Trailer for AcuTab's Jim Van Cleve fiddle DVD - Become A More Complete Fiddler

http://www.acutab.com/artists/vancleve/vancleve.html

Unlock the secrets of improvising in traditional American fiddle styles. 4 hours on 2 DVDs - with printed booklet.

In only ten years as a professional musician, Jim Van Cleve has made quite a name for himself in bluegrass and acoustic music. Hes spent time with Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, saw his debut solo CD nominated for a Grammy and toured all over the world with Mountain Heart. Hes become a sought-after Nashville session player and one of the most admired fiddlers in bluegrass.
Jim covers many things on these 2 DVDs, but they really break into three sections. After some discussion about early learning experiences, AcuTabs John Lawless leads Jim through a discussion on improvising and building solos on a number of popular bluegrass standards. Two songs, Banks Of The Ohio and Pretty Polly, are each played and demonstrated in 3 different keys

Before demonstrating the tunes, Jim breaks down the scale and common positions for each key in turn. He shows where to find the melody, and where adjacent double stops are located, as well as licks and phrases that suit each song. Attention is given to both playing a melody-based solo and what a fiddle can do to assist the band sound in accompaniment.

This section on melody and improvising makes up the largest part of the 4 hour presentation. For newer players, it will help open your eyes - and ears - to playing a melody in different keys, while more experienced fiddlers will gain insight from the many examples Jim demonstrates. Especially useful is Jim's explanation of the differing note choices you would make for a song in a diatonic major key, versus one in a Dorian, "mountain modal" style.
He also carefully teaches fours songs he has recorded - three of his own (Nature Of The Beast, Devils Courthouse and #6 Barn Dance) plus Bill Monroes classic Wheel Hoss. After being slowly demonstrated lick-by-lick, they are each shown (fast and slow) in a split screen orientation. A printed booklet with standard notation for each of these songs is included.

Two screen orientations are available for the split screen sections, based on whether the left or right hand is of greater interest. Simply switch between them using the Angle key. (less info)