Brian Neal

I started playing the violin at the age of 8 in the public school system and quickly took up private lessons with the above mentioned teachers as well. I was in several youth orchestas and performed local concerts. I found early that I gravitated towards Baroque style and am a big fan of Bach and Vivaldi. By the age of 13, I was no longer interested in the public school system as I felt it wasn't offering as much as private lessons and consequently stopped attending. My teachers used both Susuki and Classical methods of instruction. At the age of 18, I came to a crossroads with the violin and had to choose either to make it a major part of my future (ie to become professional) or to keep it as a hobby. I chose to keep it as a hobby. I went to University and got a Bachelors in Psychology and somewhere along the line, I stopped playing the violin altogether. I lost interest in learning the classics because I didn't feel as though I was allowed to be personally expressive. I was frustrated at the fact that I was forced to play the piece as faithfully as possible to what was written. After about 3 years of not playing however, I realized that I missed even the frustration greatly and I decided after graduation to pick the instrument back up. This time however, it was to play fiddle. Sara Hart was my first fiddle instructor. This was a revolution for me because the instrument became a means of personal expression. I was required to write my own music and make my own tunes on the spot, which was something quite foreign and difficult to me at first. Having found the fun in playing again, if quickly found the intrest in the classics again, but on a quiet, personal note. I am now taking fiddle lessons and playing for family and friends. One day, I will go to the local Irish pub on amature night and have a lot of fun. I also think that I will again brush up my classical and join an orchestra, symphony or chamber group.