider a purchase but is it right to do so just because you want to see/hear them play?
Also, as musicians yourself, how would you feel if you were presented with a new fiddle or guitar etc for Christmas?
Personally speaking, I sometimes shop around for months-sometimes years before finding a musical instrument that suits me. Would you be delighted with such a gift or is it just "another Christmas sweater" that you'll never wear or, in this instance, play?
Of course, it will often depend on the circumstances and choice of instrument. For instance, several years ago I presented my girlfriend's nieces (aged 9 and 5) with tin whistles. On Christmas day, they showed no interest at all preferring to play with their new computer games-Sonic the hedgehog, I think. Years later, however, they were still "tooting away" on the penny whistles long after Sonic had been forgotten.
Oh, if you like wearing Christmas sweaters, please don't take offence.
John
# Posted on December 9th 2003 by Johnny Jay
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
John, give me a set of uilleann pipes for Christmas and I *promise* I will try to learn them ...
Martin
# Posted on December 9th 2003 by Conway
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Tin whistles, cheap guitars for kids or even adults, sure. Relatively easy to play with at least the possiblity of giving a 'positive return with minimal investment'. On the other hand for someone who already plays an instrument (even as badly as I do) it has already become too personal to let someone choose on their belhalf.
Golly
p.s. But hey, if someone is handing out uilleann pipes for Christmas, all bets are off!
# Posted on December 9th 2003 by golly
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
My first mandolin, a
# Posted on December 9th 2003 by sergeant fox
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
demonstrating my disagreement with parental tuition over the bad time of six years I quit my violin lessons with almost 14 ... to the great disappointment of my father. but only three month later he gave me my first guitar as a xmas present.
it was a swedish made ("Levin") western guitar which I still own and play today. And my father never again tried to force me doing this or that in learning/playing music... so this was quite a nice and acceptable present.
my younger daughter used to put on the headphones and play my fathers yamaha keyboard for hours each time we visited my parents house. so I decided to buy a used yamaha keyboard (cost me 800 deutschmarks that time) and gave it as a xmas present to her. she was 9 or 10 that time. she never made great effort to really learn it and three or four years later she gave the keyboard to some schoolmates who formed a band (and finally she sold it to them for about 200 deutschmarks ... if she had to buy it instead getting it as a present I
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by crannog
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
My husband gave me an accordion for Christmas about four years ago and it was the best gift I've ever received. I've since upgraded my box, play it all the time and have made a lot of great friends , so if anyone is inclined to play an instrument don't feel shy about giving one as a gift!
Heather
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by boxielady
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Kevin Glackin got a fiddle for his 6th birthday and when he expressed his disappointment was told that that was his gift and he was going to learn to play it, like it or not.
I'd probably never give someone who didn't play in the first place the gift of an instrument unless they'd expressed an interest in the first place. Likely, though, I'd only give an instrument that either was something cheap like a whistle or was a "starter" (ie: not great quality) instrument unless the giftee was certain it was something they wanted to do. Long term.
Now, if I was rich, I'd probably buy the best possible instruments for all the players on my gift list...which would likely mean I wouldn't be rich for long!
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Gave my 8 years old god child a lovely 3/4 fiddle last Christmas. She unwrapped the case eagerly. When she found out that it was a fiddle case she did not bother to open it. Next present, please! The disappointment was more on my side since there were plenty of other pressies for Julia. We won't make her play if she is not interested but the fiddle is there and if she wants to give it a try, she knows we would encourage her. I would have probably started earlier if there had been a fiddle in the house.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Irish Trad. Head
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I know someone who as an adult was given an unasked for new fiddle for Christmas. At the time she thought it a really stupid present. She couldn't read music, hadn't played anything else, wasn't interested and as she didn't know the notes couldn't even get it in tune. Twenty eight years and many thousands of dollars in lessons later she plays every day and really loves it. Like a pet or a pony the rewards were life changing, but the fiddle has outlasted five dogs and four horses and should even outlast her. What a present! A fiddle isn't only for Christmas.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Clear Drops
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I think that if somebody expresses interest in a particular instrument, that getting it for them would be good idea. My brother said he wanted to learn the whistle, so I bought him one, and now he plays it all the time. Although, when I got my first instrument for Christmast when I was six, a guitar, I never learned to play it until years later. So I think it depends on the person, and how much they are interested beforehand. If they are not interested, and you really want to give them an instrument, a whistle would probably be best because they are so simple to learn.
