By member request, here’s some suggested learning”Paths” for you do some self-guided DIY-style FJi studying.  These are not designed to be intensive or all-inclusive like our 4-week FJi Courses (currently being developed & to be sold separately in the FJi School Store), but should get you going on a learning “Path” that is designed for the type of learner you may be!  I will most likely edit these and swap out materials from time to time, so check back here once in a while.

I also would love to hear directly from you if you might have suggestions on other “Paths” I could construct for your benefit.  Just fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page to send me your ideas.  I’m all ears!  I’m starting here with our most popular themes, based on our current member’s abilities, experiences, and needs.

Note that if you like a particular lesson, you can now “bookmark” it with our new Bookmark Plugin to make it easier to return to your favorites more directly!  Also, we now have a “posts in the same category” feature at the bottom of nearly every page too!

Again, these are just suggested sequential learning paths that aim to satisfy the student who may become a bit overwhelmed  and feel they do not know where to start while staring at our (extensive and continually growing) FJi Lesson List!  I hope these help!

“My Path” Descriptions & Suggested Links: (click on the titles to read and learn more!)

• The Hobbyist – Destination: further.  Our ideal Hobbyist will be the adult learner or Re-Starter who already can play some, but has a desire to be better, have more fun, & feel a little more like they “know what they are doing.”  Skills to be developed will include being able to create back-ups on the fly even if you do not know the tune (by knowing just enough theory, and developing just enough ear), and maybe play with an informal group, at a coffeehouse, party, or jam with friends…
• The Classical Cross-Over– Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from having a little fun!  It’s super easy once you are coaxed to just crack open that creative door!  This path assumes good technique, good reading skills, some previous theory knowledge, but little or no experience in getting away from the written page.  Suggested Studies: Path 1 – The “Terrified to Jam” Pro-Player…   Path 2 – The “Show Me How to Get Hip Now!” player…
• The New-Bee Jammer (“Jammer” level 1) – Your private violin lessons just not fun enough?  Don’t quit!  Just add Fiddle Jam!  For the student who just wants to experience the “Joy of the Jam” in the EZ-est “low impact,” fun, and un-scary way, and foster the prized “non-thinking creative mind-set” that is the hallmark of every good improviser, as early as possible in their development.  1st-year student and up, one scale fits all approach.  Minimal thinking – maximum goosebump factor!  Especially good as an additive learning approach to whatever your personal private teacher might be doing with you.   Path 1: “I Really Want to, but I’m Shy!”…    Path 2: “Let’s do this!”…
• Gigger Level 2 – Learn to play the Cool Stuff – the Easy Way!  Designed as a Level 2 improv learning path to prepare you for actual gigs, these materials use a little more entry level Music Mechanics by introducing the Note Number system with the idea of helping you to “grow your ears” and become aware of the related “I-IV-V” chord movements used in simple Roots Music (Blues, Cajun, Country, Folk, Rock and other styles) and the concept of switching scales to mirror each chord on the fly.   Suggested Studies:…
• Artist Level 3 – Takin’ it all the way… the freestylin’ quest!   The ideal Artist Level FJi 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 has found our Level 1 & 2 materials comfortable, 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…
• Music Mechanics/Music Theory  – “Oh, I get it!” Help for the “Ah Ha” challenged.  Want to know how music works?  The Fiddle Jam Method explains it all in a no-nonsense way, easy to apply way, not just on paper but with instrument in hand, so you will be left with “as little thinking as possible” and can retain maximum joy in your playing!  Suggested Studies: Path 1 – the BASICS: …  Path 2: Diatonic progressions…

<<::>>

Click on the titles above to learn more!

Please feel free to contact me with questions, suggestions on the Paths above.  I love to hear your ideas and am here to serve.