I usually refer to myself as a "fiddlist"... not really a violinist anymore but not quite a fiddler either. I've only been seriously playing Irish tunes for about 3 years, though I have 22 years experience on the actual instrument. I mainly got into fiddle because I've always been "drawn" to Irish music, from a very young age but was more of a "closet fiddler" during those days without any kind of training or experience. I truly love the music and enjoy playing the tunes, whether I am deemed acceptable at it or not. To me it's about enjoying the experience and the music. I am not a traditionalist, though, and often express views that cause the "so called banter", though that isn't really my intention. Asking questions and being rhetorical is how I learn... picking the minds of those more experienced, so to speak. I do use dots. This is how I was taught to play the instrument from a young age, and those hard wired pathways don't just disappear. I don't like being judged for taking my time with the switchover of dots to strictly ear. Some may take longer than others, and if they want to play both dots and by ear, so what? That's a personal choice.
Tunes in Fiddlechick7's tunebook: 0
| Dancing and fiddling at the same time... | December 22nd 2010 |
| Combined sets | September 28th 2010 |
| Electric violins/fiddles | June 4th 2010 |
| A little music philosophy for contemplation.... | March 15th 2010 |
| Word and Note | January 16th 2010 |
| Discussions | Re: Traditional Fiddle versus Classical Violin | December 31st 2011 |
| Discussions | Re: Traditional Fiddle versus Classical Violin | December 30th 2011 |
| Discussions | Re: The Role of the Fireplace in Traditional Irish Music | December 7th 2011 |
| Discussions | Re: Its that time........Christmas CD list!! | December 5th 2011 |
| Discussions | Re: Holding the fiddle | October 24th 2011 |