Look How Much She's Grown...

 Haley came down from her bedroom a couple minutes ago proclaiming that something horrible had happened to her fiddle. Now we've had horrible things happen to fiddles at times like a broken bridge, unravelling strings, etc...at times when it has been extremely inconvenient to drive into the city for a fix so she did have me going...until I looked at her. She was carrying her first fiddle, a tiny 1/16 or 1/32 size violin (we aren't exactly sure of the size because we bought it as a 1/16 but when trading up to the next size at a different luthier found out it was an entire inch smaller than any 1/16 fiddle he had so she ended up going from this fiddle to "another" 1/16 size) and telling me her fiddle shrunk. She found it in the top of her closet though I am sure Dylan helped her get it out. I couldn't bear to get rid of it. Notice the blue moleskin on the chin rest with padding underneath to make it more comfortable for her "sensitive" self and the finger tapes. Her tiny bow still has moleskin attach as a "pillow" for her pinky and another bit for her thumb.

We thought it would be fun to see how much bigger her current 1/2 size fiddle is so we put the two together and discovered that her first fiddle is the size of the body of her current fiddle.

Fiddle, fiddle, and, oh yeah,...more fiddle.

 It seems like every post lately has been about fiddling. Actually all we've done lately has revolved around Irish music but I think that is mostly due to the fact that it is March...the busiest month on the Irish calendar.


This past week Haley and I attended two different concerts featuring fiddle/accordian duos. The first duo was Oisin MacDiarmada and Seamus Begley playing at the home of Haley's first fiddle teacher. It was a lovely concert playing a nice variety of music with some very funny stories and jokes thrown in by Seamus for good measure.


Haley was asked to play for them during the 2nd half of the concert. I hadn't taken her fiddle with us...note to self to keep it handy from now on. So, Oisin offered her his full size fiddle but when she realized it was tuned in E flat (to match the E flat accordian tuning) her teacher went and got her fiddle (also full size) for Haley. Haley played a couple tunes then they asked her to play with Seamus so she played Oisin's full size fiddle tuned to E flat and played a tune she'd only just learned. (Not quite sure how she does that...hmmm!) Granted her intonation would have been better on her own fiddle where her fingers would have been able to reach and her left arm wouldn't have been completely straight. LOL
Saturday, Haley opened for the other duo...Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly in North Jersey. They mostly played polkas and slides because they are from Sliabh Luachra area of Ireland where those types of tunes are played. It was also a very nice concert followed by a well attended session. We were out very late and spent the night with a friend before going to Haley's fiddle lesson in NY the next morning bright and early.




Sunday, Haley had an early morning lesson (well, 10am but we were 1.5 hours away so had to get up early to drive). After the lesson we went to the nicest mall we know to look around then drove to Cornwall, NY for Haley to join her fiddle teacher, Brian Conway, and a number of his students in a library concert. From the concert, we went to her fiddle teacher's session where Haley played for another couple hours before we made the long drive home.

Haley spent a lot of time fiddling this weekend and a lot of time in the car. Much of the car time was spent practicing her classical and orchestra music with her music propped up on the open glove compartment. I am not so sure she'll be able to do that when she moves up to a full size fiddle.
We have another very fiddle filled week this week and weekend then things should slow down a bit.

PT Mom

A few people have asked me what the "PT" means in my blog name. A couple asked if it meant "part-time." LOL Not quite sure how one can be a part-time mom unless you are a stepmother or something. Anyway, that is not it.

The PT means physical therapist. I work once a week as a physical therapist for developmentally delayed kids 0-3 years old. I love my job, though I miss doing the homeschooling on that day. I meet many interesting families and love the kids I see. I get to set my own schedule, make a bit of money, and help families. I love watching the kids I see develop their skills. It never ceases to amaze me when a little one takes their first steps.  Whether they are 9 months or 33 months old...I still cry in happiness right along with their parents.

My job also has it's share of sadness...kids in sad situations or with heart-breaking diagnoses. I always remind myself that I am there helping the family deal with whatever they are going through and it makes those times more bearable.

Fiddling with friends...

Yesterday the kids did their last St. Patrick's Day gig at a nursing home's St. Patrick's Party. They have done it for the past 3 years. Until this year, Haley's violin teacher had a once a month concert there that we called Fridays at Four. The name kinda describes when the concert took place. Anyway, Haley has missed seeing the people there and was happy to go back yesterday to play for them.

After the concert, we went to Con Murphy's Pub for Haley and Dyl to join their buddy Paraic for his last weekly gig there. She always tells Paraic he looks like Winnie the Pooh so she wrapped up a scarf she had with Pooh on it and gave it to him.

Take my picture up there!

I love the view from up here!

St. Patrick's Day...

Ha! All their faces look suspicious of that flash!

The kids had a busy St. Patrick's Day evening and even had to turn down a couple gigs because they were already booked.

They started the evening right after the boys got home from school. We went over to a local restaurant owned by Newt's orthodontist, set up the sound equipment and they played a short set for the few people already eating. One couple said they'd seen the kids perform on Sunday and came especially to hear them again.

We left the sound equipment and drove to the next town over for them to play for a group of elderly (and some not so elderly) people who meet in the basement of a church for a covered dish dinner and fun together. My husband's and my high school Spanish teacher was there. We really enjoyed seeing her and getting caught up on the years. She was one of our favorite teachers. We enjoyed dinner with the group then the kids played a set for them.

