Hi, my name is Len Zaikoski.
I'm a 40-year-old, happily-married, father-of-one who programs computers for a living and plays Irish fiddle and mandolin for fun. I live in Central Pennsylvania, in the USA.
I started out in Elementary school with some classical training, but gave up in Jr. High when playing violin wasn't "cool." In 2000, after a long time of developing a love of "Celtic" music, I decided to pick up a violin again and this time try fiddling.
Since then I've learned the difference between "Celtic" and ITM, and like to think of myself as an "Irish" fiddler -- even though I'm almost 100% Polish! :) Hmmm, maybe this explains why I enjoy playing polkas so much….
For Christmas 2003, my lovely wife bought me a nice Takamine acoustic-electric guitar and I've been trying to learn to play some backing; though, I doubt I'll ever bring my guitar to a session.
I also have a nice Clarke "Sweetone" tinwhistle but I can only play a couple of tunes on it. I like having an instrument I can carry around anywhere and not have to worry about breaking it.
For Christmas 2006, my lovely wife bought me a mandolin (a not-too-pricey Fender). I love the sound of a mandolin, and I've been able to transfer most of my tunes over. Picking just doesn't feel as natural as bowing, but I've been getting better. I also like being able to switch between melody and backing, if I want.
There's actually quite a vibrant session scene here in Central PA (http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/centralpaceltic/), so I've got my pick of a few.
In addition to an ITM session, I also jam once a month with the Susquehanna Folk Music Society (http://www.sfmsfolk.org/info/home.html) ; playing folk, bluegrass, gospel, old time and ITM. Blending my fiddle and mando in with this diverse group of excellent musicians has actually helped a lot with my "ITM learning-by-ear goals." Considering that I know very few of the songs/tunes they play, *listening* has been critical! :)
Tunes in KeepFiddlin''s tunebook: 474
| The Cat In The Kitchen | jig | June 27th 2008 |
| Two Mile Bridge | jig | February 15th 2008 |
| Riding On A Hand-Car | jig | October 17th 2007 |
| Don Messer's Breakdown | reel | July 28th 2006 |
| Ariel | hornpipe | July 27th 2006 |
| Audacity | March 8th 2004 |
| Molly Branigan's | July 24th 2006 |
| Coakley's | July 15th 2003 |
| Do ITM musos prefer memory or photographs? | October 11th 2006 |
| Questions about Manus McGuire | July 27th 2006 |
| Delete a listed session? | June 15th 2006 |
| Last thing said on BBC's Culan? | March 10th 2006 |
| Composing tunes.... | August 9th 2005 |
| Discussions | Re: another "learning to play" question | October 21st 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: How many of 'us' are dead yet? | September 17th 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: eavesdrop | September 14th 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: Beginner Mandolin | July 21st 2009 |
| Discussions | Re: How much money do you spend on 'listening' to music? | July 10th 2009 |