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There are many differences between fiddle playing and playing a violin. In many ways, a fiddle player is sitting in the Formula 1 car in the garage going "Brum Brum." Although this doesn't take away the nice music you can get playing a fiddle. You just never exploit the range of the instrument.

My instrument is far from being a Formula 1 car. It's more of a Kia or Hyundai imported from the Far East. They are not the fastest cars in the world but more than meet my driving skills and needs.

A violin player who only plays classical music, sticking strictly to what is written on the score and not daring to experiment with unorthodox techniques, is like a driver who only uses main roads and motorways. They will never know the fun of going off-road.

One of the joys of fiddle playing is picking up tunes by ear at an open session. You have to listen to what the others are playing, choose the bowing that suits you and go with the flow. Even if you are only just learning the tune, you can blend your skeletal version in with those incorporating double stops, slides and other twiddly bits.

DC