-Max
-Max
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Max Becher
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I got one of my band members a whistle for her birthday,as she plays flute and recorder,and I thought maybe she'll play the whistle insted of the recorder.She has started doing so(yay!).
The uilleann pipes I'm getting(see my profile) are a combination Graduation/Solstice(we celebrate the winter solstice cause we have solar power,and after the solstice we get more sun.)/Christmas present,and the only gift I get.I have wanted them for a long time,and I'm deffinetly going to learn them.I'm so thrilled to be getting pipes! : )
On the other hand,my aunt and uncle gave my sister a ukelale for Christmas last year,and she hasn't really showed much interest.A couple of times she's draged it out and plunked at it for a few days,then it goes back in the case for six months.
So I say,if there is a very good reason to think that the person will play the instrument,or if it's cheap,then go ahead and give it.
-Kelly
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by seisflutes
Re: "Remember folks. A bodhran isn't just for sessions"
Remeber folks: A bodhran isn't just for sessions.
You are better to leave it at home for the first year, train it to play in time in 3, 4 and 6 at the local bodhran obedience classes and after having passed with flying colours, only then is the bodhran ready to go "walkies".
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by geoffwright
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Ach Geoff that's typical of this crazy, hyperactive younger generation of musicians with their need for instant gratification. When I was a young pup all the wise old boys reckoned it took 21 years to become a decent bodhran player. Their advice was to leave it in the attic for the first seven years, leave it at a mate's house for the second seven years, and then let the cat use it as a litter tray for seven years. Only then were you ready to break all the bones in your hand with a lump hammer.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by sergeant fox
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
We have a plague of instruments at our house--fiddles, whistles, flutes, banjos, acoustic guitars, a mandolin, piano, recorder, harmonicas, etc. So our two boys had no lack of exposure or opportunities to pick something up and give it a whirl. Which they did, but never with lasting enthusiasm. But then just before Christmas three years ago, we bought our oldest an electric guitar and amp--*because that was the kind of music he listened to.* He wasn't too sure on Christmas morning, but by the end of the week (with a daily lesson from Dad on basic rock chords and rhythms) he was off and running. Three years later he plays for several hours every day, has taught himself dozens of tunes off cds, owns a nice Les Paul and Marshall amp, and rocks out. He's also learned electric bass, and has played in a few bands already.
The key, obviously, was tapping into the style of music he likes. The gravy is that now he (and his younger brother) daily sit down at the piano or haul out one of the acoustic guitars, and they both play a wide range of genres--whatever strikes their fancy.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
My wife told me a couple of days ago that she had seen a viola in a secondhand shop window, for
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
oops. Just realized that I signed my last post twice. That wasn't intentional.
-Max
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Max Becher
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Maximum Max....
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
I'm rather glad to have read this thread. I have been racking my brain to find the perfect gift for my 17yr old nephew. Since his birth, I have strived for that perfect something. After reading the notes on the Bodhran, I have decided that's it. My brother is not a gibbering idot yet, and with Nich learning the Bodhran, I think this just might do it. Wahoo (brother) complains of the head banging music, he hasn't a clue!
(I do love my brother)
Deb.
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Agnes Nutter
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
If you're not sure about a fiddle you could always get someone a case - then they can choose a fiddle later on!
I bought a pressy for my harp - a hard case which has since been to Sardinia and back and all over Ireland - and survived the worst that airlines can throw at it. For the first four years my harp was caseless (silly me) and has been blown over in a car park in Cheltenham and fallen down the stairs at home, and been knocked over more times than I care to remember - it's had its fair share of lumps and bumps. If only I'd bought the case sooner, my harp would be a bit better-looking than it is now!
But a harp is pretty robust - a violin isn't! - so a case might be a really thoughtful present. Or a tuner, or whatever, just something that someone will appreciate and maybe not think to get for themselves.
Mark
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Mark Harmer
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Or better yet, someone who just needs to buy a violin for someone is welcome to buy one for ME...!
