Gee, if he even hates Jerry Holland, I'd like to hear what he thinks of Ashley MacIsaac...although I wouldn't want to , you know, provoke a coronary incident or anything.

The rosin question is one I've heard before...its a real old-timey way of thinking that you shouldn't clean it off. Certainly induces friction, but after a point the tone gets notably scratchy.

Sooner or later you'll be studying with someone else...meanwhile, are you improving? I suspect the answer is yes, because you seem to be quite dedicated to the fiddle. So hey, keep on going to see the old guy as long as that's true, even if you are largely teaching yourself. You will treasure the memories, tunes and friendship later. One thing about fiddling, everyone has their influences but does different things with them--it ends up being your own style anyway, cause you obviously have your own opinions and preferences.

The definition of a guru, to get a bit cross-cultural here, is not "someone who is completely and perfectly enlightened." It's really just someone who knows one thing you need to know at this stage in your development. Maybe you are getting towards the end of the teacher-student relationship here, sooner or later you're going to (gasp) see someone else, but that doesn't detract from all you've learned from your first teacher.

Clear as Mississippi mud, I know.

Willie-O