I was taught to play by ear (guitar, not fiddle). That teaching has served me very well indeed. Some of the advice above is to find a teacher who will teach bluegrass by ear. I think that is a great idea. But I must tell you that one of my major regrets is that I have never learned to read music. While it is fun to be able to play songs I have heard before; it is impossible for me to play songs I have never heard.

My advice is to find some way for him to learn a bit of each. The music reading lessons wouldn't even necessarily have to be in direct conjunction with the fiddle lessons. He will someday figure out how to apply one to the other (when he is ready to do so). Whatever way you can do it, I strongly urge you to do both.

Allan