Customer Reviews

Mel Bay The American Fiddle Method Volume 1

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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've recently begun fulfilling a forty-plus-year dream of learning to play the fiddle, and bought a couple of DVDs to support this wish.

The first DVD lesson was nice, but the presenter/instructor seemed disorganized, flowing sort of "stream of consciousness...sort of "oh, and another thing...". The second was more organized, but featured the DULLEST person in the world talking to the camera as if his views already understood music theory, relying heavily on tablature, which is accompanies the DVD but is deuce difficult to hold while bowing. I also got an "old-time fiddle" instructional DVD which is nice, quirky, and simplified, but not satisfying by itself, and not useful without a good instructional DVD as a basis.

...then, I bought Mr. Wicklund's DVD.

Mr. Wicklund takes the viewer through the BASICS, from holding the instrument (get ready to tone a few unused muscles), hold and use the bow, tuning (so you don't break a string), how to stop strings for scales, all the stuff covered in the other DVDs I've seen...but, in a friendly, inviting, organized and easy to understand way. Not trying to sound dramatic, his DVD makes the learning of what can be an unforgiving instrument seem actually POSSIBLE.

He then goes slowly through 22 songs, one or two strings at first and then progressively more difficult. He uses the songs to help the student work on and groove in points and skills he's covered. Then he stops, adds a skill (high and low positions of the second and third fingers, for instance, or drones), and then gives you more songs to practice.

Each song is presented with a video window showing his fingering, then it's broken up and covered slowly, and then he'll stop and give you pointers on the song.

Finally, he shows you how to play backup, as in bluegrass music, bowing chords to back up someone's solo. This part seems to require the book and a bit more detail than is given in the DVD, but the book's readily available and cheap, too, and I'd recommend getting it (I have yet to).

The lessons are graduated and the DVD is conveniently broken up into chapters, making it easier to use for the casual or busy student as well as the rosin-addict. You can spend a week on one skill, going back to your week's (or month's) chapter, and see that progress can be made.

Finally, it's 2 hrs long, TWICE AS LONG as almost everyone else's DVDs.

I can readily believe, as Mr. Wicklund says on the DVD, that his students take 4-8 months to cover the material covered in the DVD. For a brick-head and ham-hand like me, it looks like it'll take longer, and yet this DVD leads me to believe that even I can do it.

Mr. Wicklund has two books out, but only this DVD so far. I look forward to his producing another. I may be ready for it when it comes out. In the meantime, I'm hot to buy his books and get on with it.

I say with no exaggeration that Mr. Wicklund's treatment of what might be a humbling subject -- learning through some of the most spine-shattering off-notes only the dog could hear (you wish), and controlling that bloody bow -- seem a perfectly achievable goal.

Thanks, Mr. W!

-- S. M. Hewitt

This is a great companion to the book and CD. When the kids and I disagree about technique, it is great to have this DVD to turn to and solve the problem. Very well done and easy to use and understand.

I have learned more from this one DVD than from any other source. Brian Wicklund is a marvelous teacher with a very clear style easily understood by young and old alike. Each time I watch it, I pick up new insights to improve my personal fiddling technique. I really would recommend this DVD to other aspiring fiddlers.

The story goes like this: I decided I wanted to be a fiddler after 4 decades as a guitarist. Apparently there's more to it than owning a fiddle and knowing what good fiddling should sound like. This book (and the accompanying DVD) got me from here to there in simple, understandable lessons.

Even after the first lesson, I felt like I really knew something. "The American Fiddle Method" from Mel Bay steps you through a helpful introduction to the instrument, right and wrong ways to hold your hands, and more. You'll be playing music to the applause of your pets, parents, children, spouse, and anyone else in your living room in no time. Assuming your pets can applaud, that is.

Go ahead. Buy it. You spent all that money on a violin. Learn how to play it!

This is a good instructional dvd for beginners and intermediate players. Brian Wicklund, the instructor, goes slow and the split camera work shows him playing the tune and a close up on his fingering. The song selection is good and he gives some good pointers.

The dvd to me was ok, but it skipped over a lot of basic things which I assume he covers in the book and cd.