“If he’d play in front of people...”

A friend of mine invited me to his “house concert” where he played classical guitar. I knew he played guitar, but I thought he was just a beginner or weekender. He was nervous and it showed just a bit in his playing, but really it was an impressive performance. If he’d play in front of people more he wouldn't be so stifled by his stage fright, and he’d really shine.

After the house concert Jacquie and I went to Pub 317 for the Sunday night Irish jam session. Simon played Woodcock on the flute and I was barely able to hang on since he plays it much faster than I can. He also played Colonel Fraser’s, the wonderful pipe march that Tom and I learned from Gabe MacVarish in Edinburgh. It’s a four-part reel, and well ornamented it’s marvelously pipey. Here’s one setting, if you’re so inspired: Colonel Fraser's

Bar patrons who eventually moved out of the din of the football fans and into the acoustic influence of the jam appreciated what they were hearing, and the number slowly increased through the evening. I mostly enjoyed my Guinness and listened since I don’t know many Irish tunes.

Until Tom said “Hey, Bob! I want to play Pretty Peg but I don’t remember how it starts. Why don’t you lead us into it?” Very suddenly it was very warm in the bar, and by the second time through I was sweating. Tom smiled. Thanks, Tom, I needed that. “Come on, Bob, let’s do a strathspey set,” Tom hollered at me over the table. “Okay!” I shot back with forced enthusiasm. Me? Play in front of, like, people? Strathspeys? In a bar? In an Irish bar session? Er… but there’s people around!

I stood up for better posture and projection, so did Tom, and we tucked into The Source of Spey, thrice through, then twice through Captain Campbell’s. And the whole circle was on it – two drums, two flutes, two fiddles, a guitar and a bouzouki – and it sounded great! And when we were done the bar patrons applauded. For us!! That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

And that leads me back to “if he’d play in front of people more...”

Indeed.

Putting Actions Behind Words

Exciting week... two things happened, or, more accurately, are starting to happen.

Tom, my fiddle teacher, presented the idea of starting the Northern Rockies Strathspey and Reel Society. With a lot of effort, we can make it work. I've got such a terrific number of ideas rolling through my head now, it's all I can think about! Hopefully Tom will be at the jam today and we can discuss more it there.

The other thing I can't say anything about because it won't actually happen for another five months or so. But it, too, will radically reshape the landscape.

I can't say so much that the "plan" is underway because there isn't a plan. But actions are being taken that are facing me in the direction I want to go.

New email address now: ScotFiddler - at - gmail - dot - com.

And I'm having cards printed. Not really a business card. More like a leisure card. A personal card.

Email me if you want me to send you a card. I'll even sign it for you.

The Bridge to New Sound

Last week I had a new bridge put on my primary fiddle. The desire was not necessarily for increased volume, but rather better tone. The original bridge was really quite short, which made the string take-off angle from the finger board so low that getting really crisp tone required too much finger pressure.

The new bridge is wonderful!! The increased string height means I can use LESS pressure to note, the D-string sounds beautiful, the G- is a little bit faster responding. And the E- is juuust a bit to loud. Have to get that tweaked in a month or so, but otherwise the new bridge is just great.

Jim, the luthier, told me that he works on the Bridger Creek Boy's fiddler's fiddle. Not an hour later I was at Heeb's, getting some groceries for dinner, and I heard from behind me "Nice machine gun case." Started chatting with the fellow and, don't you know, it was Matthew - the fiddler from The Bridger Creek Boys! Had a nice chat with him, and will try to meet with him for a drink one of these nights.

Otherwise, fiddling as much as I can manage every day. And working, ever so slowly, to relax my shoulder tension issue. Turns out that doing etudes allows enough attention capacity that I can listen to my body at the same time I listen to the fiddle, and quite often I find I'm tense. Jacquie and I are going to begin practicing yoga next week. That, too, will help.

New tunes I'm working on: Aith Rant, 250 to Vigo, Whistle o'er the Lave O't, Quiia Burn, The Curlew, and refining the bowing on Da Auld Resting Chair.

Scots Fiddle Festival

On the 11th of November I flew to Edinburgh with my fiddle teacher, Tom. We went for the weekend, for the 2010 Scots Fiddle Festival.

This fiddle festival was, if you'll allow me to deliberately over-dramatize for a moment, a life-changing event: I am not convinced that I will make music my livelihood. Not sure how just yet, but it's what I have to do.

The festival was jammed full of phenomenal musicians, moving music, new friends, and doors just waiting to be opened. The likes of Jamie Laval, Sarah-Jane Summers, Angus Grant Jr., Ross Cooper, Gabe McVarish, Martin Hayes, and so many others, were there and accessible, and so friendly.

Tom and I came home walking two feet off the ground. SO much to do now.

Stay tuned...

A Long Saturday For a Good Cause

A friend and I (let's call him, say, Lance, but not THE Lance, if you know what I mean) spent the day riding our bikes up and down Hyalite canyon south of Bozeman. The idea was to raise money for Eagle Mount and their Camp Braveheart program.

Lance made six laps before his right knee blew up.

I made eight laps, for 128 miles, in 10-1/2 hours of riding.

Not too shabby. And we raised $2k for Eagle Mount.

First Blog Post

Everyone tells me "you should get a blog." Now I have.

More to follow.