Fiddle Tunes for Beginners
Here are a couple fiddle tunes for beginning violinists. Summer is a great time to add variety into your students repertoire. These tunes can also reinforce techniques that they are learning in their classical literature. But you don’t have to tell them that! Fiddle tunes have a way of making the player and the listener smile. It’s hard to play these happy lively tunes and not smile. These tunes can get into their fingers and spark some practicing! Who knows you might even find your toe tapping. So where do we start? The Orange Blossom Special or The Devil Went Down to Georgia is probably not the best place for…
How Far Is It To Bethlehem?
I learned the Christmas hymn “How Far Is It to Bethlehem?” when I was in 4th grade. I remember it because my family moved from Chicago to South Carolina. We began attending a small church in Clemson, SC. That year the children’s choir learned the song “How Far is It To Bethlehem?” for the Christmas program. Recently, I read an article on Frances Chesterton, wife of G. K. Chesterton. She is the author of the poem How Fari Is It To Bethlehem. I still remember most of the words for the hymn. But I didn’t realize it’s beauty and depth until I re-read it now as an adult. Who was Edith Chesterton? The…
All I Want for Christmas is…
In the lines of that classic Christmas song, “All I want for Christmas…” Well it probably isn’t your two front teeth. But are you looking for Christmas gift ideas to inspire the string player in your life? Over the years parents and grandparents have asked me for some ideas for Christmas. Here are some ideas ranging from books and music to equipment. All I Want for Christmas is a Shoulder Rest Everest shoulder rests come in lots of colors which kids love! Everything from hot pink to light pink, red, dark purple, blue, dark blue, green, light purple, gray and the classic black. Before you order the shoulder rest, you will…
Snowflake Hornpipe
If you are looking for some good winter music, check out Snowflake Hornpipe. We’ve got snow on the brain here in Colorado. Mostly because we haven’t gotten any! Ski resorts have delayed their opening, and we are all watching the weather forecasts hoping that a few little snowflakes are on the horizon. Well, ok, more than a few, actually we would like a lot of snow. Don’t get me wrong, I am loving the warm fall days full of sunshine, but our parched ground in desperate need of water. So here’s a little music to bring on the snow! Classical Winter Music Composers throughout the centuries have tried to capture and…
