Slow Air...

Two years ago Haley placed 2nd in the slow air competition for under 12 Irish fiddle at the MidAtlantic Fleadh held in New York which qualified her to compete in slow airs at the All Ireland that year. After the competition, Haley told me she didn't want to compete in slow airs in Ireland so we gave her spot to her friend, Jayne, who then placed 2nd at the All Ireland in slow airs. Haley wouldn't have placed as well in Ireland because her fiddle was too small for a really good sound. Her reason for not wanting to play slow airs in Ireland was that she didn't like to play slow and she didn't want to have to sit and listen to all the other competitors...she was 7 years old at the time.

Last year Haley did not compete in slow airs at all and she did not even show any interest in learning new slow airs. This year she said she'd like to learn a slow air and try competing in that competition so for the past two weeks she's been working on a couple. She performed with her teacher on Sunday and he asked her to play one of the two she's learned. She really likes this air and was excited to learn it. She's heard her teacher playing it a number of times.