I need your help!  I made a Rookie business mistake early-on and am planning on refocusing my offerings.  I’d love your input in the development of this new idea.

The Story: In trying to figure out how to reach more violinists with my materials, a business mentor asked me an astute question: “What is my CORE MESSAGE?”

I honestly stumbled to answer at first, since I had set out to kind of be everything to every player… it turns out, that was my Rookie mistake!

Even though I am rather blessed (or cursed, depending on how you look at it!) to be able to play most any style of music… this does NOT necessarily mean that, it’s a good idea to try to give everyone the opportunity to be just like me!  Ha. Sounds rather silly now…

My Core Message?… Musical Freedom.

My sincerest desire is to help violinists simply be able to pick up their instrument… AND PLAY!! Play anything, anywhere, with anybody, in any situation they desire.  No written music requirement.  No mind-numbing amount of musical knowledge.  No need to fear screwing up in a performance…  Just play.

Now, I’m not saying that you will not need to know anything or have any skills to feel musically free on your instrument, but all that stuff should ONLY be in service of the main event… to have an emotive experience that feels good to you AND your listeners (even if that is just your cat!).

The Formula lays in what I am calling the Four T’s:

1. Tone: learn the subtleties of stroking the bow so your can make it “cry or sing.” Other methods seem to gloss over this topic, but learning to give your tone “life,” even if you just play long tones behind a singer, will make folks love it and surely bring you more opportunities to play again!  No sense in sounding like your are strangling your poor cat!
2. Technique: No, you do not need to be a virtuoso to learn to be creative.  All that you need to do is learn enough about fingering and bowing your instrument so that it becomes a bit of a “no-brainer” and you are not over thinking it, struggling or worse… in pain.  Fancier technique can come later if and when you might need it then!
3. Theory: Wait a minute, you might say, didn’t I just say something about not needing mind-numbing over-thinking knowledge above?  Yes, I did, but what I am talking about here is just knowing enough to be able to navigate the simple thjree-chord basics that are 90% of music and harmony, so your ear will know what to listen for and your fingers will know what to play to sound good!  I’m also talking about learning the secret hand shakes and band-stand lingo so you will have confidence and authority when needed.  Contrary to popular opinion, this level of learning is NOT “rocket science”!
4. Trust: I know, this one probably smacks of psycho mumbo-jumbo on a list of what is most important in music… but it actually is the MAIN EVENT when learning how to play creatively… You need to develop trust IN YOUR OWN INNER IDEAS!  In my 50 years of playing experience, relaxing and learning to listen internally, just a little bit before-hand (3-10 seconds), and then doing your best to simply just play THAT as if you are taking dictation from the angels, is what will move you beyond merely being called skilled… to “gifted!”  The notion that someone musically either “has it” or “doesn’t have it” is complete rubbish in my experience.  It is true and undeniable that music does seem to come easier for some… and theories surely abound as to why this might be, but the reality is that everyone can learn to play from the heart!  You included!

I’m calling this new focused presentation the “Fiddle Jam Freedom Formula.”

What do you think?

Or better yet: can you send me a note (in a comment here, or on YouTube, Facebook, or email… or even give me a phone call!) about what MUSICAL FREEDOM means to YOU?

I’d love to hear from you, and you never know, your idea could be something that I never thought of to include!

Looking forward to your responses.

If you’d like to see the video I did about this, click here:

Sincerely,

Fitz