FIDDLE FUEL - Episode 1
GOAL SETTING AND ROADMAPPING
Welcome to the first episode of this new, free publication! My name is Kiana, I am a professional performing artist and educator, the violin is my medium, and I am so glad you are here. This newsletter aims to be a free resource that cuts right to the core of what we actually need to talk about in the arts. The fuel and inspiration we need to grow and succeed at any level - whether you are an aspiring professional, beginner, or life-long learner. This is the place for real talk about everything fiddle. A monthly blast of fuel for your fiddle fire - a strong cup of coffee to sip on as you start your musical month ahead.
The inaugural topic for this publication is so important, and I hope you are ready to hang onto your hat because it is a big one. Goal setting and road mapping.
Imagine you're an athlete (maybe you are!) and you decided you love running so much you want to complete a 10k. Great! Amazing, we are all jazzed up for you. There is no world where you would just put on your shoes and head out and do that right now. No! Crazy. But we do this in the arts all the time. I’d love to play x… and then we just try it. Or worse still we look at other musicians doing things and say, “I’m terrible because I can’t do that” when we haven’t even given ourselves a chance to learn it and train up yet. That’s like me watching my friends complete a marathon saying “I’m a failure because I didn’t do that.” The way athletes train is so normalized, that even us amateur runners imagine all the work that went into the results. We even had a vague idea of what the roadmap, or training regime, might look like thanks to countless highly motivating documentaries and blockbuster stories. The training required for success in music is a bit more black box. Even the great documentaries about musicians don’t really show any insight into what practice over time actually looks like. Let’s change this right now.
Grab this free strategy worksheet to roadmap your route to success in practice.
You will set a goal for 3 months from now
that:
can be process-driven
Examples: I will run every day = I will practice improvised solos in A minor 3x/week
Or outcome-based
Examples: I want to run a 10 = I want to play Minor Swing with Improvised solos.
Next work backwards to create a training plan that gets you there. And set up habits and routines in your life to help support that.
This is the same exact roadmap I am using with my students this year. Check it out.
If you did this, put your name down on the waitlist for my private studio for winter semester.
Ask Kiana
Ask Kiana: a fiddler’s advice Column
Q: What do you do for a warm up?
A: Well, great question. It can vary based on what I am practicing that day but here it my tried and true plan. It never fails, and is the one I go to when I only have 10-15 minutes. I use it before a show and even just on a lazy Saturday morning. Try this:
5 minutes - long slow tones. Open strings first, then slow scales, going for as much resonance and beautiful tone as possible. With and without vibrato.
5 minutes - speed and dexterity. I often pick 1-2 Shraediek exercise and just do then with a metronome doubling the tempo each time. You can do this with any tune of piece you are working on too. My goal is to work on minimum tension and maximum effency.
2 minutes - creative play. Forced free improve or variation creation. Something that gets me off that page and thinking out of the box. (Also connecting with the fun.)
3 minutes - body. People always laugh at this part but it is KEY. Set the violin down and go warm up your full body. jumping jacks to get heart rate up, then stretching the back shoulders and some rotations of the torso.
I need way more questions to answer next months, so send them in! ⬇️
Thoughts from the Classroom
Thinking of using a fiddle tune in the classroom this year but not sure where to start? There are so many great piece that use fiddle and folk music as inspiration. Deanne, our fiddle club string program specialist, has made a list piece to check out that you and your kids will LOVE.
