You Can be a FiddleStar

I post things about fiddling. And how we can all be better at it.

This one has everything. Family feuds, designated hitters, disco, and #dancingmur (You thought there wouldn’t be one on this trip???) #cleveland #motherdaughterroadtrip (at Progressive Field)

Posted 292 weeks ago
<p>It’s happening. Next week. #gathersnomoss #arawfiddlealbum #volume2 #fiddle #fiddlestar  (at Fiddlestar)</p>

It’s happening. Next week. #gathersnomoss #arawfiddlealbum #volume2 #fiddle #fiddlestar (at Fiddlestar)

Posted 293 weeks ago

Dusty Miller #breakdowns #220 #fiddlestar #fiddle #thisisconteststylenottexasstyle #ifwerebeinghonest (at Fiddlestar)

Posted 293 weeks ago
<p>For the next few weeks, I’ll be telling you about some upcoming concerts that I’m doing with the inimitable Adam Hurt. Here’s one now! Tickets are now on sale for our Columbus area concert in October. I know a lot of people in Ohio. And I’m hoping at least some of you want to come see us play and sing. #oldtime #insideouttour #fiddleandbanjo @clawhammerist #clawhammerist #fiddlestar  (at Worthington, Ohio)</p>

For the next few weeks, I’ll be telling you about some upcoming concerts that I’m doing with the inimitable Adam Hurt. Here’s one now! Tickets are now on sale for our Columbus area concert in October. I know a lot of people in Ohio. And I’m hoping at least some of you want to come see us play and sing. #oldtime #insideouttour #fiddleandbanjo @clawhammerist #clawhammerist #fiddlestar (at Worthington, Ohio)

Posted 293 weeks ago
<p>Well, isn’t this nice? Thank you to the nominating committee of the @intlbluegrass for including us in the Industry Involvement category of the IBMA Momentum Awards. Nashville Acoustic Camps is all about bridging gaps and narrowing divides between people by cramming them into our living room and teaching them to play bluegrass and old time music for hours on end. We’re a little surprised there’s an award for that, but since there is, we’re honored to be nominated for it. 😉 This is also an opportunity to thank our instructors, without whom we would not be able to do any of this and therefore the gaps would remain un-bridged and our living room would remain terribly lonely. This nomination is just as much for all of them. (Also, a bunch of them are nominated for awards of their own so clearly the IBMA recognizes how fabulous they are without me having to mention it.) #bluegrass #nashvilleacousticcamps #itsjustanhonortobenominated  (at Fiddlestar)</p>

Well, isn’t this nice? Thank you to the nominating committee of the @intlbluegrass for including us in the Industry Involvement category of the IBMA Momentum Awards. Nashville Acoustic Camps is all about bridging gaps and narrowing divides between people by cramming them into our living room and teaching them to play bluegrass and old time music for hours on end. We’re a little surprised there’s an award for that, but since there is, we’re honored to be nominated for it. 😉 This is also an opportunity to thank our instructors, without whom we would not be able to do any of this and therefore the gaps would remain un-bridged and our living room would remain terribly lonely. This nomination is just as much for all of them. (Also, a bunch of them are nominated for awards of their own so clearly the IBMA recognizes how fabulous they are without me having to mention it.) #bluegrass #nashvilleacousticcamps #itsjustanhonortobenominated (at Fiddlestar)

Posted 294 weeks ago
<p>Happy #internationalcatday to the OG #catland boys #gretsch and #busterkeaton because they are precious and I love them.  (at Fiddlestar)</p>

Happy #internationalcatday to the OG #catland boys #gretsch and #busterkeaton because they are precious and I love them. (at Fiddlestar)

Posted 294 weeks ago
<p>Walter and Christie took the whole @cartervintageguitars crew to a Nashville Sounds game and I must say, it was a spectacular night! The Sounds won, Adam and Machaela had some TotChos and just about everyone found out they could throw faster than they can run. Company field trip success. #cartervintageguitars #nashvillesounds #teambuilding  (at First Tennessee Park)</p>

Walter and Christie took the whole @cartervintageguitars crew to a Nashville Sounds game and I must say, it was a spectacular night! The Sounds won, Adam and Machaela had some TotChos and just about everyone found out they could throw faster than they can run. Company field trip success. #cartervintageguitars #nashvillesounds #teambuilding (at First Tennessee Park)

Posted 294 weeks ago
<p>In 2008, one of our dearest family friends, Eric Marshall, survived a harrowing private plane crash in Redding, CA. Andreas Fuhrmann took this photo of Eric’s precious dog Stanley as firefighter Jeremy Stokes carried him from the wreckage. Sadly, Jeremy Stokes was one of the firefighters killed in the #carrfire and I just learned about this connection to a photo I’ve had burned in my memory for over a decade. This is also my opportunity to let you all know that several members of my NorCal fiddle family have lost everything, including our friends Bob Snyder and Joanne Lobeski Snyder. Bob was the luthier at Bernie’s Guitar in Redding when I started teaching fiddle lessons there in 1989. He used to transcribe tunes for me and would bring me a new challenge almost every week. His wife Joanne taught me to crochet at a fiddle campout when I was eight years old. They’ve been by my side through some of the most important moments of my life since before I can remember. Bob’s archive of traditional fiddle music (reel to reel Weiser rounds from half a century ago, late night jams from the 70s, and on and on, you get the idea) was immeasurable and the loss of this collection of music is a huge blow to the traditional music community. That’s only one story of loss from this fire but there are thousands of others. Several members of our bluegrass community also suffered devastating losses in the #mendocinocomplexfire and I’m just sad for all of them. And I love them and this has been so tragic. I’m so grateful that my blood family is safe and sound but my heart breaks for my music family.  (at Redding, California)</p>

