Fiddle Studio
The glasses clink and the talk and laughter grow louder. In the corner of the pub, musicians sit and play traditional dance tunes that make your feet want to stomp and slide. Join fiddler Meg Wobus Beller as she brings you along into the world of fiddling and traditional music, from bow-grips and double stops to Old-Time tunes and Irish jigs.
Episodes
104 episodes
Oliver Scanlon (Chris Glidden's)
We’re having a conversation with Oliver Scanlon, a fiddler and traditional musician based in Syracuse NY. Originally from Vermont, Oliver learned fiddle from the great Pete Sutherland. He played, performed and recorded extensively with Pete ove...
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Season 1
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Episode 104
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51:56
Dakota Karper (Coyote Howl)
An interview with West Virginia Old-Time fidder and fiddle teacher Dakota Karper. We talk about fiddle and banjo, starting her folk school the Cat and the Fiddle, improv and interpretation in Old-Time tunes, teaching beginners and developing yo...
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Season 1
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Episode 103
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39:10
Bruce Molsky (Can I Change My Mind)
I was honored to chat with Bruce Molsky on the Fiddle Studio Podcast this month. Bruce has a new album out with Darol Anger called Lockdown Breakdown. We talk about getting...
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Season 1
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Episode 102
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41:54
Alicia Svigals (Dybbuk Honga)
Klezmer violinist and composer Alicia Svigals is widely considered to be the world's leading klezmer fiddler, often called the Queen of Klezmer. She was a founder and a longtime member of the Grammy-winning group the Klezmatics. She has perform...
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Season 1
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Episode 101
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37:07
Charley Beller (Won't Come 'Till Morning)
Hey, it's episode 100! We hear from Charley Beller, Irish flute and guitar player and contra dance musician from Baltimore, Maryland and my spouse. Charley has played guitar on most of the podcast episodes, but this is the first time he shares ...
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Season 1
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Episode 100
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41:41
Why we squeak (Cumberland Gap)
Why does the fiddle squeak? If only we knew. Hang on, we do know! I offer lots of diagnosis and advice for how to get to the bottom of squeaking. Together we can not squeak as much.The tune for this week is
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Season 1
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Episode 99
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9:50
The best age to start (Horses in the Canebreak)
What is the best age to start? There is an exact and definite best age to begin playing the fiddle and if you don't start then you're doomed. I'm kidding. The tune for this week is
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Season 1
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Episode 98
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9:59
Why play the fiddle? (Sally in the Garden)
People play the fiddle for all kinds of reasons, and as a fiddler and fiddle teacher they often tell me all about it. I talk about some of the variety of reasons I've heard from adult fiddlers for why they're voluntarily choosing to take up thi...
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Season 1
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Episode 97
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8:23
Busking on the fiddle (Old Aunt Jenny With her Night Cap On)
Busking is playing in the street for money. I've done it. In fact, I've done in New York City in the subway! A few thoughts on busking, and some busking stories. Fun tune this week, Old Aunt Jenny With Her Night Cap On.
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Season 1
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Episode 96
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12:20
I try to play jazz (Cluck Old Hen, Ed Weaver's version)
Recently I tried to play jazz. It got me thinking about jazz, so I share some thoughts about playing jazz as a violinist, how I approach it, what it's like, how I practice, and how I take a solo.The tune is
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Season 1
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Episode 95
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10:22
Consider the mandolin (Shippensport)
Have you thought about playing the mandolin? You could do worse. Welcome back to our regularly scheduled episodes, featuring a bunch of Old-Time tunes for the rest of June and July. We get caught up and talk about the mandolin. You may already ...
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Season 1
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Episode 94
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13:32
BEST OF: Double Stops and Drones (Tail Toddle)
Starting summer vacation this week so I'm replaying an episode I recorded in December of 2022 about double stops and drones. I'll be back next week with Old-Time tunes.My course for double stops and drones
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Season 1
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Episode 93
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8:43
Ellery Klein (York Street Stepper)
This week I have a conversation with Irish fiddler Ellery Klein. Ellery Klein performs across New England with the fiddle, flute, and guitar trio Fódhla and nationally with the three-fiddle Celtic power...
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Season 1
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Episode 92
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39:40
Harmonizing on the fiddle (Stoney Steps)
Let's talk about playing harmonies on the fiddle. How can you get started with learning and playing harmonies and how do you get better at coming up with them on the fly?Our tune this week is the Irish single reel in D,
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Season 1
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Episode 91
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8:29
Andrew VanNorstrand (Lost River)
Andrew VanNorstrand performs with his brother Noah VanNorstrand and Chris Miller in the Faux Paws, a contemporary folk band that plays fiddle tunes and original songs with just ...
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Season 1
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Episode 90
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40:43
Novels with fiddlers (Donnybrook Fair)
If you're a reader and a fiddler, here are some recommendations for books from children's books to YA and general fiction that feature fiddlers and fiddling. Some of these books have even been known to inspire folks to pick up the fiddle!
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Season 1
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Episode 89
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14:33
Trying a Tune in Different Keys (Maid of Mt. Kisco)
We talk about the personalities of the different major and minor keys. What makes C sound so different from A on the fiddle? Why do players try out a tune in different keys, and how do the keys lay out on the instrument?Our tune is the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 88
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11:49
Rachel Eddy (Rose in the Mountain)
This is my second conversation with Rachel Eddy, since I forgot to record the first one! We talk about finding flow in fiddling, learning tunes off recordings (or not), remembering tunes, singing, some great stories about Rachel's dad and his f...
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Season 1
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Episode 87
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42:23
Tapes on the Fiddle (Broken Down Gambler)
We're talking about tapes on the fiddle, or stickers, or fingerboard stick on charts, or whatever you're curious about. Did you use tapes when you started? What are they useful for and how long does it make sense to use them?Our tune is...
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Season 1
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Episode 86
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10:15
Articulation on the Fiddle (Dusty Miller)
When I talk about articulation I'm referring to the beginning of the note, or the attack, and how long the note is generally. Articulation, or catching the string, or getting a "scrubby" sound, has a huge effect on your sound. Our tune ...
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Season 1
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Episode 85
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10:59
Signing up for a Fiddle Competition (Old Billy Hell)
Have you wondered what it's like to compete in a fiddle competition? So have I. So I signed up for one and we'll see how it goes. I talk a little about how I'm planning to prepare.Our tune for this week is
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Season 1
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Episode 84
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13:46
BEST OF: Practicing With the Metronome (House of my Own)
A repeat this week, as my family is on spring break. This very early episode has been pretty popular, and has a lovely slip jig for the Irish fiddlers. It's never a bad time to break out the old metronome. I'll be back with Old-Time tunes for y...
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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7:09
Tricia Spencer (Big Taters in the Sandy Land)
This week we have an interview with Tricia Spencer! Tricia is a well known, award winning Kansas fiddler who grew up on her family’s farm learning the tradition of old-time fiddling knee to knee from her grandpa and grandma, Vernon and Iona Spe...
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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49:12
Problematic Tune Names (Magpie's Nest)
Have you ever been uncomfortable saying the name of a fiddle tune? How about tunes with slurs in the title or the Irish tune I Buried My Wife and Danced on her Grave?Without using racial slurs, I discuss problematic fiddle tune nam...
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Season 1
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Episode 81
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11:03