OrangeBlossom - Posted - 06/26/2007:  11:32:28

Has anyone ever used Brian Wicklund's American Fiddle Method? I have found this to be very helpful. But I am just a beginner, & was wondering if there is something better.

Thanks for any tips, I need all the help I can get !

DH

Jerry Byers - Posted - 06/26/2007:  11:58:06

Did you get the CD version or DVD version or both? The DVD seems okay; he does move right along.

_____________________________________
Jerry

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tobes - Posted - 06/26/2007:  13:25:04

I met Brian a few years ago, he was an awesome player - one of the reasons i started playing fiddle

tobes - Posted - 06/26/2007:  13:30:11

DH , if you got the books, did you try books one and two?

OrangeBlossom - Posted - 06/26/2007:  13:38:02

I do have the version with both the CD and DVD. And yes,he does make it easy to follow. And as for meeting him, I haven't. But I agree, he is an awesome player !!

I just have volume one right now. Hope I get good enough to move up to two!

DH

Edited by - OrangeBlossom on 06/26/2007 13:41:52

allenadale - Posted - 06/26/2007:  13:39:01

I have these books and have loaned them out to newbies before. They aren't bad. I don't think he spends enough time on bow phrasing, and all the tunes, as I recall, are in standard tuning. Brian certainly is a talented fiddler.

For beginners, I prefer Brad Leftwich's DVD's from Homespun Tapes. He starts out in crossing tuning and ADAE, and he focuses on learning the basic bow licks. They are an excellent place to start for the beginning fiddler.

For Irish fiddling, Kevin Burke has a good set of DVD's on Homespun. But really, all you need is a handful of Irish fiddle recordings and a copy of O'Neill's.

wormbower - Posted - 06/26/2007:  16:26:30

These instruction materials (the Wicklund Books/CDs/DVD and the Letwich DVDs) are the main ones I've been starting out with. I agree with allenadale that they complement each other well. The Brad Letwich DVDs are especially good at teaching bowing patterns.

Paul

tobes - Posted - 06/26/2007:  16:33:31

I have got both of Leftwich's dvds and I agree, his work on the bowing is what makes both stand out as fantastic learning resources.

You know we are really lucky - 100 years ago you would of not been even able to think of getting tips and advice from some of the best fiddlers in the world!

Now all you do is just buy a book or dvd....its kind of crazy really

Toby

OrangeBlossom - Posted - 06/27/2007:  12:37:23

Thanks everyone for your advice. It has been a help. Now all I need to do is practice, practice & practice !!!

DH

bowbag - Posted - 06/29/2007:  09:06:05

I really enjoyed going through the American Fiddle method Volume 1. The DVD that goes with it is a must. One thing I like about it is it's not too particular to any form of fiddling. It's just a clean base to start with. Another good thing about is is the errors in it are marginal. I've noticed a lot of the lesson material out there is rout with errors.

Where can one obtain this Brad Leftwich DVD? You guys have spawned my interest.

RyanHerr - Posted - 06/29/2007:  18:10:14

Hi, I am wondering if the American Fiddle Method can work for me: The number one thing I want to do is sing slow sad songs accompanied only by long tones on the fiddle. I've heard that this means holding the fiddle more on the chest as opposed to chin/shoulder. Can American Fiddle Method work for that?

-Ryan.

tobes - Posted - 06/29/2007:  19:14:01

Bowbag - the brad leftwich dvd's are by homepsun (there are two of them), if you amazon then you will find them. They are both worth getting.

Toby