My favorite solo instrument has always been the fiddle.  Since I was young, I have had a soft spot for the music of this extraordinary instrument.  It can be ethereal one moment and on fire the next.  Nothing stirs my soul like a beautifully played Celtic fiddle tune.

I never thought that I would learn to play until 2005, when I began taking violin lessons from Keadron Higgs, a professional violinist and violin teacher in Richmond, VA.  I was a little skeptical at first, thinking that a 50-year-old guy might have a tough time, but she insisted that I could do this and so I am.  Playing the fiddle has become a very important part of my life and I am disappointed if I cannot practice on any particular day.

My Scottish fiddle instructors have been Jane MacMorran, John Turner, and Sarah-Jane Summers.  Susan Cross is my Irish fiddle teacher these days and she is the best I've had.  I've also taken workshops or lessons from Irish fiddlers Kevin Burke, Liz Knowles, and Cleek Schrey.

An entire world of music and musicians has opened to me since I began playing.  I have discovered many others who have trodden this path.  I take encouragement from their success and revel in their music.  One thing that I have learned: go slowly at first.  Speed comes later, once good technique has been internalized.  It is more important to practice using correct technique, even if that means playing at a snail's pace in the beginning.  With Celtic fiddle tunes, I try to have some context for the music which I listen to and try to emulate.  I want to know their history and origins so that I have more of a heart connection to the music and feel it more deeply.

Click here to view my "Fiddling with Chess" BLOG.

Since beginning, I have acquired several instruments and bows.  One of my violins is an old German instrument, made by "Hopf" in 1802.  It has some cracks and weathering, but sounds really great.  My two newer instruments are of Guadagnini pattern and were bench-made by John Larrimore of Richmond, VA.  I have three bows.  Two are French: one by Deschamps circa 1930 and another modern "Spiccato" carbon-fiber bow by Benoit Rolland.  My main bow is by Michael Duff.

Favorite fiddling sites:

Irish Fiddle - The name says it all

O'Neill's Music of Ireland - Online version of the classic

Riley School of Irish Music - Cincinnati-based school.  Wonderful folks!

San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers - Great organization!

The Session - Online folk music community

Treelight - Learn to play by ear

Wikipedia - Online encyclopedia article on violins

World Fiddle Music - Essays & videos for fiddlers everywhere.  Excellent!!

This is, of course, a matter of taste.  There are many very talented Celtic fiddlers around, but no one can possibly dispute the members of this list (in no particular order):

I enjoy various styles of Celtic fiddling.  Scottish rhythms (strathspeys, etc.) are somewhat more challenging to play than most others, but very interesting.  Irish tunes are fluid, light and generally played at a fast tempo.  Shetland fiddling is stark and powerful.  Tunes from Brittany frequently have unusual rhythm arrangements and an ancient, hypnotic beauty.  Québécoise music is a synthesis of Irish, Scottish, and French and has a drive and rhythm which I find irresistible.

Unfortunately, my favorite fiddler, Johnny Cunningham, died of a heart attack at the age of 46 in December, 2003.  His fiddle virtuosity lives on in his recordings and in the memories of all who saw him perform.  Below is the liner note to his haunting composition 'Leaving Brittany', from the 2005 CD entitled 'Play On' by Celtic Fiddle Festival: