Homespun Video has released two new DVDs for new students of traditional American fiddle music. Both are taught by Jim Wood, a five time Tennessee fiddle champ, noted performer and teacher, and organizer/arranger for The Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra.
Both DVDs are geared towards beginners, and are designed to follow one upon the other.
The first is appropriately titled Fiddle for the Absolute Beginner. This two hour starter lessons covers the basics of proper technique and how to tune your instrument, but sets to work quickly showing how to use a simple A scale as the basis for a number of familiar fiddle tunes.
Tips are included to help even a very new fiddler participate in jams right away. The DVD – with a printable music booklet on the disc – sells for $24.95.
The second release is called 20 Easy Tunes for the Beginning Fiddler, and contains precisely what the title describes. You’ll learn popular jam standards like Soldier’s Joy, Buffalo Gals, Sally Ann, Redwing, Sally Goodin, Fire on the Mountain, Arkansas Traveler, Angeline the Baker, Down Yonder, and several others over the course of this 2 DVD set.
It also includes a play along feature where you can practice your tunes with Inge Wood on guitar and Jim on second fiddle to make sure that your timing and intonation are on track.
This 2 DVD set sells for $34.95, and also includes a printable music booklet.
You can see sample video from each project on the Homespun web site.