"I don't compete with anyone but myself."

Good for you, Kim!

" ... and there was a note I was playing wrong, because it sounded more "right" to me than the right note! :-) Now, in fiddling, at least, you can get away with that all day long."

When my piano students "learn" a "wrong" note, I always point it out to them and demonstrate the "right" one so they can hear the difference. I figure that's my job as a music teacher. But -- as long as they are not intending to perform the piece for marks (ie exams, festivals) -- if they insist that they like their version better, I don't mind if them play it their own way. And sometimes, I even agree -- their own version does sound better! Sometimes I think Bach made it his business to use strange, awkward-sounding harmonies!

So how do you get away with it on the fiddle? Creative intonation, maybe? My viola teacher had the ears of a ... well, a god maybe! I couldn't get away with diddley!!

Unless I wore a halter and a real short skirt ... then he didn't notice as much ...

daylia