Posted by musekatcher on Monday, December 19, 2011
Every Winter (my favorite season) I seem to think about a major goal associated with a musical instrument. This must have come about around 15 years ago. Dad passed away which took a lot of focus off the farm. I also quit hunting and fishing, and our 3rd child was born requiring a lot more time needed at the house. Time to pull out the fiddle.
Or, perhaps its the lure of the fireplace and hot coffee on a cold day. I found myself feeding the fire all weekend, consuming an impressive amount of coffee while working on dozens of fiddle tunes. While my lineage is firmly Southern, I seem to be interested this year in the larger subset of fiddle tunes I'll just call "American".
Modern listeners seem to lump all fiddle tunes into one group. I suppose modern and popular music and especially song is sufficiently embedded, that any and all tunes associated with a fiddle, and performed on a fiddle sound similar. Those of us more passionate about fiddling, especially those who play a fiddle, tend to stress the distinction of different kinds of fiddle tunes, usually associated with a nationality - Irish, Canadian, Gypsy, Norwegian, and so on. Even "Southern" tends to be treated as a nationality, even today. And, we even sub-sub-divide further into bluegrass, or "old-time" or Metis or Down-East, and so-on. And the distinction goes on to differentiate stylistically down to the very personal essence of specific fiddlers.
Of course its a bit of a fling every year. I'll saturate over a few weekends, neglecting other things, and then return to other activities and leave the fiddle in the case till early Spring. Christmas shopping for instance, is still ahead of me, with less than a week to go. Perhaps I can restrain myself, and make my weekend fiddle-time last a bit longer this year without totally avoiding chores? Moderation perhaps plays a major roll in a successful balance.
I never feel as though I achieve my goals at Winter's end. But I'm thankful for all the Winters passed, and the cumulative reward realized. I look forward to rewards in the future.
3 comments on “Winter and Woodshed Goals”
eerohero Says:
Monday, December 19, 2011 @12:04:15 PM
You will get your Reward in the world of Music, soon enough. Christmas shopping ? I dont do any. to me, a waste of time.it takes away so much practice time.Business mens revenge for common mens world.Playing different kind of Music, opens your heart to the Music, Classical music ones and awhile doesnt hurt you at all.
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Monday, December 19, 2011 @3:15:04 PM
So what tunes are you currently playing, Jim?
musekatcher Says:
Friday, December 23, 2011 @2:34:52 PM
I'm definitely stepping outside my normal - New England tunes I suppose. Many of these tunes intersect with Irish and Scottish tunes, as well as Canadian. I did finish my Christmas shopping btw.
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