Alfred Publishing

A Sequenced Guide to American Fiddling

Authors: Crystal Plohman Wiegman, Renata Bratt, and Bob Phillips
Format: Book with CD
Instrumentation: Violin
Level: Intermediate

This collection of beloved standards from traditional American fiddling literature will introduce young players to an aspect of string playing that is motivational, fun, and pedagogically appropriate. Intended to be used in tandem with other string methods, Fiddle & Song is carefully sequenced in a step-by-step way to accompany beginning instruction. Singing the tune first provides a framework for the instrumental instruction. The left-hand pages of the book are for students. The right-hand pages have information for the teacher, parts for advanced students, and easy ensemble parts. Each tune includes melody, breaks, back-ups, kick-offs, tags, guitar chords, ensemble parts, and creative exploratory activities. Piano accompaniments are available.

The series works for like instrumentation or mixed instrumentation. The violin book is generally in the keys of A and D while the viola and cello/bass books are in the keys of D and G, a fifth lower. Innovative ensemble parts allow each instrument to accompany the others in mixed instrumentation, from duos up to string orchestra. Kick-offs can be used to transition to the new key if all strings are playing together.

Song List:

• Boil Them Cabbage Down
• Boil Them Cabbage Down Tater Variation
• Oats and Peas and Beans and Barley Grow
• Li'l Liza Jane
• Cornbread and Butterbeans
• Chase Me Charlie
• Buffalo Gals
• Shady Grove
• Old Dan Tucker
• Angeline the Baker
• Grumpy Pirate
• Skye Boat Song
• Crawdad Song
• Old Joe Clark
• Sourwood Mountain
• Irish Polka Set
• Cluck Old Hen
• Pig Ankle Rag
• Irish Jig Set
• Kitty Cat Blues
• Boil Them Cabbage Down in D
• Boil Them Cabbage Down in D -- Hoedown Tricks
• Boil Them Cabbage Down in D -- Lick Library
• Endings and Tags Library
• Boil Them Cabbage Down in D -- Breaks