Finally! March is here! One of my favorite months of the year! I’ve been on a bit of a tune rampage, getting ready for this season’s run of Ceili Rain shows. Check my calendar. A lot of exciting shows added throughout the northeast and out west!

Friends & fiddle/mandolin enthusiasts. November & December, an extremely busy time doing something I haven’t done since the 7th grade…I’m in a play…I’m not joking…

However, this time it’s professional theater @ Syracuse Stage playing “Joe the Fiddler” in their production of “A Christmas Carol”. In 7th grade, the production was “Theseus and the Minotaur”. I was the Minotaur and all’s I had to do was run around the stage with a bull mask over my head and growl…

Anyway. Syracuse Stage productions are always top notch. The cast is made up of equity actors/actresses and Syracuse University drama majors. “A Christmas Carol” is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit as well as provide you with several laughs at my expense as I’m in costume, mutton chops and all…

There are 33 show open to the public. If considering going, order fast as many shows sell out. For ticket info www.syracusestage.org. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Greetings NYSOTFA members! Take a listen to the following examples. They coincide with my August newsletter article. Have fun. Feel free to email me with any questions.

From the NYSOTFA Newsletter:

Calling all fiddle tune enthusiasts! We know fiddling is an aural tradition. Tunes I’ve learned over the years by memory, I never forget. Tunes I’ve learned from paper…Every once in a while I’ll find myself saying “waaait a minute, how’s that tune go again?”

So, that being said, I’d like to share an exercise I give to my students called “interval training.” This exercise helps build strong “hand – ear” coordination. Excelling at this exercise will come in handy for two reasons: One, it will help you to better navigate your fingers around the fingerboard and two, it will help you be more efficient when learning a fiddle tune. By that I mean the more fiddle tunes you learn, the quicker you become in figuring out the “learn-able” phrases that make up the melody. The better your ears hear the intervals from note to note, the quicker you’ll be able to find those notes and the longer the phrase your ears will be able to absorb.

So, say “Sailors Hornpipe” in G major. First, run your G major scale -technically practicing the intervals of diatonically occurring 2nds. When your pitch is impeccable, move on to 3rd’s. Then 4th’s, 5th’s, 6th’s, 7th’s and then 8th’s -more often referred to as octaves.

As stated earlier, fiddling is an aural tradition. So, I will post these exercises on my website www.joedavoli.com so that you can hear them executed. I’ll also post a slowed down version of “Sailors Hornpipe” identifying the various intervals that make up the melody. As always, feel free to email me at joedavoli@gmail.com with any questions.

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The July Fiddle & Groove Workshop was a great success! Thanks to all attendees. We were able to get so much done. What a pleasure working with you all. Check back for a possible workshop in October.

Welcome to my new and improved website! The talented folks at Avendim Media (my brother and sister-in-law) designed it to be both informative and interactive. Check back frequently for updates.

Good news for those of you living outside of the Central New York area. Fiddle and mandolin lessons are now available online via Skype. Contact me for more information.