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
We gave our teenager an electric guitar 2 years ago- he had really lost interest in the acoustic. It was a surprise and I was was worried since of course it was his "big present". He's looking for a better one soon ( but maybe not enought to get a job), plays with a group of friends who have 8 hour band practices.(? )
And an electric guitar has a volume control! And headphones!
Jennifer
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by Jenthur
Re: "Remember folks. A bodhran isn't just for Bonfire Night"
Paul - loved the cat litter tray bit!!
Haven't laughed so much since the low whistle joke (whale noises and curtain rails).
# Posted on December 10th 2003 by geoffwright
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
My parents bought me my first anglo concertina back in August -- as an early Christmas present.
Now, if anyone wants to play Santa give me a nice Wheatstone English, say, 1920's or thereabouts with the black leather bellows and silver ends, I'd not say no!
But I remember getting at least one guitar as a Christmas present and basically ignoring it as a child -- wish I hadn't, now.
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by Rhomylly
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
The solution: rent it.
In our family, we also have tons of musicians. When my brother was trying to figure out a minor while studying classical trumpet at Peabody Conservatory, (he settled on percussion, or was it bass? he's a club deejay now anyway), we rented any number of instruments for a month or so, which inevitably got passed around the familia. But I specifically remember one Christmas coming down to see a gorgeous new cello under the tree with a big red bow. By the end of January, we were all playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, pizzicato or bowed. Then it went *poof* & we were all sated & happy with the experience. Gawd, where can I rent a set of uillean pipes for a month??
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by emily_bmore
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
This has all given me an idea.
I try to live a life where I don't have things that I don't use. It's a waste of the world's resources to own something if I don't have a use for it.
I've got a fiddle I can't play - and never will - what I need to do is give it to someone.
Thanks people.
Dave
# Posted on December 11th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Dave, I'm sure you could learn the fiddle, if you really wanted to badly enough. I know it's not quite the same as the mandolin but both of these instruments complement each other so you've probably got a head start on most people.
John
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by Johnny Jay
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Thanks for the kind word John.
No - I've had this fiddle for 35 years. I can play one or two very basic tunes in a halting fashion. When I say I never will play it, I don't mean I feel unable to do so - just that life is full enough with the other things I do. I have decided not to learn the fiddle.
Thank you again.
Dave
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by showaddydadito
BTW Emily - I love the image of the cello going *poof*.
Leaving behind, no doubt, a faint smell of rosin, an eerie echo, and a little dent in the floor.
Dave
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by showaddydadito
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Hah, I read the topic and interpreted it entirely differently -- recall the horrible scratching noises new fiddlers make? Giving a fiddle to a child is like giving a sentence to his parents! "A fiddle isn't just for Christmas! -- It's for ending every peaceful night afterwards!"
This year we're giving mandolins to each of my two oldest boys, and a bodhran to my youngest son. I don't know if they'll play them a little or a lot, but even if it's "not at all" it's still better than a pile of toys that will surely be forgotten in six months, because just maybe -- even if it's not until they're away at college or even later -- maybe they'll pull the things out one day and get some real joy from it. And if we're lucky, one or more of them will start getting some real creative enjoyment out of the instruments right now, with me.
--- John
# Posted on December 12th 2003 by vulcan666
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
IF ONLY my family had given me a (proper) musical instrument I wouldn't have had to wait until I was 42 before beginning to learn flute and then fiddle. (Proper as opposed to the dreaded recorder which I had to teach myself to play cos no one else could bother to help me).
My dad played the fiddle and when I was 8 he placed a full size fiddle under my chin and wondered why I couldn't reach the g string! Still that memory made me persevere when I took it up seriously at age 44. But what might have been eh? In my dreams I feel I could have been another Eileen Ivers, or Natalie McMaster. (HO HO)
# Posted on December 14th 2003 by Fiiddle R
Re: "Remember folks. A fiddle isn't just for Christmas"
Not everyone on this site would be thankful for either another Eileen Ivers or Natalie McMaster, although I like them both.
)
So be happy with your music and be the best you can as Susie-Lee.
John
# Posted on December 14th 2003 by Johnny Jay