Learning violin versus learning fiddle

Subject: RE: Learning violin versus learning fiddle
From: Melissa
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:08 PM

Since the child is well into grasping her musical foundation, isn't she old enough to choose for herself which she prefers? A lesson/talk with a violin teacher and one with a fiddler...followed by a little bit of time to think it out on her own ought to solve the 'problem' for all of you--girl gets whichever she feels drawn to and the adults don't have to feel snippy about it because the bottom line is that you both honestly want the child to love music.

It seems to me that fiddlers don't care whether you call their fiddle a Violin...violinists curl up their nose if you call theirs a Fiddle.

She's learning to read/play by reading music for the piano.
Fiddle should encourage her to broaden into also playing by 'ear' Violin keeps her papertrained.

Subject: RE: Learning violin versus learning fiddle
From: GUEST,MacDuff
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:06 PM

Oops! That should read:
"The claim is that they are stiff and rigid in their bowing style and fingering."

Subject: RE: Learning violin versus learning fiddle
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 07:06 PM

I think that is probably untrue. Eliza Carthy went to a music school where they were trained in a stiff, classical tradition and I think anyone will agree that she isn't a half-bad trad player...
What you bring to your music is what is important.

Subject: Children learning violin versus learning fiddle
From: GUEST,MacDuff
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 06:52 PM

My 9 year old daughter has been playing piano for two years. She is quite musical, with good rhythm (a champion Irish dancer) and wants to learn another instrument. I was born in Ireland, am a guitar-player, grew up with an Irish/folk background, have been a singer in traditional Irish bands and have spent many a fun night in Irish sessions. My partner is American (we live in California) and wants our child to learn violin. I want her to learn fiddle. As we all know, the only difference between the fiddle and the violin is the music that is played on it, and this is the crux.

I have been around many traditional fiddle players who sometimes will diss another fiddler as "classically-trained". They claim that once someone is trained as a violinist, it is virtually impossible for most people to "unlearn", and play well in a traditional Irish style. The claim is that they are stiff and rigid in their bowing style and fimgering.

My questions are:

Is this really true? If someone learns violin, are they ruined as fiddlers? Any recommendations for me regarding whether I should send my 9 year old to a fiddle teacher or to a violinist?