Last Wednesday, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas spent the afternoon with 4th grade students at Warren Elementary School before their concert. The students were full of questions, and were thrilled when Natalie broke a bow string and was able to show them the thousands of horse hairs that it takes to create this part of her instrument.
“Why do you tap your feet when you play?”
“When you play, all I can watch is your hands.”
Alasdair explained that the difference between a fiddle and a violin is simply how you play it–it’s the same instrument! He told the students that fiddle music is dance music, and that every culture in the world has its own rhythm. “When we play our music, you can’t stand still!” And sure enough, by the end of the workshop, half the group had found their way to their feet and were bouncing along in time with the tunes.
Thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield for their support!
