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Fiddling Demystified

Donna Hébert

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"Should be required reading for every string teacher hoping to branch out into fiddling!" Strings Magazine
“A substantial contribution to the growing field of fiddling pedagogy. Fiddling Demystified should be required reading for all string teachers hoping to branch out into fiddling.” — Laura Risk, Strings Magazine

Darol Anger’s Foreword    Jam CD  DOWNLOAD book/CDs

Here’s a free lesson from Fiddling Demystified Vol. I.  I teach the Irish tune Swallowtail Jig.  Basic and fully-styled Irish settings are included for G clef (violin/fiddle/flute) with the tune played slow and fast. The CD also includes a lesson track.

The rhythm and bowing lesson for this tune teaches both slurring into the downbeat and starting phrases on an upbow. Try it for that lovely, light, jiggy sound. For the left hand, there’s a lesson on playing a jig roll, flicks and note-bending smears. If you listen for the subtleties of dynamics, you’ll hear them – and they are part of the overall rhythm of the tune.

  • Basic setting PDF – the core melody as it’s found in most collections
  • Fully-styled Irish setting PDF – for violin (see below)
  • Slow Irish setting mp3
  • Irish style lesson shown below

Darol Anger’s Foreword    Jam CD    Sample pages    DOWNLOAD book/CDs

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