So, I live in a neighborhood that has about 50 rentals.. mostly students.. Today I looked out my front window and noticed a new neighbor across the street carrying a fiddle case as she entered her home. Hmm.. I went over and knocked.."Hello, just a nosey neighbor here, but did I just see someone enter this house carrying a fiddle case?"
Yes, she said.. had the fiddle for years and now intends to learn to play...I offered my services as a mentor . She told me that just ONE block away is Another young person who wants to learn to fiddle.. !! TWO within one block? Have I died and gone to heaven???
This could pan out into nothing, I know, but for now it is pretty exciting!!!
Edited by - TuneWeaver on 05/13/2022 13:07:18
This stuff is not made up, Folks.. Life is interesting if I keep my eyes open..
I walked into an antique store fifty years ago and saw lots of fiddles and banjos on the wall. I played banjo back then a just a tad of fiddle. I asked the owner if any one had bought any banjos there. He told me about two fellows who played banjo and came in regularly. I connected with both of them and although we do not live near each other anymore we are still in touch from time to time.
Count your blessings. I live in a barren wasteland as far as fiddlers go. There is no string section in the local school bands. No shops that sell or service orchestral string instruments. No fiddle or violin teachers. Occasionally see a fiddle player in a bar band or at one of the festivals, but they're like migratory birds, they're here for a bit, then gone. The fishing is good, so there's that.
Greg are you from Key Largo? I had a roommate in college from there…she described life in Key Largo very much, to the point where the rest of us were drooling to go there just listening. Finally, she made herself so homesick she dropped out during that first semester and went back home. I still remember her name and have thought of her stories many times over the decades and still miss her warm, small town and genuine friendship very much. So, maybe no fiddlers, but if the place is still anything like she described it back then…it sounds like a great place to be.
Edited by - groundhogpeggy on 05/15/2022 10:32:14
quote:
Originally posted by groundhogpeggyGreg are you from Key Largo? I had a roommate in college from there…she described life in Key Largo very much, to the point where the rest of us were drooling to go there just listening. Finally, she made herself so homesick she dropped out during that first semester and went back home. I still remember her name and have thought of her stories many times over the decades and still miss her warm, small town and genuine friendship very much. So, maybe no fiddlers, but if the place is still anything like she described it back then…it sounds like a great place to be.
Yeah, it's a nice place to live. Been coming down since the 70's when my folks bought a weekend place, moved down full time almost 30 years ago. I get culture shock now when I go up north to Miami-Dade. It's changed a lot but still a small town. "A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem." Good local music scene, but no fiddlers. No snow either, so it's all good.
Edited by - crunchie812 on 05/16/2022 11:20:12
"A quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem."
Lol
re: "Good local music scene, but no fiddlers."
Well then you get to be a Big Fish in a Small Pond!
You are the authority on fiddling! 
OK Greg, I'll stick my neck out here: if I were down there. And I've been a few times. I'd lookup Mandolin Steve in Key West. I know Keyo Weso is a bit different from Key Largo. I used to love to stay on Marathon. (half way) Another way to check him out is on Mandolin Café.com. His handle on there is "journeybear."
Best of Luck!
OK Lee, you do indeed have prospects.
I don't know what it is about fiddlers that compels us to gravitate towards each other. I think it's the rarity. I've had great times with total strangers. You know as well as I, by the of the session, we were strangers no more. God Bless!
Once, years ago, I as driving through a residential neighborhood and saw a FLASH of white on a porch.. I KNEW it was a violin bow.. I hit the brakes and backed up.. Sure enough..I think there is something in the genes of fiddlers that allows them to find each other..
That's great! I just started finding a group after being here for a number of years. I was getting hopeless.
