Hello Laura,

I took lessons in traditional fiddle playing a few years back. bought a new violin and the teacher took one look and said "nice instrument but you could sand the bridge down a bit to lower the string 'action' and maybe take some of the top off , like mine, as well ". He was a very well respected traditional musician even though fiddle was not his "first" instrument. I complied, needless to add and in ten nights of quite pressured classes (Once a week) I had learned to play lots of simple polkas and a few slow "airs" by reading a basic melody line. I was the only complete beginner in the class and I believe that it was the speed with which the others moved along that actually helped me. I had played some rythm guitar before. Hope this will encourage your son. My own little daughter has recently started "fiddle lessons" too.