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Sept. 18, 2009
Aaron Meyer played at a United Way benefit in
Hood River Sept. 17. Jim Drake talked to him beforehand about his
music:
1. The benefit on Sept. 17 bills you
as a "rock violinist," but your music is more far-reaching than
that. What can we expect musically - full band? Solo?
I will be solo on Thursday, playing to
tracks so you will hear the other band parts but they are not
live. This is not my favorite way to play, but this is a
fundraiser and we are trying to keep costs way down so it was not
possible to bring any of my other band members for this event. But
I am returning to Hood River on March 6 with a 3 piece band to
perform at a concert for the Columbia Center for the Arts
2. You probably own both, but what
do you prefer to play - acoustic instruments, or the new solid
body types? If acoustic, how do you handle microphone/sound
reinforcement?
I rarely use my electric violin live
unless I am doing one of my school presentations. I almost always
use my acoustic violin. I use a k and k sound pickup, which lives
under my bridge and hangs out on the tail piece, so not much
touches the violin except the transducers. This works the same way
you would amplify an acoustic guitar. It is really difficult to
amplify an acoustic violin and keep the sound as close the true
acoustic sound...violins are temperamental and a pain...however
the k and k sound pick up works great in my opinion and I like the
sound it produces when amplified. I am so used to the sound of the
violin coming out of the hollow sound chamber and into my ear that
it is really hard for me to get used to a solid body instrument
where I can't hear anything come out.
3. Your webpage says you're a big Grateful
Dead fan. If I had to pick a favorite album, I'd probably have to
go with "Europe 72." And your favorite would be...?
I don't listen to the Dead’s studio
albums, but I have tons of live recordings, and I have many
favorites. I love the music from the late 80's particularly
1989-90 and also 1977.
4. How did you get booked for the
gig on the 17th....do you get to visit the Gorge with your busy
schedule?
I had a violin student and her uncle
is Gordon Sato who lives in Hood River. Gordon is on the committee
for the United Way event. Madeline brought her uncle to one of my
concerts and then we went to several other concerts and we became
friends. He asked if I would do this event and I gladly accepted.
One of the best parts about teaching is getting to know the family
of my students.
5. What advice would you give
someone who wanted to start playing the violin, but didn't have
the luck to start at a very early age?
Find a good teacher that inspires
you and that teach you how to practice carefully, find fun music
to play that you enjoy, do the hard work, practice well, and have
fun with the violin. 6. I've always said that the difference
between violin and fiddle is in the style of music. What do you
think? Yes...I believe it’s the same instruments, just a different
style...like jazz to rock
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