finally fiddling

Ezra and I are about to begin a new journey together this fall. He's waited a very long time to be 'old enough' to take lessons. And now "four and a half" has finally arrived, and so have our shiney new fiddles, and he can barely contain his excitement. It's contagious - I can't wait either.

"Mama - can you even believe that a four and a half year old fiddle player lives here now?"

Oh, my sweet. I can, I really, really can. And this is going to be so much fun.

Comments

[katharine]

My four and a half year old has been playing for a year and i is awesome. The sreechy little instrument, the awkward tunes leading of course to incredible pride by all of us.

Cherish it, it really is cute.

[heather]

how exciting for you both! best of luck, you are one very cool fiddlin' four and a half year old ezra! (with a very cool mama to join you)

[Sarah]

My children's violins have brought an amazing range of emotions into our home--a mother's heart singing while listening to her children play beautifully, a child's voice raging at having to practice, feet stomping with joy to a reel--it's all good. Today, for my birthday, my daughter gave me a coupon for 20 "good" violin practices :-)

My daughters quickly surpassed my ability to play and I am now just the coach and cheerleader. Have a wonderful time with all the emotions.

[jean]

Welcome to a new world, peeps.

[carol]

hurrah!

My oldest daughter began lessons this summer and I SO BADLY want to play too! love the instrument...have fun on your new adventure.

[Jenn]

You never cease to amaze me Soule Mama - how do you find the time to be so dang cool?!
I love you guys' adventures - I'm sure this one will be oh so very good.
Happy fiddlin'!

[Anamaria]

Congratulations to the new fiddlers! Leo started the violin in January; I wish I could play with him, but we had to opt for traditional lessons (I attend with him, but don't play). Let me recommend a wonderful book: Helping Parents Practice (Sprunger)--and let me know when you get to Twinkle! Shine on.

[bigbucketgirl]

"Go Ezra!"
What a wonderful gift...You are a cool Mama!
I played the flute and clarinet in school and so we are a very windy family! Thankfully the neighbours love to hear all three children practising scales and Twinkle Twinkle morning, noon and night! DS#2 plays 'noise' on a Melodica. He hugs it tight when he goes to bed! Making music is a wondeful thing to share...Wishing you sweet tunes with your little fiddler. :)

[Sarah]

Yay! Our Katherine has started learning the piano with Daddy this month. I love being the audience.

[Stacey]

As a fiddler's daughter I know what a sweet screechy thing it is to hear someone learning. I think I love Twinkle, Twinkle more when it's a bit screechy.

[Carrie]

I bought a fiddle when we lived in Brooklyn, NY and took a few lessons. My dream was to be a bluegrass companion to my husband's guitar playing. Since then we've had babies and moved. Time to dust that thing off again and start moving towards that dream.

[Caterine]

Oooh Amanda, that's marvelous. I'm so happy for both of you. I wish you all the best through this brightful journey.
I imagine already Ezra living the same moment as I live in my little street. Neighbours gathering in one or another kitchen, eating altogether and a long evening of music and singing. Oh yes, I wish it to him.

[emily]

what a gift, music lessons. and together. and that he's so excited about it. lovely, all of it.

[AmyA]

So wonderful, little fiddlers! My daughter is turning four and she has the same fate, she will start her lessons after the holidays.

[Mary]

What a sweet, wee instrument! Have fun learning your new instruments!

[cloth.paper.string]

exciting stuff! i played as a wee one and i know my mama always wanted to play with me as well -- so fun for you and ezra to be going this together!

[Lisa Clarke]

What an excellent idea! Learning something together really should be encouraged more, I think. It's something that didn't even occur to me!

[brandie]

oh how exciting for both of you! i can't wait for a mini concert...there will be one, right?

[Stefani]

"A fiddler lives here now!" Have I told you lately how much I love that kid? I think he reminds me a lot of my middle boy. They would be fast friends. He and I began learning the piano together last year. It's really fun to make "music" side by side. Happy fiddling!

[Amy Lu]

Oh my, you are brave! I don't know if I could deal with the screechy-ness of it all. (I could barely stand it when I was learning waaaaaay back in the forth grade.)

Iris has decided to start with the djembe drum. And I was going to learn to play the guitar, but those drums look so cool, I might join her.

Have fun!

[kat nicholas]

oh wow, how envious i am! i've always wanted to learn to play the fiddle. maybe my two year old will have a hankering to learn one day and i can join him too. what a great idea to be embarking on this journey along side ezra. i (as i'm sure all of us do) look forward to hearing more along the way. . .

[mary]

What a wonderful adventure. Please do a little video so we can all hear Ezra.

[Katherine]

Fantastic! My mum is a fiddle teacher, I never stuck with it but they are wonderful instruments. I love Ezra's comment!

[Ron]

Amanda, how do you find the time to do all of this. Can you give us a class on time management. By the way I have a Singer featherwieght at the store to loan you for a few months and a surprize for Ezra also.

[sarcastic journalist]

I'm SOOOOOO JEALOUS. I can't wait for my little girl to be "old enough" to learn to play a violin.

[JaimeLeigh]

That's awesome! My little four year old wants to learn SO, so badly himself. We might attempt it after the holidays or maybe the following fall when some classes start up again. It's so great that you are able to play along with Ezra! Got any good recommendations on what size fiddle is best for a young one?

[Laurie L.]

