![The Intrepid Fiddler](https://cdn.magzter.com/1444081353/1662400023/articles/E-c5boMzm1665497445324/THE-INTREPID-FIDDLER.jpg)
I don't know where the term "busking" comes from. Apparently it's been around for centuries. Maybe it refers to wandering troubadours of the Middle Ages. But basically it means playing for tips in open spaces. I had been a busker in San Francisco over 50 years ago, when I was just starting out as a fiddler. I graduated to "real" gigs and began climbing the ladder to becoming a professional musician (still climbing). I never thought I'd be a busker ever again.
Then along came the pandemic. During the big lockdown, music totally shut down. There were no longer any clubs, fairs, music festivals, weddings, concerts. There was nowhere to play. Even jamming was restricted; no one wanted to risk catching the virus in a closed space. We've all been there.
At first, I thought I could use the time to woodshed. I had no work of any kind (even the day job was shut down). So, no excuses: here was a time to learn all those new tunes I was meaning to learn, come up with some new licks, fill in a lot of holes in my playing technique. But that got old after a while. Playing in my isolated apartment was too frustrating, so on a whim I thought about my old busking days. Why not give it a shot? I had nothing to lose. I could do my practicing on the street and get paid for it.
I grabbed my fiddle, a chair, and an old vase, and set up in front of a local supermarket. The vase was my tip jar, and it filled up almost immediately. Folks were starved for live music; they couldn't put the dollars in there fast enough. Some folks were in tears as they told me how happy they were that I was there. I felt like a kind of hero.
Denne historien er fra Fall 2022-utgaven av Fiddler Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Fall 2022-utgaven av Fiddler Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Bluegrass Fiddling](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/GXGN2-Kp51665497540100/BLUEGRASS-FIDDLING.jpg)
Bluegrass Fiddling
Mac Magaha-Nashville's Dancing Fiddler
![The Intrepid Fiddler](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/E-c5boMzm1665497445324/THE-INTREPID-FIDDLER.jpg)
The Intrepid Fiddler
Busking in the Digital Age
![Isle of Birds](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/9g6zFpkTb1665497245399/ISLE-OF-BIRDS.jpg)
Isle of Birds
Scottish Fiddling with Pete Clark
![Jody's Column](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/o9eQ_d9Qr1665495285444/JODYS-COLUMN.jpg)
Jody's Column
"Broken Down Gambler" as played by The Skillet Lickers
![Tunesmiths](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/AmjFWxpQ-1665493461725/TUNESMITHS-.jpg)
Tunesmiths
A Favorite Tune and its Mysterious Title
![On Improvisation](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/ZWkHcB28P1665493140482/ON-IMPROVISATION.jpg)
On Improvisation
In this On Improvisation column, we'll be discussing Mr. (or Ms.) Pinky, as he (or she) is known to his (or her) friends.
![Ingredients of Fiddle Tunes](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/gVU6NvN8G1665492779412/INGREDIENTS-OF-FIDDLE-TUNES.jpg)
Ingredients of Fiddle Tunes
After several years of teaching and playing at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington, Marc Savoy, accordion maker and player, said he did not want to return.
![Glen Harrell - Turn up the Volume](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/vAmeYFlIq1665492399087/GLEN-HARRELL-TURN-UP-THE-VOLUME.jpg)
Glen Harrell - Turn up the Volume
In just a little over 10 years since its formation, Volume Five has become one of the most popular bluegrass bands in the industry. The reason is obvious: distinctive, strong vocals, quality instrumentation, well-chosen bluegrass and gospel songs in its repertoire, and a dedicated leader of the band.
![Violin Maker's Corner](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/VXuksmiew1665491280691/VIOLIN-MAKERS-CORNER.jpg)
Violin Maker's Corner
Fundamental Friction Facts for Fiddler Folks
![Murray Kuun: Non-traditional Violin Maker](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/11593/1061178/UyVH5tjeU1665491147439/MURRAY-KUUN-NONTRADITIONAL-VIOLIN-MAKER.jpg)
Murray Kuun: Non-traditional Violin Maker
Murray Kuun is a woodworker and luthier living in South Africa, where he builds violins and other instruments. In a recent interview, he told us about his path to becoming a maker of instruments with innovative designs.