String Orchestra Arrangements of Fiddle Tunes or Pieces Inspired by Traditional Fiddle and Folk Music
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-Angeline the Baker Arranged by Jim Palmer-Alfred Publishing Belwin Divison (Grade .5)
-Fiddles on Fire by Mark Williams-Alfred Music Publishing (Grade 1)
-Celtic Dance by Mark Williams-Alfred Music Publishing (Grade 1)
-American Fiddle Medley Arranged by Bob Phillips (Grade 1)
-Ash Grove Arranged by Michael Hopkins-Kendor Music Publishing (Grade 1)
-Loch Lomond Traditional/Arranged by Noah Klauss-Kendor Music Publishing (Grade 1)
-Scarborough Faire Traditional/Arranged by Brian Balmages-FJH Music Company Inc (Grade 1)
-Ghost Ship by Michael Story-Alfred Publishing Belwin Division (Grade 1.5)
-Ragtime Annie by Bob Phillips-Highland Etling Publishing (Grade 1.5)
-Fiddles at Sea Traditional/Arranged by Kathryn Griesinger-Ludwig Masters Publications
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Over the Sea to Skye Arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle-Alfred Music Publishing
-Rakes of Mallow Traditional/Arranged by Larry Moore-Hal Leonard Corporation
-The Sailor’s Hornpipe Traditional/Arranged by Sandra Dackow-Alfred Publishing Belwin Division
-Auld Lang Syne Traditional/Arranged by Sandra Dacron-Alfred Music Publishing Belwin Division
-Inishowen by Sarah Siegler-Grand Mesa Strings
-Wellerman Traditional/Arranged by Larry Moore-Hal Leonard Corporation
-Lord of the Dance by Ronan Harriman/Arranged by Larry Moore-Hal Leonard Corporation
-Ships of Ireland by Soon Hee Newbold-FJH Music Company Inc. (Grade 2)
-The Campbells are Coming Traditional/Arranged by Sandra Dackow-Alfred Publishing Belwin Division (Grade 2)
-Drowsy Maggie Traditional/Arranged by Deborah Baker Monday-Wingert Jones Publications (Grade 2)
-Fiddling A-Round by John Caponegro-Kendor Music Publishing (Grade 2)
-Finnish Folk Song Suite Traditional/Arranged by Francis Caravella-Wingert Jones Publications (Grade 2)
-Going to Boston-Traditional/Arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle-Alfred Music Publishing (Grade 2)
-Soldier’s Joy-Traditional/Arranged by Sandra Dackow-Alfred Publishing Belwin Division (Grade 2)
-Spirit of the American West by Soon Hee Newbold-FJH Music Company Inc (Grade 2)
-Wayfaring Stranger Traditional/Arranged by Michael Kamuf-Alfred Publishing Belwin Divison (Grade 2)
-Passerine Traditional/Arranged by Carl Strommen-Carl Fischer LLC (Grade 2)
-Curse of Tortuga by Tyler Arcari-Excelcia Music Publishing (Grade 2.5)
-For the Star of County Down Traditional/Arranged by Deborah Baker Monday-Neil A Kjos Music Company (Grade 2.5)
-Donegal Fiddles Traditional/Arranged by Tim McCarrick-Alfred Music Publishing Belwin Division (Grade 2.5)
-Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar/Arranged by Bob Cerulli-Alfred Music Publishing (Grade 2.5)
-O Carolan’s Draught Turlough O’Carolan/Arranged by Andrew H. Dabczynski-Highland Etling Publishing (Grade 2.5)
-Blue Fire Fiddler by Soon Hee Newbold-FJH Music Company Inc.
-American Fiddle Fanfare by Gary Gackstatter-C Alan/McClaren Productions (Grade 3)
-Gaelic Trilogy Traditional/Arranged by Jim Palmer-Highland/Etling Publishing (Grade 3)
-Postcards from Russia Traditional/Arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle-FJH Music Company Inc (Grade 3)
-Molly on the Shore by Percy Grainger/Arranged by Sandra Dackow-Tempo Press
-Irish Party in Third Class Traditional/Arranged by Larry Moore-Hal Leonard Corporation
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-Air and Simple Gifts by John Williams-Hal Leonard Corporation (Professional Edition)
-American Folk Song Suite Arranged by Jack Jarrett-FJH Music Company
-Fantasia Espanola by Soon Hee Newbold-FJH Music Company
-Tam Lyn Traditional/Arranged by Plohman and Phillips-Alfred Music Publishing
-Foggy Mountain Breakdown by Earl Scruggs/Arranged by Larry Moore-Hal Leonard Corporation
-A Grainger Suite by Percy Aldridge Grainger/Arranged by Robert D. McCashin-MakeMusic Publications (Grade 3.5)
-Julia Delaney’s Reel Traditional/Arranged by Carl Strommen-Carl Fischer LLC (Grade 3.5)
-Echoes of Ireland Traditional/Arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle-FJH Music Company (Grade 4)
-Scenes from the Emerald Isle Traditional/Arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle-FJH Music Company Inc (Grade 4)
-Folk Tune Air and Fiddler’s Fury by Alexander Sanford-Alfred Music Publishing (Grade 4)
-Irish Legend by Robert Kerr and Soon Hee Newbold-FJH Music Company Inc. (Grade 4)
-Irish Junkyard Jam by Brian Balmages-FJH Music Company Inc (Grade 4.5)
-Point Lookout (A Fantasy on Civil War Songs) by Brian Balmages-FJH Music Company Inc (Grade 4.5)
FUEL FOR YOUR EARS - listen to these
FUEL FOR YOUR EYES - check out these vids
FUEL FOR YOUR FINGERS - try these exercises and tricks