[scots-l] Re: scots-l-digest V1 #420

[Fidhle1]

After reading what others posted, I guess I should say more about myself and
my interest in Scottish music.  I have been playing violin since back in the
dark ages (my childhood), but was raised with a broad interest in all kinds
of music.  I got into Scottish Country dancing in Belgium in 1962, during a
year there, but never got a chance to really learn until I arrived in
Alexandria, VA and joined a class in 1983.  I became interested in the music
and thought it would be nice to play at a ceilidh during a ball--but the tune
I had learned was played as a duet by the performers before me, much better
than I (sigh), so I hastily picked another tune and read it over the shoulder
of my accompanist, Liz Donaldson.  I didn't play very well. but my next
effort was competing, with Alasdair Fraser judging--he was very tactful in
suggesting I not try transposing Flowers of Edinburgh to fit it to my other
tunes.  At TAC school I ventured to play at the ceilidh at which Ian Powry
and Stan Hamilton were performing--thank goodness they were out of the room
when I played--I later heard Ian play my favorite tune of the time, as it
should be played, and it was then I got serious about learning how to play!  
I still compete, and play for SCD when invited; our local fiddle club, which
I launched and which has been propelled forward most successfully by Elke
Baker, now hosts dances at which members play.  Love the music--a far cry  
from the Dvorak piano quartette our quartette has been learning with me on
viola.  Cheers, Anne