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Stuff
The fiddle is a great instrument.  It doesn't matter what style of music you listen to there is almost always a place for a violin, which is the same thing as a fiddle, although fiddling is not the same thing as playing a violin.  But if you are fiddling (on your violin) you should think more about what is possible.  The first and most obvious thing is to play tunes -  sounds obvious but some instruments are not designed well for tunes. (Is this a good time to mention bassoons?) They can be an important part of a group but rarely take the lead. But because your fiddle allows you to vary the tone and the pitch in very small ways it can be used to produce soft and beautiful sounds (rarely heard at BFG it has to said) or some very aggressive and angry sounds.  So the fiddle is a great instrument for really giving mood to the music.  Almost any mood you choose can be found on a fiddle, its just a case of learning how to pull the bow across the strings while putting your fingers down in the right places. How hard can that be?  Well as it happens pretty blooming hard for some of us. And that is why you need BFG.  Not only do we help each other with the tunes we can start to think about the sounds we make and how to make the tunes sound interesting.

By now you might be wondering where this is going - you know it won't remain positive, friendly and risk free, this is the BFG news page where every "tale" has a sting.  So I'd better come clean.  Its time to think  a bit more about how to make these fiddles of ours make even more wonderful sounds.  Those of you who were at the session on Friday 27th January met Jo Miller (Stirling Riverside Music Project leader -  see Fridays page for details) who taught a tune and then taught us to play it with those soft sounds and with a bit more bite where it counted.  She also gave us some ideas about simple arrangements that we can use.  This isn't new to us. We have quite a few arrangements already, but let's face it no one has asked you (yes I mean you) to think about making up your own arrangement.  So the time has come to work on a few arrangements using the tunes we know.  It would be great if you came prepared with a few ideas.  If you don't then ...  we'll have to see.  So tune learning will take a back seat for little while unless you are wanting into the ceilidh band. For the ceilidh band there will be some ceilidh sessions. There is more on this below.  We will of course continue to teach our basic list of tunes to people who have not been learning with us for long.

Fridays and Ceilidh Band
Okay, so Fridays will be about some new arrangements and a bit of technique (see stuff above). We will have tutors from time to time but largely we'll have to make this up as we go along. This also means that we'll need to do special ceilidh band sessions for tune learning.  To begin with we'll do this on Fridays.  To help you know what we'll be doing there will be a new essential tunes list on the members' page. It may not be there for a few days but copies will be available at the hall. Some of the tunes will not be familiar as they will appear in the new Big Ceilidh Book (see below).  
Big Ceilidh Book
The book is nearly ready - at last.  And although I say it myself it is going to be pretty good.  It has taken eight months to put together, to write, edit, set out the music, to get copyright permissions, to change my mind and do bits again but at last the new book is just about print ready.  The printers are about to produce the proof version and it will be printed in February.  With 340 tunes and much more it is an absolute necessity for BFG members and will be available to members at a bargain price.  The introductory price will be £12 to members.  That price can't hold forever though.  For non-members (that is anyone who is doesn't come regularly, including family and friends) we will have copies at around £25.  This is below the going rate for music and given the hours (days & weeks) that went into making it there is no way anyone is getting discounts. If we are lucky the book will break even in cost terms eventually.
 
Gigs
Just two gigs in January. First a ceilidh at Fairview School in Perth.  Great night -  last minute affair but we were pleased to do it.  Lovely people and they had a good time.  Then a few of us went to Kinbuck for the Burns supper.  We had a long wait while they recooked the neeps and did all the other stuff like speeches and being rude. Eventually we began playing about an hour late and went on playing until the middle of the night (slight exaggeration). It was a great gig. Thanks to David Leask who came to sing with us.

Up and coming gigs for 2012.  Please keep 17th March free in your diaries.  We have been invited to play again at the very prestigious Neil Gow Festival in Dunkeld at the Saturday afternoon concert.  There will also be a few everyone gigs at local care homes so please keep you eye open.

Away Weekend (adults)
The weekend away is scheduled for 25-26th February with those interested arriving at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel for a 10am start on the Saturday. Bed and Breakfast will cost £25 and a £10 deposit is payable in advance to Isobel by Friday 3rd Feb if you can please. This price is based on a room share basis. Please bring additional money for other meals and drinks over the weekend as well as for a contribution to the workshops. Pete Clark is coming to teach and there should be opportunities for solo and group tutorials.  There will be a slowish and informal session in the bar on Saturday evening, hopefully with some local guest players. We will have to check out of our rooms on Sunday morning, but don't have to leave the hotel until 5pm.  There are four places left. Please call Isobel if interested O1764 654427

House Session
These are tune playing sessions in a member's house. We'll go from place to place about once each month. Sessions are open to everyone from the group.  Details will be on the member's page. 

Next house session is on Thursday 16th February in Comrie.  More details at the hall.

Latest Tunes on the Music pages
The new tune from Jo will be on the web soon.


Caption Competition
Below is the winner.  Well done the Blackford Pipers. Your prize is on its way. We can take a joke, and obviously so can you as you play the pipes. 

So the competition for February is
and what did Becky (or anyone else from BFG) say in reply?



If you have a suitable photo for the March please send it the BFG email address. Thanks.

Sessions

• The Niblick, Auchterarder.  Next session will be on 2nd February -  first Thursday.
  
• Tappit Hen Dunblane, every Tuesday from 9 p.m. (no under 18s).
  
• Every Thursday - 7.30 Fiddlers workshop and then open session at Dunkeld (Taybank).
• Session at the Cross Keys, Kippen 1st and 3rd (and 5th) Sundays each month. See Sessions page. It is at tea time (5pm) and is suitable for all abilities and all ages.