Mel Bay The American Fiddle Method Volume 1
by Brian Wicklund
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DVD details
Actor: Brian WicklundDirector: Brian Wicklund
Brand: Mel Bay
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 114 minutes
Published: 2002
DVD Release Date: 2002-12-11
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Studio: Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
DVD Reviews of Mel Bay The American Fiddle Method Volume 1
DVD Review: Excellent for beginners
Summary: 5 Stars
I've recently begun fulfilling a forty-plus-year dream of learning to play the fiddle, and bought a couple of DVDs to support this wish.
The first DVD lesson was nice, but the presenter/instructor seemed disorganized, flowing sort of "stream of consciousness...sort of "oh, and another thing...". The second was more organized, but featured the DULLEST person in the world talking to the camera as if his views already understood music theory, relying heavily on tablature, which is accompanies the DVD but is deuce difficult to hold while bowing. I also got an "old-time fiddle" instructional DVD which is nice, quirky, and simplified, but not satisfying by itself, and not useful without a good instructional DVD as a basis.
...then, I bought Mr. Wicklund's DVD.
Mr. Wicklund takes the viewer through the BASICS, from holding the instrument (get ready to tone a few unused muscles), hold and use the bow, tuning (so you don't break a string), how to stop strings for scales, all the stuff covered in the other DVDs I've seen...but, in a friendly, inviting, organized and easy to understand way. Not trying to sound dramatic, his DVD makes the learning of what can be an unforgiving instrument seem actually POSSIBLE.
He then goes slowly through 22 songs, one or two strings at first and then progressively more difficult. He uses the songs to help the student work on and groove in points and skills he's covered. Then he stops, adds a skill (high and low positions of the second and third fingers, for instance, or drones), and then gives you more songs to practice.
Each song is presented with a video window showing his fingering, then it's broken up and covered slowly, and then he'll stop and give you pointers on the song.
Finally, he shows you how to play backup, as in bluegrass music, bowing chords to back up someone's solo. This part seems to require the book and a bit more detail than is given in the DVD, but the book's readily available and cheap, too, and I'd recommend getting it (I have yet to).
The lessons are graduated and the DVD is conveniently broken up into chapters, making it easier to use for the casual or busy student as well as the rosin-addict. You can spend a week on one skill, going back to your week's (or month's) chapter, and see that progress can be made.
Finally, it's 2 hrs long, TWICE AS LONG as almost everyone else's DVDs.
I can readily believe, as Mr. Wicklund says on the DVD, that his students take 4-8 months to cover the material covered in the DVD. For a brick-head and ham-hand like me, it looks like it'll take longer, and yet this DVD leads me to believe that even I can do it.
Mr. Wicklund has two books out, but only this DVD so far. I look forward to his producing another. I may be ready for it when it comes out. In the meantime, I'm hot to buy his books and get on with it.
I say with no exaggeration that Mr. Wicklund's treatment of what might be a humbling subject -- learning through some of the most spine-shattering off-notes only the dog could hear (you wish), and controlling that bloody bow -- seem a perfectly achievable goal.
Thanks, Mr. W!
-- S. M. Hewitt
More Mel Bay The American Fiddle Method Volume 1 reviews:
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Description of Mel Bay The American Fiddle Method Volume 1
Renowned fiddle teacher Brian Wicklund shares his knowledge in this DVD, which is a supplement to his critically acclaimed book for violin, The American Fiddle Method, Volume 1 . Mr. Wicklund guides you through the basic skills of learning the fiddle and shares his pointers and shortcuts to help you learn faster and more efficiently. Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes. NOTE: For the book/CD version of The American Fiddle Method, Volume 1 for violin, please see item 0326 097 .Bestsellers in DVD
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