Roanoke Fiddle Lessons

Congratulations to the students who participated in the RFL Youth Winter Recital at Brandon Oaks!
You all did great, and everyone is so proud of you!
Thanks to Tresa at Brandon Oaks for your hospitality!

Arnold Schwarzenegger sounds like a hick.
No, really! When making the German-dubbed version of The Terminator, Arnold (one of my favorite actors) was not allowed to dub his own lines IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE!
Arnold is from rural Austria, and his accent is what most Germans would consider… rural.
Hard to imagine, but his thick Austrian accent was an impediment to his breaking out in Hollywood as well. In his first movie, Hercules in New York, his lines were hilariously overdubbed.
Now, his accent is almost as iconic as his muscles. And, as Arnold put it, he made a perceived liability into a distinctive strength.

I was asked the other day whether I teach Scottish style fiddling. I replied, I teach Geoff White style fiddling. My technique, my musical accents, everything I play is the culmination of the experiences I’ve had as a musician.
I’ve been exposed to many Irish styles, Scottish, Cajun, Appalachian, and Classical influences. There’s probably some David Gilmour in there too. I’d also like to think maybe some Adrian Smith when I play fast… 🤘
The point is, I view style like an accent.
If I’m teaching grammar, I’m not going to make my students speak with a Scottish accent, or an Irish acccent. And just whose accent are we emulating, specifically? Wouldn’t it be weird if we trained people to speak exactly like some famous celebrity? Wouldn’t that deprive the students of their own voices? Wouldn’t it be strange to have everyone affecting to speak just like Walter Cronkite, David Attenborough, or Arnold?
Style is the accent you pick up from the influences around you.
I can show you different ways of playing the same passage, and different ways to ornament it. We can change the bowing pattern, which beat we emphasize, whether we do a burl or a mordant, and where. But I’ve always found, the best way is the way that works best for the student. When we allow that to happen, the student’s own accent begins to shine through. As far as musical style goes: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” Oscar Wilde

Here is Arnold talking about, among other things, turning his accent into an asset. https://youtu.be/1bumPyvzCyo?si=Uazr5b2uZHEqv4uK

And here’s a link to his book:
https://beusefulbook.com

Arnold Schwarzenegger Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches Ever Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Mr. Olympia, Conan, Terminator, and Governor of California, delivers one of the best motivational speeches you will ever hear. ...

Thank you for the latest 5-Star review, Jasmine!

Geoff not only helps me practice my violin lessons, but I also practice guitar lessons here! He's an amazing teacher, would definitely recommend!