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The Mountain

Those who taught:
Mary Beth Kirkpatrick, 1st Chair, WV Symphony,
Studio, Gorby's Music, 7th Ave., Charleston WV.

Amelia Chan, Concertmistress, WV Symphony, Charleston WV
Montclaire String Quartet

Coach, Christine Carr McGuire, War , WV; alum, honors, UCinn. Conservatory, Pi Kappa Lambda.

There will be no direct solicitation on this site

The Hollow


"Thanks a lot for organizing and posting these videos..... In just a few viewing minutes I've received answers to basic questions which I've been asking for years! I enjoy reading your posts..." (Patricia)

My Mountain


...born in the mountains, climbed the mountain, tilled the rocky soil, heard the song of the hollows, and learned the names of the stars on a cold clear winter night on my favorite ridge, 'everyman's' chapel. Al Justice

Fiddler Cove DeepThink

I did say a spirit of the fiddle Exists!
Know thyself and thy fiddle.

Please Note:  On this level, external resources still open in new windows or tabs, but internal resources use the same browser window.  Also, if there is a back link on internal pages, you have opened a deeper layer resource--if there is no back link, you are at a main hollow at Fiddler Cove, shown in the main navigation to the left.  This design has specific purpose.


I encourage especially amateurs to know the world of violin--I am an amateur.   A world of variety of ability and perspective exists that help deal with the frustration of getting through  the awkward stage (about four years even if working hard) when learning such a difficult instrument.  For me, maybe more!

Said another way, if in eastern European Gypsy music there are regional ways and norms in doing things(and there are), the world of formal violin too has it's schools of thought as well as a maturity that came over time towards today's more widely accepted standards.  I see this as both a good and not so good thing. 

Reading the Martens paper below, I can almost feel the world of violin echoing our discovering nature, as it spread across the globe.   My concern through appreciation of regional color and voice however, is simply beyond my control, though I am thankful some efforts are being made to preserve these treasures. 

Along these lines mentioned, and I will try and gather links, I encourage you to explore the world of Jazz violinist great: Stephane Grapelli: This is very easy to do on Youtube, and Yehudi Menhuin's experience when playing with the great self-taught jazz violinist is humbling and very 'very' inspiring.

I do mean Grapelli is great. You can do this violin thing!  Take time to learn about 'the singing instrument', in a noisy noisy world.   When I heard them play....

Also it is generally accepted that violin great Ginette Neveu had a little spice to her chops, that was expressed in the same generalist confidence that Grapelli exhibited.  I encourage you as well, to get to know this great lady.   Ida Haendel in "The Art of Violin" says, "but, when I heard her play!" speaking of Neveu.

Violin's footprint on life  is colorful and worth understanding. 


The Spirit:
Spirit: Ghost Goblins and Storytelling
Spirit: When Less, is More  Believe.  Express.
Spirit:Conversations on The Front Porch: Pull up a chair.

Advanced Thoughts:
On the Ridge with Drew Lecher

The Players:
Legendary violinists (new tab--or--window)(a wonderful site)

This is just a really good Project Gutenberg Site:
Famous Violinists of  Today and Yesterday, By Charles Lahee (new tab--or--window)

(Wikipedia does it again! )
List of Classical violinists (new tab--or--window)


The Perspectives:
What might some master violinists and teachers feel about practicing and success?  Interpretation and technique? Method and reaching the masses? Project Gutenberg
Frederick Marten(new tab--or--window)

Leopold Auer: Violin Playing As I Teach it   (new- tab--or--window) Auer is quoted in the Martens paper--and here is an in depth look into his views, both by opinion and example.  Thanks to Mr. Drew Lecher.

Digging deeply into the nature of voice, dance and some of these possible inter-relationships with 'Violin The Singing' instrument--this is  truly for those digging deeply into both the history, and spirit of violin.  Just what was Bartok looking for in that folksong, fiddle and dance?
Bela Bartok Interview  (new tab--or--window)

A little more high-tech than I prefer in the spirit of this site,  but Philharmonia Podcasts is a really nice hollow within which to explore deeper topics of music.  I really enjoy hearing others deeply explore many of the intangibles of music,  from the hollow to the concert stage. 
Philharmonia Podcasts (new tab--or--window)



The Timelines:
Some articles on the History of the Violin
Wikipedia (new tab--or--window)
About Com (new tab--or--window)
Thinkquest (new tab--or--window)



Further Adventures:
A collection of articles From ABC Violins, the "Blind Faith" article being my favorite--by
Alan Coggins (new tab--or--window)

FAQs About Bows--in depth  (new tab--or--window)