Artist Level 3 – Takin’ it all the way… the freestylin’ quest!

The ideal Artist Level student will be a good High School player, an experienced fiddler looking to expand styles, a FJi Gigger Level graduate, or the Classical Crossover who is fairly open and unafraid to try new things.  The goal in this preparation for pro-level playing is to be musically ready for anything.

This approach includes advanced techniques like the Chop, and fine points of performance in alternative string styles and application of Jazz theory, chord knowledge, & creating your own scales to fit those chords on the fly and recognize diatonic chord sequences.

You might well have enough skills to be able to handle “free styling” it though our Lesson List to see what grabs your attention, but some suggestions might be to focus on Jazz first, even though Jazz may or may not be your artistic first choice, as the skills that Jazz teaches really allow you to be ready for just about anything, musically speaking!  If you are new to Jazz, try the great entry level “Standard”Autumn Leaves lessons.  Then give the gypsy side of Jazz a try with Minor Swing.

A-toodz Level 3 will also be a great learning tool for you to work in some more advanced licks and tricks into your muscle memory & jamming vocabulary.

Also of importance for Artist Level students is to develop the proper attitudes for not only performing, but life, making sure that music stays mentally & spiritually healthy just as well as physically.  Check out our Music Philosophy and Wit & Wisdom posts as well as Musician’s Health info.  Don’t forget that I am available for one-on-one sessions too.  Watch the Fiddle Jam Club Newsletter for announcements about premium courses and personal intensive tutoring offers!

1. The Chop max out your coolness factor with this beat-box-like technique! Add it to fiddle tunes or funky Rock n Roll!
2. Autumn Leaves EZ-er Jazz Standard
3. Minor Swing famous Gypsy Jazz tune that often crosses over into Bluegrass and Western Swing.

Further Studies:

•  A-toodz Level 3 – advanced practice exercises for the cool stuff.
• Music Philosophy and Wit & Wisdom
• Musician’s Health

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For the bigger picture, here’s also an auto-generated list of every FJi post with the “Artist” level category!

• Don’t beat up your improvising!
• Descending ii V I chord pattern ala Cherokee bridge
• Groove & Feel How to make Your Playing Come Alive
• Babik Sweet Sustenance performances
• Ragtime Annie
• Swamp Fiddle for iFiddle Magazine
• Beethoven’s Oven
• Rhythm Futur
• Cool Grapelli ii-V Trick
• Open Office Hour #1
• Circle of Fifths Loop Track
• Taking it Outside in Jazz
• iFiddle 2 – Scales, Arpeggios & Practice
• Artist Level Learning Path
• V7b9 Chord Substitution
• Lessons Listed By Learning Level
• Artist Level Lessons
• My Path Suggested Learning Studies
• Improv Any Style – Using 3 Unique Approaches! (overview)
• Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd classic, violin version
• It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels – Kitty Wells
• Rhythm Changes – the standard of Jazz
• Secret Trick to Creative Greatness
• No Exit Strategy – Conflation CD Lesson
• Practice vs Performance – Yin & Yang – Stephan Wremble article report
• Second Octave Intervals – 9ths, 11ths &13ths
• Taking Musical Dictation – our highest art form
• Red Haired Boy
• The Joy of Awareness – G.F. Perry tune
• Weeblo’s Wooble jazz tune
• Jazz Section – link page
• Juke Gypsy – G.F. Perry tune
• Tri-Tone Substitutions
• Bone Bossa by G. F. Perry
• It’s Time to Go jazz tune by G. F. Perry
• THE lick?
• Technique Study Book Suggestions
• Tatering Level 4 – chopping technique
• Tatering level 3 – chord tone double stops
• Tater Section
• III7-VI7-II7-V7-I Exercises
• Mr. Sandman
• My Blue Heaven
• Hungaria
• Limehouse Blues
• Stompin’ at Decca
• Melodie Au Crepuscule
• I’ll See You In My Dreams
• Babik
• Bossa Dorado
• Django’s Castle
• Daphne
• Douce Ambiance
• Noto Swing
• Swing De Paris
• Bellville
• Sheik of Araby
• Swing Gitan
• Coquette
• Micro
• Undecided
• Nuages – famed Django ballad
• All of Me
• The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
• LeLuppe Bonzino – Gypsy Tune
• Sweet Sustenance – Gypsy Tune
• Fully Diminished 7th Studies
• Sweet Georgia Brown
• It Don’t Mean a Thing (if it ain’t got that swing)
• Gypsy Jazz – Section
• Harmonic Squeal Faux Feedback Technique
• Beethoven Minuet in G
• Acadian Two-Step
• Angeline the Baker
• A-toodz – A minor
• A-toodz – D minor
• A-toodz – G major
• A-toodz – B minor
• A-toodz – G minor
• A-toodz – A major All
• A-toodz – D major
• The Perils of the Classical-only Music Education
• Groove Toodz E minor
• Groove Toodz A Major
• Groove Toodz A minor
• A-toodz B minor Level 3
• A-toodz A minor Level 3
• A-toodz A Major Level 3
• D Major A-toodz level 3
• D Major Groove-toodz
• Ode to Joy – Beethoven
• A-toodz – E Minor
• Minor Swing
• A-Toodz Section Contents
• Blackberry Blossom
• Music Philosophy – Wit & Wisdom
• Swallowtail Jig