Fiddle Players

Gaelynn Lea – Redefining what it is to be a fiddler.

Gaelynn Lea was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition that causes complications in the development of bones and limbs.

Lea became impassioned by classical music from an early age, and in fifth grade a teacher took notice and encouraged Lea to pursue music after she had the class’s only perfect score on a music listening test.^[2] Lea developed a technique for violin which involved holding the bow “like a baseball bat” with the body of the instrument placed in front of her, like a cello, and attached to her foot so it wouldn’t slip when she played.^[3]

Lea attended Macalester College, where she majored in political science; prior to her music career, she had planned to pursue a career as a lawyer and disability rights advocate.^[2]

Read more about Gaelynn Lea here: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-violinist-gaelynn-lea-is-redefining-who-can-be-a-musician

CHARLIE DANIELS SETTLES THE FIDDLE-VS-VIOLIN DEBATE IN ‘COUNTRY MUSIC’

Over the years, you might’ve heard country music fans stress the difference between an old-time fiddle player and a high-brow violinist. Per a story he tells in a trailer for Ken Burns’ upcoming Country Music docu-series, Charlie Daniels, of all people, reckons there’s no real difference at all.

Daniels’ revelation came in part from a chance meeting with one of the true modern-day masters of classical music: “I went to see Itzhak Pearlman at the Opera House in Nashville, and somebody took me backstage before the show,” Daniels recalls. “I said, ‘Hi, Mr. Pearlman. I’m Charlie Daniels. I’m a fiddle player.’ He said, ‘We are all fiddle players.’

See full story here: https://theboot.com/charlie-daniels-country-music-ken-burns-documentary/