In 2008, one of our dearest family friends, Eric Marshall, survived a harrowing private plane crash in Redding, CA. Andreas Fuhrmann took this photo of Eric’s precious dog Stanley as firefighter Jeremy Stokes carried him from the wreckage. Sadly, Jeremy Stokes was one of the firefighters killed in the #carrfire and I just learned about this connection to a photo I’ve had burned in my memory for over a decade. This is also my opportunity to let you all know that several members of my NorCal fiddle family have lost everything, including our friends Bob Snyder and Joanne Lobeski Snyder. Bob was the luthier at Bernie’s Guitar in Redding when I started teaching fiddle lessons there in 1989. He used to transcribe tunes for me and would bring me a new challenge almost every week. His wife Joanne taught me to crochet at a fiddle campout when I was eight years old. They’ve been by my side through some of the most important moments of my life since before I can remember. Bob’s archive of traditional fiddle music (reel to reel Weiser rounds from half a century ago, late night jams from the 70s, and on and on, you get the idea) was immeasurable and the loss of this collection of music is a huge blow to the traditional music community. That’s only one story of loss from this fire but there are thousands of others. Several members of our bluegrass community also suffered devastating losses in the #mendocinocomplexfire and I’m just sad for all of them. And I love them and this has been so tragic. I’m so grateful that my blood family is safe and sound but my heart breaks for my music family. (at Redding, California)

Posted 294 weeks ago
<p>Our brand new additional Nashville Flatpick Camp has a few more spots available and you should probably grab one. Our original Flatpick Camps always sell out before we’re able to welcome new campers because the pesky returning campers take up all the spots so we added another camp. Wyatt Rice is going to show you everything you need to know about, well, everything. And you can jam with David Grier - no big deal. And Kenny Smith is going to change your life and Adam Schlenker is going to explain things so they make sense for the first time. Go to <a href="http://www.nashvilleflatpickcamp.net">www.nashvilleflatpickcamp.net</a> to grab one of the last few spots. It’s October 5-7 just north of Nashville and there will only be 15 campers at the entire camp. Oh! And we have a very special camp luthier - the actual guy who takes care of all the instruments at Carter Vintage - @gearldstrickland That’s special. #flatpicking #martinguitar @thompsonguitars #thompsonguitars #nashville #guitarcamp  (at Ridgetop, Tennessee)</p>

Our brand new additional Nashville Flatpick Camp has a few more spots available and you should probably grab one. Our original Flatpick Camps always sell out before we’re able to welcome new campers because the pesky returning campers take up all the spots so we added another camp. Wyatt Rice is going to show you everything you need to know about, well, everything. And you can jam with David Grier - no big deal. And Kenny Smith is going to change your life and Adam Schlenker is going to explain things so they make sense for the first time. Go to www.nashvilleflatpickcamp.net to grab one of the last few spots. It’s October 5-7 just north of Nashville and there will only be 15 campers at the entire camp. Oh! And we have a very special camp luthier - the actual guy who takes care of all the instruments at Carter Vintage - @gearldstrickland That’s special. #flatpicking #martinguitar @thompsonguitars #thompsonguitars #nashville #guitarcamp (at Ridgetop, Tennessee)

Posted 295 weeks ago
<p>The #carrfire exploded overnight and evacuations are still underway. Shasta Lake City is now being added to the list. My family is currently safe but our homes are not out of danger. Many of my friends and their families are currently evacuated and are hoping for the best. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed and the fire is barely 10% contained. The beautiful historic town of Old Shasta (where my dad and stepmom got married) has seen tremendous damage. As my brother and I wryly joked last night, we’ve always given Redding a hard time - you’re allowed to do that to the place where you grew up - but just like your mom, no one else is ever allowed to talk smack about it. This fire is destroying our city and we’re just devastated about it. Sending all our love to Shasta County. Oh, and just a reminder, if you can’t take your pets with you when you evacuate, don’t tie them up. Also, @havenhumanesociety is taking pets if you need somewhere to house them. #redding  (at Redding, California)</p>

The #carrfire exploded overnight and evacuations are still underway. Shasta Lake City is now being added to the list. My family is currently safe but our homes are not out of danger. Many of my friends and their families are currently evacuated and are hoping for the best. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed and the fire is barely 10% contained. The beautiful historic town of Old Shasta (where my dad and stepmom got married) has seen tremendous damage. As my brother and I wryly joked last night, we’ve always given Redding a hard time - you’re allowed to do that to the place where you grew up - but just like your mom, no one else is ever allowed to talk smack about it. This fire is destroying our city and we’re just devastated about it. Sending all our love to Shasta County. Oh, and just a reminder, if you can’t take your pets with you when you evacuate, don’t tie them up. Also, @havenhumanesociety is taking pets if you need somewhere to house them. #redding (at Redding, California)

Posted 295 weeks ago

 1/25/13
I am excited to embark on a new chapter of my working life - I recently gave my notice to the Pam Tillis organization and will no longer be touring with her or Lorrie Morgan (on their awesome Grits and Glamour Tour). I must admit, I'm sad to be leaving. It's been an incredible four years and I have learned so much. Thanks to Pam, her amazing husband/manager Matt Spicher, and my bandmates, especially the lovely and talented Mary Sue Englund, with whom I spent more time over the last few years than I did with my husband. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it...