FiddleStar

Look! Listen. We added the phenomenal @rachelbaiman to our Adult Beginner Fiddle Camp instructor lineup. We’ve been trying to get her here for years and it has finally happened. Here’s the thing though, there are only two spots left for this camp so if you want to spend the weekend learning to play the fiddle (even if you literally have never once played the fiddle up to this point) with Rachel and me and @natalieraedilla and @tylerandal and a bunch of other people who are super excited and also scared and nervous, go grab one of these spots. www.fiddlestaradultbeginnercamp.com for all the specifics and to register. #fiddle #fiddlecamp #beginnersdoitbetter (at Fiddlestar)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz3LUsEBb-f/?igshid=ru3rfy07ewe8

I’ve always suspected cats can read, and they just don’t want us to know. If they can, as I suspect, they’re reading true crime comedy podcast dual memoirs. #ssdgmpets #ssdgm #murderino #elviswantacookie #orangeandwhitecat (at Fiddlestar)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzyu141BnBa/?igshid=1vr6g6uglqdgf

One of the best moments of my performing life and it was all Eileen’s idea. She brought more light into the world in one day than most people do in a lifetime. May she rest in joy. #eileencarsonschatz #motownfiddle (at Davis & Elkins College)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzweDFmBMye/?igshid=9a495vw01n1v

Oh baby, it’s a little Fiddler’s Blues on this #fiddlinarthursmith Tuesday and things are getting uptempo over here. Look. Listen. I talk a good game about how most people play tunes too fast and how I plan to singlehandedly upend this trend by playing everything too slow. And I stand by this philosophy. But sometimes you just gotta bust out. I tried this one slow and I just about put myself to sleep. Now, if you are trying to learn this one and you’re cursing at me, simmer down. Just head over to my YouTube channel and slow it on down (you know you can just click on the settings wheel and slow down YouTube videos, right?) and all will be well in your world. #fiddle #fiddlestar #fiddlelesson #fiddlersblues #iwannagofast (at Fiddlestar)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BztpgoSBdMr/?igshid=9ma4i8uhsf73

Today, Mary Sue and I ran into the legend that is Judy Seale. I met Judy in 2010 back when Mary Sue and I were still playing for Pam Tillis. She had organized a short Scandinavian tour for us and we all spent a very memorable 10 days together. When @adamspickoftheday and I first started dating, I found out he had also been on a Judy Seale tour. His was a little more dramatic though - he actually went on his first plane ride on that tour and it included shows in Kuwait and Iraq. Many of you have seen his pictures from Saddam’s Palace. I never forgot watching Judy work. She was so organized and such a born leader and the consummate event planner. Every show ran like clockwork and every promoter paid on time and no one was ever late to the bus. (Well, except me that one time in Sweden and I guarantee she was ready to leave me behind.) I was truly inspired by her and how she had created an entire career out of thin air and how much she loved it and I made my mind up that that was what I wanted for my own life. Adam and I have talked about her often and how her example helped us define our lives and today I got to tell her that in person. #ladyboss #starsandstripestour #judysealeinternational (at Nashville, Tennessee)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzmZ8J-BaVW/?igshid=ko0wrkrg0fq2

Happy birthday, USA. Here’s hoping, for the sake of my grandson, and pretty much everyone else I can think of, that we can all aspire to higher ideals and greater compassion. #independenceday #andimadeacobbler (at Greenbrier, Tennessee)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzggHsCh7Ze/?igshid=n6dun57f0549

Happy #fiddlinarthursmith Tuesday, friends and colleagues! I went into this process thinking that the last tune I’d record would be the ol’ Red Apple Rag but never say never, I reckon, because here we are. Three people (and when it comes to obscure weekly fiddle videos, that might as well be platinum status) have asked for it now, so I decided I could deny them no longer. It’s one of Arthur’s most well-known tunes, and for good reason. It makes perfect sense and it’s a blast to play. I did go back and reacquaint myself with his original way of playing it, but I can’t lie - my Texas style version crept in more than a few times. I’ve been playing and teaching it as a Texas style tune of choice pretty much my whole life so cut me some slack, sheesh. As always, the whole version can be found in the usual places. If you haven’t played this one in a while, dust it off. It’s a gem! #fiddle #fiddlestar #fiddlelesson #redapplerag #thatoldchestnut (at Ridgetop, Tennessee)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzbtRgeh2kD/?igshid=3o9309r60vf1

Well then. Here’s the aftermath of day one registration of Nashville Jam Camp. And here’s all I have to say about it - banjo players! November camp is gonna be amazing and we’re going to give you lots of attention so go ahead and fill up those last two spots. And the other thing I have to say is - guitar players! What is wrong with you that you don’t want to spend a cozy December weekend jamming with Wyatt Rice and all the rest of us?!? Get with it. And to everyone else, we are just insanely grateful. We love you. You don’t even know how much. #nashvillejamcamp (at Ridgetop, Tennessee)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzZB8o8hwfN/?igshid=1rlep3idlgx00

We’re only 90 minutes into registration and here’s what’s up. I am adding a waiting list to www.nashvillejamcamp.com for you to click on if your instrument is already sold out. You can also sign up for your non-first-choice camp and let me know that you’d prefer the other one if a spot comes available and I’ll switch you right over if it does. If you play the banjo and you’re free in November or if you play the fiddle or dobro and have some time in December, those are still wide open options. Wow. Thank you for the overwhelming response! #nashvillejamcamp #jamming #bluegrass #bluegrassjam (at Ridgetop, Tennessee)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzYRJ1AB_vg/?igshid=anttoefg18pd

Registration opens in 23 minutes. www.nashvillejamcamp.com #bluegrass #banjo #guitar #fiddle #mandolin #dobro (at Ridgetop, Tennessee)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzYEUY5Bmig/?igshid=udszi44nabg7