I am green! I have wanted to learn the fiddle for years, and time to practice is my enemy. I look forward to reading about the family journey into the string world. I play the guitar, my daughter plays the flute and piccolo. From experience, I will say it is a wonderful thing to play with your child.
Did you rent your instruments or purchase them?

[K]

That's wonderful! My middle son started playing when he was 8. Much to my surprise I discovered I'd be expected to learn along with him! Now we've both been playing for a year & a 1/2. My son is 100 times more talented than I. Such a gift it is.

[Melissa]

right on!

[Katherine]

Very exciting news! Have fun making music together!

[tamara]

Music is a wonderful gift to give a child and nothing is more wonderful than to hear the soothing sounds of the violin. Although I'm sure it will take some time before the sounds are "soothing", the act alone will nourish the soul. Way to go mumma and son.

[Sara]

I've been reading your blog for years, and am so excited that Ezra is learning fiddle! I'm a violinist/bluegrass fiddler and teacher of little ones down here in Boston. I'm always looking for more students, and am curious how you found your teacher? I wonder if there are places that I should be advertising that I'm not......

Good luck and have a great time learning how to play!

[Veronica TM]

oh, i love that question!! fun!

[erin]

oh how fun! enjoy every minute!

[m]

Congratulations! How fun!

A friend of ours teaches (from ages 3 and up) to play. Before we moved cities her studio was a block away and would fantasize sending Atticus across the road to his lessons. Maybe when we return after our two years here....or find a good teacher in our new city. Either way, hooray for the fiddle and hooray for the Soule family!

[lori]

how wonderful!
my two oldest daughters took viola and violin lessons from a very eclectic teacher a couple years ago....i bartered yard work for one of their lessons.
i was also able to buy a nice new instrument and case for each of them from ebay for a very decent price so now even though we cannot afford the lessons at the moment they can still take out their own viola and violin and fiddle around...hehehe.
There is an open house old timers fiddle group about 45 minutes each direction once a month that i am working up the gas money to start going to as a family....they would surely love the atmosphere there and the old timers love to fiddle/teach young ones.
what a lovely post Amanda....

[Viv]

I used to take fiddling lessons - I love fiddle music so much but it didn't come easily for me. My four year-old wants to start too so I've just begun looking around up here (Brunswick/Topsham) for a teacher. Have fun!!

[Alicia A.]

That is just the sweetest thing ever. You guys fiddling away in your snuggy farmhouse someday... the picture is just getting better and better.

[Grace]

fabulous! you know that i'm a cellist and suzuki-trained cello teacher. i'm all grins and approval to see this new adventure shaping up for you and ezra!!

[SOULEMAMA]

Oh my - so much fiddle love. Sweet, sweet. Some answers:

Sara - we found our teacher through word of mouth - the best advertising around! ;)

Laurie L. - there was an option for both at our local music shop - rent and buy. Renting works great for the littles, I think, because it comes with a maintenance/repair plan that I'm SURE we'll be using. Also, it will make trading up in sizes easier.

JamieLeigh - Ezra's using a 1/16th size - the smallest size, which I'm sure he'll outgrow within the year. You can be measured by a music shop or teacher to get the right size. I think it's a pretty important to get the right size - especially for those little hands!

[Leah]

I am so in love with you right now.
My Mama wouldn't let me learn violin because she didn't like the "screechy" sound.....
I was always a little sad about that....
Thankyou for being such a progressive and open Mama....even those who aren't your children appreciate it!
xxx

[Mama Urchin]

This is extraordinarily wonderful. Katrina is learning celtic dance so once the four-and-a-half year old fiddler learns a jig they would be quite the cute pair.

[Christy]

Very sweet! I love his adorable little fiddle.

[Lora]

oh how precious!! 4 1/2 year olds are super cool!! Tell him I said so!

[saganaga]

I still have my full size violin that I haven't touched much since High School. And now I'm looking into renting a violin for my 4 yr 2 month old son, probably be a 1/16th (like Ezra's).

Now I just have to find some good beginner violin books so I can start teaching him and then we can play together.

We also just recently had our baby grand piano moved to our new place. It needs a tuning & a key fixed, but once that's done I'll buy some beginner piano books to teach my 9 & 4 yr old sons.

I grew up playing music, it's a wonderful gift to give your children.

Look forward to reading more about you & Ezra's violin adventures!

[carrie Schwarz]

What a coincidence! my five year old and I start our violin lessons together this Tuesday. We are both also very excited about the musical journey ahead of us. all the best to you both.

[rebecca]

oh hurray. fiddle playing is the best. it beast the strings off violin playin!

[Melissa!]

Oh what a wonderful instrument to add to your household - my daughters started violin when they were 5 & 6 yrs old. Now the oldest (12) is in the County Youth Symphony. Our house is full of music & humming - our family gathers at their concerts and I'm still brought to tears. It's been incredible watching the children grow with their talents & in their wonderment for music. You are giving Ezra & your family an introduction to music that will stay with them forever. As time goes by, this will provide Ezra with the tools to pick up & play numerous instruments - you are all in for a beautiful ride! :)

[courtney]

Oh how adorable!

Now for what might be considered a stupid question: is there a difference between a violin and a fiddle, or does the type of music played decide what it is called (I have only heard it refered to as a fiddle with country/bluegrass type styles of music)?

Maybe Ezra could school me?

Either way I love that you are getting them in music young!

[Steph VW]

Oh my gosh - Your son is seven different kinds of awesome! "can you even believe" heh heh. My husband is a musician - I can't wait to tell him about this post.