Reverend_fiddler - Posted - 06/27/2007:  17:38:34

Are there any other Suzuki-trained fiddlers, err.. violinists, out there besides me? If so, what do you think about this method as it relates to fiddling?
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Edited by - OTJunky on 05/30/2008 17:42:07

CageyK - Posted - 06/27/2007:  19:59:51

Howdy!

My daughter is completing her 4th year of Suzuki violin and will soon begin Suzuki Book 3. I have been closely involved with her development as a violinist as the "practicing parent", in the Suzuki lingo.

The method, and her teacher, have been incredibly effective at engaging her interest in and devleopment as a violinist. It has not, however, taught "fiddling." The repertoire, as you probably know, is definitely classical in orientation.

Many Suzuki teachers supplement the Suzuki core curriculum with additional materials. Our teacher does this, but with additional classical materials.

However, other Suzuki teachers locally and regionally do include a fiddle orientation. Throught workshops sponsored by them, our daughter has had a good early exposure to fiddling, has participated in several fiddle performances, and even took 3rd place in the "trick fiddling" division at a regional fiddle contest, winning $25. And she was the youngest of all entrants, with the oldest being 100!

I have told her, "The more classical violin you learn from the Suzuki (or likely, any other violin) method, the better fiddler you'll be in the long run." I believe that wholeheartedly. To achieve this, however, I also believe that ideally one would learn fiddling on a parrallel track with the classical repertoire. (I realize there may be disagreement on this point.)

In our region, many Suzuki teachers use the 2 volume "American Fiddle Method" by Brian Wicklund. Each volume has an accompanying CD, with a great selection of tunes. The tunes are arranged in order of increasing difficulty from a basic violin/fiddling skill level to intermediate. Brian had 1 or several years of Suzuki instruction before his Suzuki teacher moved on. His teaching style--in his books and workshops--appears to be influenced by his early Suzuki experiences. It may be worth checking this resource out (available on Amazon.com and elsehwere; I have no interest other than being a satisfied customer interested in passing on a good fiddle learning resource).



CageyK

Edited by - CageyK on 06/27/2007 20:08:15

BanjoBrad - Posted - 06/27/2007:  22:51:06

The AFM by Brian might (should) be available at your local library. If they don't have it, it may be attainable through their branches. That's where I found the copy I looked at.

>It can save a few dollars if you decide it isn't going to work for you.<


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Reverend_fiddler - Posted - 06/28/2007:  08:21:25

What I felt was most helpful was listening to the music first on 33 1/3 and then sight reading it. It was like being taught to play by ear, and sight read at the same time.
And, playing classical does come in handy when asked to play for weddings, etc. Sometimes the Irish Washerwoman just doesn't cut it for the processional...

ehawkins - Posted - 06/28/2007:  10:12:30

My oldest boy started Suzuki when he was 5 yrs old at Buffalo Suzuki Strings. They are regared as the "best" around, and decidedly classical only. When I got fed up with the crap and looked for a new teacher for him, I found a wonderful teacher who had worked for BSS for many years and had just gone out on her own. Long story short, I started taking lessons and love it too. She incorporates a lot of fiddle, if the student wants it. She figures the more we play the better we'll be. We always come back to Suzuki and standard notation. Now his orchestra teacher next year is a noted Irish fiddler in our area and we're members of the Niagara Frontier Old Time Fiddlers. Great fun, all of it.

valleyboy - Posted - 06/28/2007:  11:22:54

One of my favorite local fiddlers, Anthony VanPelt, is a Suzuki fiddler. He's awesome to listen to, and throws classical bits into all of his songs. The end result is a very energetic fiddling. I hope to learn that way of playing. The only real question is, should you start that method at the beginning?

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AllenAEAE - Posted - 07/06/2007:  15:21:28

I've never studied Suzuki myself but sat through lots of lessons with my two kids. I'm a big fan because it develops the ear and (at least in the early years) actually encourages you to learn by ear. I've met so many classically trained fiddlers who find it difficult to learn old-time tunes by ear. It seems to me Suzuki helps avoid that..although I'd be interested to hear others on this.

Also...the longer I play fiddle, the more I value technique. If I had a few years of Suzuki or other training, I might have figured out by now how to shift easily to upper positions when that (ocasionally) is necessary.

tiquose - Posted - 07/06/2007:  15:55:18

quote:

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Originally posted by Reverend_fiddler

Sometimes the Irish Washerwoman just doesn't cut it for the processional...

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OTJunky - Posted - 07/06/2007:  16:09:28

quote:

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Originally posted by tiquose
Don't be so sure about that ... when John and I got married, a friend playing Whiskey Before Breakfast for our processional on an old pump organ. Of course he played it so slow you wouldn't recognize it.

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