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Originally posted by Strabo

A recent discussion here mentioned Tricia Spencer’s book. It sounded interesting so I bought the book. Tricia’s approach is a good fit with my current direction -- improving my seconding skills and my ability to chase unfamiliar tunes in jams.

I have never been one for repetitive drilling or formal lesson plans but I think I’ll work my way through her system for a while. She works from double stops and chord shapes, which come easy for me after years of mandolin. Her exercises might also help me clean up some sloppy technique -- and I might even learn the names of the notes!

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Strabo, we have this in common! Violin was the first instrument I feel I took more serious than the others. I know the drilling is something I need to focus on. It's amazing how when I used to play Red Haired Boy and Whiskey Before Breakfast, I was extra sloppy and unable to play the notes accurately. Since playing the fiddle, I've gained some technique which is killer to actually hear finally.

After I got my first fiddle I took a handful of lessons from a guy who was not a fiddler, but could fake it. Among the tips he handed down was this gem. "You try to make those brief moments where it actually sounds like music to last longer and those long periods where you sound like crap to last shorter." Hey, it was a concept I could actually grasp, even if it was a case of simple but not easy. I also heard somebody say that as we learn how NOT to make the awful sounds, all we're left with are the sounds that work for us, which can also help explain a personal style. I say, whatever gets you there. I adapted a lot of mandolin to my fiddling, including lots of double stops from deconstructed chord shapes. Too many. Way, way too many. I admit it. Still a work in progress.

Absolutely, Walter!

Things are opening up even more the more I dive in. I haven't touched my fiddle in a week but I remind it that the next time we meet, I will be one more step ahead. I think because I'm a guitar player, the methods and patterns are easier to see. I found a couple good teachers on Youtube that had a nice way of explaining and teaching.