The Fiddlin Workshop

This book was written to be used as a learning tool for beginners who read music. It presents very easy tunes to learn the basics of bowing and style, and progresses in difficulty with each tune. All of the arrangements are renditions that the author plays and has heard other fiddlers play. Many of the tunes are done in the style of Herman Johnson, a five-time National Fiddle Champion.

This book presents the most widely played fiddle tunes in easy-to-read arrangements for viola. The viola edition features the same tunes in the same keys as the author’s original The Fiddlin’ Workshop and The Fiddlin' Workshop for Cello, so all three instruments could conceivably jam together. Designed for beginning through intermediate players, the arrangements progress in difficulty with each tune. A few tunes are presented in both easier and more challenging versions. In addition to helpful hints on fingerings and bowing, this collection contains suggested guitar accompaniment chords and a bit of fiddlin’ history and related folklore. Includes access to an excellent online audio recording of the book’s tunes and variations.

This book presents the most widely played fiddle tunes in easy-to-read arrangements for cello. The cello edition features the same tunes in the same keys as the author’s original The Fiddlin’ Workshop and The Fiddlin' Workshop for Viola, so the instruments could conceivably jam together. Includes helpful hints for fingerings and bowing as well as a bit of fiddlin’ history and related folklore. Designed for beginning through intermediate players, the arrangements are progressively arranged with suggested guitar accompaniment chords. Includes access to an excellent online audio recording of all tunes and variations.

This book was written to be used as a learning tool and a reference for intermediate level fiddle players who have reading ability. It presents tunes with bowing and fingering specific to this style, and progresses in difficulty with each tune. This book provides information about bowing styles and playing in fiddle contests. Many of the tunes are transcribed from the playing of Herman Johnson, a five time National Fiddle Champion, as well as other great fiddlers.Using the CD that is included with this book will be helpful for understanding the bowings and the style of the tunes. the tunes are played by Jeanine Orme at a moderate tempo.Learning tool and a reference for intermediate level fiddle players Presents tunes with bowing and fingering specific to Texas-style fiddling Book progresses in difficulty with each tune Tunes appropriate for fiddle contests Many tunes in the style of Herman Johnson and other great fiddlers

Old Time Stringband Workshop for Mandolin is one in a set of four books, each with a matching collection of 40 traditional type fiddle tunes arranged to develop ensemble and jam session playing skills with other acoustic instruments, as well as to expand your repertoire of tunes. the music is presented in Notation and Tablature with annotations for playing techniques and variations. A bonus arrangement of Star of the County Down is available as a free download. See www.melbay.com/21765.

Old Time Stringband Workshop for Fiddle is one in a set of four books, each with a matching collection of 40 traditional type fiddle tunes arranged to develop ensemble and jam session playing skills with other acoustic instruments, as well as to expand your repertoire of tunes. the music is presented in Notation with annotations for playing techniques and variations. A bonus arrangement of Star of the County Down is available as a free download. See www.melbay.com/21763.

Transcribed and edited by one of Herman Johnson's former students, this book offers 39 solos in the inimitable smooth, precise, and innovative Johnson style.Inspired in his youth by Bob Wills of the Texas Playboys, Johnson learned tunes by listening to records and the radio. At 16, he successfully auditioned to play in Willis' band, but was then too young to join the musicians union. Johnson went on to a distinguished career as a performer and contest fiddler, winning the National Fiddling Championship in Weiser, Idaho five times, the only player to reignundefeated each year he entered the contest. He also won the Grand Masters Championship in Nashville. Many of the intermediate to advanced-level selectionsin this collection were drawn from Johnson's 1993 recording, Simply Perfect. Audio download available online

For more than a century, violinists have played jazz, swing, blues and similar improvisational styles. With its rich tone, considerable range, and bowed rhythms and phrasing, the violin offers a unique opportunity for a creative and personal statement as a musician. This book presents a broad sampling of the styles of major jazz violinists, from blues to bebop, from jug band to jazzgrass, from big-band swing to Texas swing. Tunes represent the styles of Stéphane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith, Eddie South, Mark O'Connor, Benny Thomasson, Jean-Luc Ponty, and Darol Anger. Helpful jazz theory sections with exercises alternate with tunes that show how the theory works in practice. This book has two objectives; first, to present a broad, roughly chronological sampling of major jazz violinists and the styles associated with them, and secondly, to introduce the basics of jazz theory as applied to the violin. Whether consciously or intuitively, through critical listening or by practicing jazz patterns and exercises, the more knowledge of jazz you acquire, the better you will be able to think about the content of your playing without being bound by technical and theoretical aspects. This anthology was written to help provide that foundation. Interspersed with pragmatic jazz theory lessons, you’ll find 28 original tunes in the style of various jazz violin luminaries. The book ends with an extensive discography of recommended jazz recordings with a violin focus. Mandolinists as well as other instrumentalists will find a wealth of useful information in this outstanding collection. Delightful broadcast-quality recordings of the repertoire are available online. Includes access to online audio. Wirtten for intermediate to advanced violinists.