A great musician around this area once noticed that my playing was ok, but he just remarked in passing that "i was looking for something that wasn't there".
I didn't understand him at the time, but because he was such a good musician his comment has stuck with me for 10 or 15 years. I think i now understand what he was saying.
I am an aggressive player and i am constantly trying to add to the tune or make it more exiting. And in my efforts to do so, i mess up and get frustrated then search for it again the next time around and so on... in ever decreasing circles. Until i am just thankful to get to the end of the tune without to much of a train wreck. But ...if i just play the tune and take more care, it seems to be a lot less stressful to play, and it sounds a lot less stressful Also.
Ah well you live and learn....iI have had a few of these nuggets over the years. Does anyone else relate to this?
BTW Thanks Stewart
Edited by - pete_fiddle on 06/25/2026 10:06:09
What notes you don't play is just as important as what you play..
I think that’s a significant part of interpretation—learning not to get in the way of the music, but instead to find and pass along meaning in it. As a player you get to make stylistic choices for yourself, but the quality of the playing will depend on what choices you end up making and how well they align with the music.
I feel like there's a line a musician walks.
If one's hypercritical of oneself, one may never leave the practice room.
One needs some support. Someone they can trust.
On the other hand, developing too much confidence can also run amuck.
Again, one needs somebody with an honest assessment.
After 30-40 years one may figure things are the way they are.
Find another instrument to learn and it starts over.
The good thing is that you understand it now. So your sound clips that we enjoy listening to may even get better.
Pete I'm with you. Searching for what you hear in a tune but is not being played. IMHO thats how your personal style gets developed.
Judging by what I've heard in your audio files, you don't sound very aggressive at all, more like a laid-back traditional fiddler to me...
Yes Pete it seems you have taken on that advice based on the clips you've shared! What I wish I'd taken on from earlier days is to lighten up on the bow (both grip and pressure-wise). I still have to constantly remind myself!
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