You have to start somewhere

It began a long time ago. I have always had a soft spot for the music of this extraordinary instrument. It can be ethereal one moment and on fire the next. Nothing stirs my soul like a beautifully played Celtic fiddle tune.

I never thought that I would learn to play until March, 2005. At that point, the mother of a young girl whom I teach in a small group chess class offered me private violin instruction if I would tutor her daughter privately in chess. This particular mother is a very talented lady. She is the concertmaster of the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra and an experienced violin teacher, so I was grateful for the opportunity to learn to play. I was a little skeptical at first, thinking that a 50-year-old guy might have a tough time, but she insisted that I could do this and so I am.

Playing the fiddle has become a very important part of my life and I am disappointed if I cannot practice on any particular day.

An entire world of music and musicians has opened to me since I began playing. I have discovered many others who have trodden this path. I take encouragement from their success and revel in their music. One thing that I have learned: go slowly at first. Speed comes later, once good technique has been internalized. It is more important to practice using correct technique, even if that means playing at a snail's pace in the beginning. I try to have some context for the music which I listen to and try to emulate. I want to know the history and origins of the tunes. In this way, I have more of a heart connection to the music and feel it deeply.

I am in the process of choosing a first violin. I have been using a rental for a few months and it has served me well, but I made the fatal error of playing a quality instrument and it is hard to want to play the rental again. This will not be an easy choice, but I will take my time and find the one meant for me.

In July, 2005, I will spend a week in Asheville, NC at a Celtic music retreat. I want to improve my fiddling skills and to spend time with others who share a love of this music and this instrument.