Then it was back to the restaurant for another short set. The bar area was completely full by this time and loud. They did stop and listen a bit and when they finished, the kids met the owner's girls. Haley and his 8yo daughter immediately made friends and went off to the kitchen area to make their own pizzas. We took Haley's pizza home and shared it for an evening snack before bed. Yum!

Decisions...

Last week, Haley's violin teacher gave her her choice of which piece to work on next. She recently started Meditation from Thais and though she wasn't initially thrilled...since it is a slow piece and all, she has learned to like it. Watching a youtube video of Sarah Chang playing it beautifully helped a lot.

Anyway, Haley's teacher told her to go home and listen to the Bach Concerto in A Minor (the middle piece in Book 7) which she already knew and has been listening to and messing around with for about 6 months off and on since hearing a young girl play it in a masterclass and Bach Concerto in E Major. Her teacher said both are at about the same level technique-wise so she didn't care which Haley chose. 

I could have placed money on the A Minor because she has been dying to learn it for so long and her teacher has been using it as a carrot for doing some not so fun technique work.

So, we went home and listened to the E Major. She thought it sounded happy and started fooling around with it almost immediately. Though she wants to learn both and hated having to decide, the E Major sparked her interest and she decided it was the winner. 

That meant we had to order the sheet music. When the music arrived, Haley was even more excited to have actual "big kid" sheet music rather than music photocopied for her or out of a book like all her other pieces have been. An added benefit! Ha!

Playing with the Chieftains*...

Haley with Paddy

On Tuesday I got an email message for a fiddling friend in Philly, Paraic (whose father used to fiddle for the band but has since decided to spend more time in Ireland), asking if Haley would like to play with the Chieftains*. She was reading over my shoulder because we thought the message was about a gig Paraic does that he often invited Haley to sit in on. Her response was a squeal of delight!

Last night was an incredible experience for her. We didn't have too much information going in...be there at 5pm (concert at 8pm) and ask to see Paddy  who will be expecting you. So, we walked in a door people seemed to be coming and going from and told a woman we were expected. She asked us to wait a few minutes then came back and asked, "Are you Haley?"

She took us into the house where we saw Haley's friends, Jayne and her brother Bram waiting. (Both are students of the same fiddle teacher and we've spent lots of time with them on our different trips to Ireland. They have played with the band over the years so were able to teach us the ropes.) We waited a bit then watched the sound check. I was able to get a few pictures then because I wouldn't be able to during the show. Unfortunately I couldn't get any actual pictures of Haley on stage that way. After the sound check, Haley and I followed the band backstage.

Chieftains* sound check

Sound check with band and pipers

We introduced ourselves to the tour manager, got the ticket situation taken care of for the boys, Daddy, and Poppop, then Jayne found the guitarist who came and went over what the girls would be playing for a solo and his accompaniment to it. A little later, Jon Pilatzke*, one of the fiddlers (and also an amazing dancer) came in and asked what they would be playing. Jayne went over what she was doing then Haley said, "Dr. Gilberts" and he looked a little shocked then, jokingly, said, "Oh, only that easy tune."

Learning a tune with Jon and Jeff

She played it for him and he mentioned something about being out of a job soon then asked how old she is and who her teacher is. He went over when and how the grand finale would go. Everyone would play a tune over and over but between times through the tune, different people would play their own solo...whatever they wanted. Haley didn't know the tune they would be playing together so he played it for her then told her she could just play notes around G but she picked up her fiddle and played it back to him, shocking him a bit. The kids then had some time to eat a little. There was a large spread of food. We met Paddy Moloney* and took some pictures. He was a bit excited to finally have to bend down to have his picture taken with someone.


It was close to show time so Haley and I went out to find the men and take our seats to watch the first half of the show. The band plays such a variety of music with singing and dancing. It is really a wonderful show. I was so impressed with the harpist's solo...it was absolutely amazing. The female fiddler, a bluegrass player, also played a fabulous bluegrass solo.

During intermission, we made our way backstage. Haley felt important knowing the code to get backstage. I had written it down but, of course, she remembered it and was keen to punch it in. We gathered up her fiddle and headed up the spiralling metal stairs to the stage area. From there we watched...during the second half they had guest dancers and a pipe and drum corp join them. The band dancers and the fiddling dancer did an amazing dance sitting on chairs where their feet moved so fast and in perfect time.

When it came time for the grand finale, Paddy introduced Haley then Jayne and Bram onto the stage as a special treat. Haley stood next to Paddy with Jayne next to her. Bram sat a little behind them to play his bodhran in the seat Paddy had used to play his uilleann pipes. They began playing the main tune and taking turns doing solos. As band members played solos, the other members would pretend to yawn if they went too long or do other silly things. The fiddler placed his mic on Haley for her turn. She played a great Dr.Gilberts. Most of the band hadn't heard her play before. The fiddlers both pretended to slam their fiddles on the ground and walk off stage. The crowd roared when she finished. They loved Bram's dancing as well. He's so cute!

Everyone briefly left the stage and a number of them congratulated Haley on her playing. They all went back on to play the An Droh, a tune Haley loves to play, for the snake dance...the pipe band joined them and all the dancers danced the snake dance through the crowd picking up audience members to join in. That was the end of the show.

Haley, Jayne, and Bram with Paddy

We had to go backstage afterward to get our things. We thanked Paddy and the tour manager for having her. Paddy invited her to play with them whenever she'd like.