FiddlinMike.com
Playing Since: 1985
Experience Level: Expert/Professional
Interests:
[Teaching] [Helping]
Occupation: Teacher
Gender: Male
My Instruments:
Fiddle, Guitar, Tenor Guitar, Electric guitar, Mandolin
Classified Rating: (+1)
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Profile Info:
Visible to: Public
Created 7/14/2011
Last Visit 11/20/2012
Fiddlin’ Mike was born with fiddle music in his blood. With two music teachers for parents, and two more music teachers for grandparents, Fiddlin’ Mike was destined for a musical future. Mike’s father, Peter Rolland, is a legendary old-time fiddler around Arizona, and has taught practically every Arizona state fiddling champion for the past 25 years. In the 1970’s, Peter traveled around Arizona collecting recordings of old-time fiddlers for the Arizona Commission for the Arts in order to preserve Arizona’s fiddling heritage. As a result, Fiddlin’ Mike was surrounded by the sounds of old-timey fiddling the very day he was born.
Fiddlin’ Mike spent his youth listening to his dad’s band play cowboy, celtic, old timey, western, and swing music. As soon as he was old enough to pick up an instrument he started getting lessons from his father. When Fiddlin’ Mike started school, he also received classical lessons from his mother, who is an orchestra teacher for the Mesa Public School District. Fiddlin’ Mike also discovered the work of his grandfather, Paul Rolland, who developed the revolutionary string pedagogy system, the Rolland method. The Rolland method focuses on freedom of movement in players, and teaches students perfect technique while insuring that they are free from pain. Around this time, Fiddlin’ Mike started receiving theory and ear training from his grandmother, Clara Rolland, who was a notable piano instructor. Between parents and grandparents, Fiddlin’ Mike was imbued with a sound understanding of technique, music theory, and how to apply these concepts appropriately to fiddling styles. Unlike classical musicians who try (and usually fail horribly) to casually apply their classical training to fiddle music, Fiddlin’ Mike was a fiddler first, so he understands the importance of groove, feel, and bowing in accomplishing the right sound.
It wasn’t long before Fiddlin’ Mike was winning both fiddle contests and Concerto Competitions. Fiddlin’ Mike has won the Arizona State Fiddle Contest, the Four Corners Guitar, Mandolin, and Fiddle Championship multiple times, and placed second among Young Adults at the prestigious National Fiddlers Contest in 2005. Fiddlin’ Mike also won the American String Teachers Association bi-annual Alternative Styles Competition, and was awarded “Best Groove” for his composition, “Overdrive”.
In addition to playing in competitions, Fiddlin’ Mike has been performing locally and nationally with various artists on the fiddle, guitar, and mandolin for over 10 years. Fiddlin’ Mike is particularly in demand as a bluegrass and country fiddler.
