Posted by bj on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
It's funny, I've noticed a bunch of people over the last few months talk about how they almost gave up the fiddle at some point or another.
I can very honestly say that the thought of quitting never crossed my mind.
I'd be damned if I was gonna let less than a pound of wood and metal get the better of me.
And since my "answer" to despairing of ever learning to play the thing was to get totally foolish with it, I've actually learned a couple trick fiddle bits, though I'm not very good at 'em. Doesn't matter. Laughing at myself cleared the air every single time of any former despair, and it got me in a good mood and having fun playing again.
Maybe by the time I'm 90 I'll be able to fiddle while standing on my head.
14 comments on “Cussed Stubbornness”
cornfed Says:
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @7:59:33 PM
Hey, bj,
I'd like to be around to see that 90 year old you standing on your head while fiddling. I expect by then I will have slid in to the finish line sideways, still trying to fiddle and dance at the same time ala John Hartford. It would be a hoot, though...something to read in the roto-gravure. I'm like you, too stubborn to quit at a challenge, when the result of the process is so much fun. ( or evn if it wasn't)
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @9:17:33 PM
Great attitude, bj! The best way to play this thing is to let it know that it don't matterr. The fiddle can smell fear, and if you ain' afraid, it'll play along with you.
WoodshopFiddler Says:
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 @9:27:38 PM
Humbled is right. You've got to grab that thing by the scruff of the neck and play the ^#)@ out of it. Show it who is boss.
bj Says:
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @4:51:58 AM
cornfed, if you're like the boys in the schoolyard of my childhood, you'll be disappointed I wear shorts under my skirt. ;-)
Humbled, I'm one of those fools who is rarely afraid, even when I should be. The fear was all burnt outta me in childhood.
WoodshopFiddler, I'm not the boss. We've negotiated a dtente (with my side of the negotiations consisting of me playing the ^#)@ out of it.)
bj Says:
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @5:05:05 AM
Huh. The copied accented e in detente doesn't copy . . .
WoodshopFiddler Says:
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @11:21:59 AM
I knew what you meant. :>)
Ozarkian DL Says:
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @1:28:00 PM
"Cussed Sturbborness" : A prerequisite fer fiddlin.
bj Says:
Thursday, August 18, 2011 @1:38:04 PM
Yupper!
playmorebluegrass Says:
Friday, August 19, 2011 @12:55:57 PM
ha! bj you're awesome !
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Friday, August 19, 2011 @4:09:09 PM
Yep, that's a yupper befor supper.
eerohero Says:
Friday, August 19, 2011 @5:00:21 PM
Stubborness takes you a long way, yet getting obsessed of fiddlings is the thing that Ive been through, and missed so much other things in life.
I found my priorities lately, fiddling is not on the Top.
Im convinced, that all these "Quitters" found fiddlings as an Obsession.
Wrong Track, I can tell.
I would like to see you Bj, as 90, standing on your head, playing fiddle,reaching this age is a Victory of its own.
bj Says:
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @3:27:32 PM
@Jennifer ** blushes! **
@Humbled And how many Yuppers do you consume before Supper? I prefer Yuengling myself.
@Eero Fiddling is a VERY close second for me.
ViolaFiddler Says:
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @4:32:34 PM
Sheesh! I haven't played my viola fiddler for so long I don't need to give it up or quit. I've already had too long a hiatus. //o-\\
Tenacity is my friend and fear is a sour apple.....
bj Says:
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @4:59:06 PM
You unpacked yet, Jan? Can you FIND your viola? ;-)
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