Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Dec 17, 2009, 6:06 pm
What better time to think about building your old-time fiddle music collection than the Christmas holidays? If you're a fan of old-time music like I am, your wish list is never empty! That said, ...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Dec 10, 2009, 9:28 pm
With Christmas nearly upon us, I thought it might be a good time to do a little holiday decorating here at Fiddler's Folly. Aren't my twinkly lights totally awesome? lol. And, what better way ...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Dec 5, 2009, 12:29 pm
Amazing Slow Downer, created by Roni Music is software that allows musicians to slow down music playback without distortion. Amazing Slow Downer has been available for quite a few years now (it was fi...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Nov 29, 2009, 4:21 pm
As I have reviewed the stats for my blog and the search queries that have sent people my way, I have come to realize that there are many beginning fiddlers out there who are confused by drones and dou...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Nov 24, 2009, 8:07 pm
Are Corelli Alliance Vivace the perfect violin string? Well, with a recent change to the Corellis my fiddle does sound awesome and if their longevity is a good as their sound this may, as the saying g...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Nov 22, 2009, 2:23 pm
It's most definitely time for a new tune! Since I'm flying solo here without a teacher to pull my next tune out of his expansive repertoire, I opted for suggestions from my significant other -...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Nov 22, 2009, 2:21 pm
Sounds like the name of a fiddle tune, huh? Well, whatever it sounds like it simply means that change is in the air. I am without a teacher at this point - you may have noticed a gap in my lesson post...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Nov 14, 2009, 3:24 pm
Today, I thought I would backtrack a bit and add a practice piece to my blog that beginning fiddlers might find useful. Although many new fiddlers are apt to think that learning the fingerboard is th...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Nov 7, 2009, 10:37 am
As I have worked to transcribe the tunes I am learning, I have begun to consider whether I should be notating the drones that I use as well. They do tend to clutter up the measures a bit and if you ar...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 31, 2009, 4:27 pm
Ah, another DVD to add to my Christmas Wish List. This excerpt is enough to make me ever so envious of Tommy Jarrell's skill with the bow. I have seen this video on YouTube for quite some time, bu...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 30, 2009, 10:32 pm
Now that I have a few posts under my belt, I'm starting to think that my blog could use a bit more color and pizzazz - stylistically speaking. I liked the old-timey, nostalgic look of my modified ...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 28, 2009, 8:29 pm
Feeling sorry for my family, I decided to give them a break and give myself a present. Their tolerance level for my practice sessions is high, but let’s face it – repeated phrases of anything can ...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 25, 2009, 10:54 am
Well, I finally got around to writing up the notation for 'Sugar In My Coffee' (aka, 'Coffee-O'). I love this tune, but it threw me for a bit of a loop when I decided to notate it. I&#...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 24, 2009, 10:38 am
Before I came down with the dreaded pneumonia, I was fortunate enough to pass my lesson on 'Old Molly Hare' after one extra week of practice. Finally, we could move on to the minor tune that m...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 20, 2009, 6:47 pm
Lessons and fiddle posts will have to wait a few more days as I recover from a bout of pneumonia. The mind is willing, but the body... My lungs are crackling like a bowl of Rice Krispies. Alas, not mu...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 14, 2009, 5:36 pm
Prices for violin cases seem to run the gamut from $50 to well more than I paid for my fiddle (or some of my cars for that matter). The more bells and whistles the more $$$. Needless to say, as I wat...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Oct 10, 2009, 10:14 am
Well, that minor tune will have to wait another week. I bombed my lesson. lol. I wowed my teacher with my total inability to remember 'Old Molly Hare' after practicing it all week (and I truly...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Sep 30, 2009, 8:17 pm
Next week, my teacher says we will be doing something in a minor key. He's not just sure exactly what tune yet, but it got me to thinking about tunes that I know in minor keys - which in turn remi...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Sep 28, 2009, 4:57 pm
This week's lesson tune is 'Old Molly Hare'. For me, this has been a quick and easy tune to learn. I like to think that my ear is getting a bit better at picking out the notes and maybe it...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Sep 20, 2009, 6:02 pm
Lately my teenaged daughter, Anna, has expressed an interest in the fiddle - which surprises me as her favorite bands are Green Day and My Chemical Romance. Not your typical old-time bands. lol. She ...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Sep 10, 2009, 1:19 pm
Well, I bit the bullet and made my selection. I was really hoping that I would be satisfied with Finale's $9.95 NotePad® notation software (in keeping with my frugal tendencies..) and while it ...
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Melissa B. posted an article on Fiddler's Folly - Sep 8, 2009, 7:18 pm
It was an awesome way to spend our last summer holiday. My sweetie, my daughter and I all took a road trip to Ovid for some evening entertainment. The weather was perfect - fading sunlight with a balm...
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