Deb Shebish is an old-time and Irish fiddler I met here in Indianapolis. I guess she is also the first person I am collaborating with on my journey to become a better violinist. I sat down with her in her kitchen a few weeks back and she taught me a few fiddle tunes, and told me about all of her experience traveling, losing her violin and playing in sessions. She also told me about her friend who traveled the world and ended up marrying a guy in the Faroe Islands that she barely knew in order to get citizenship. That woman is still married to the same man today -- 20 years or so later. (Don't worry, I will not be marring anybody after two days when I bicycle around the world.) Anyway, sessions scare the bajeezus out of me, so she challenged me to learn three fiddle tunes and join her in a session. Of course, I have not as of yet., but I did ask her to play a little Bach with me to test out my new zoom H6 recorder. The sound quality is ten times better than the microphone built in to the Nikon D3300. It's just all the other logistics of working the recorder that one has to learn. Which way to point the microphones when there is more than one musician? How far back should the recorder be so one or more of us do not come in too hot? And then learning editing software for both video and audio is a completely different monster. Here is a snippet of what I caught of us rehearsing and trying to edit a little, but failing! LOL It's just a snippet. If anyone has experience with the Zoom H6, can I just send all my audio to you and you edit it?
I am violin 1 and Deb is Violin 2. 

Trying Bach

I composed the accompaniment in Garageband.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow HD (Free Rhythm)

Ben is an amazing man who's been playing guitar for two years. I was able to collaborate with him on Pink Eye Lament written by Gail Blake. Please read the rest of the story on Ben via the article. You won't be disappointed. As for me, this is one of many pieces I have discovered on my bicycle around the world adventure. I have truly enjoyed turning the road into y own huge music school full of awesome teachers. I hope to have more video posted of other collaborations soon.

Pink Eye Lament - 4 7 16, 8.05 AM

Slider's Reel ft. The Vox Hunters

It's been 5 years since I last uploaded a cover arrangement, and it took this catchy dubstep tune to pull me out of the musical cover block. I love this piece so much, so I decided to arrange it for three or four violins and simple piano. It's all done by ear, and the piano part was played and arranged in Garageband by myself. I play all the violin parts as well. 

While it may not have that wonderful bass drop that we EDM fans adore, I find acoustic music equally powerful. Unfortunately, I am not a professional sound engineer or violinist, so you may notice some imperfections. But that's ok! I totally embrace my musical voice now. I've come a long way from the musically timid girl several years ago. Of course, I still have a long way to go, but life is about the journey, and I am enjoying every minute of it. 

I hope you enjoy my arrangement as I hope to pump out more of these. I am not very good at video, so for the time being, these will remain audio only. But feel free to watch my other videos featuring lessons with musicians I meet on the road, practice sessions and other adventures! Thank you.

Gear and Programs Used:
Zoom H6 Recorder
Garageband

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Marshmello - Moving On (Violin Cover)

What would Vivaldi's Summer "Adagio" sound like in a post-Apocalyptic world? I don't know. Just using my imagination and it came out weird, but I like it.  LOL Photo by The Flickerees

Vivaldi Adagio - 7:11:17, 11.40 PM

When I set out last year on a bicycle, facing my fears as a wannabe musician was pretty high on my list. I was so afraid to play violin in front of people because of all the negative chatter in my mind - what will they think? What if my biggest fears are confirmed -- (I am not good enough) -- on their frowning faces? Nevertheless, just like the very act of riding off into the distant required some courage, I also began playing for people regardless. My first audience on this adventure was a group of children at a school in Peoria, IL. I talked to them about facing fears and pursuing dreams, and they enthusiastically listened to me play Ashokan Farewell. They clapped vigorously afterwards, and some of the children raised their hands, exclaiming, "Jasmine, you have nothing to fear. You can totally be a violinist!" I was smiling ear to ear. My second audience was the Morgans who were our hosts in Salem, IN. A super nice couple who also had a son who set off on a cross country bicycle adventure a few years prior. You can see in the video is footage of me playing for them in front of their gorgeous fireplace. As in 2013, Ashokan Farewell is my go to tune. I always pull it out because it's set firmly in my memory bank, and I am not as afraid of messing up in front of people when playing it. I also pulled out Ashokan on my first busking experience in Canada. I sat, teeth chattering, at a farmer's market debating whether I was going to go through with it. I sucked it up and began playing. I needed to busk because I had run out of money, but I also wanted to make some cash to the attend the Kootenay #9 Fiddle Camp in Castlegar, B.C. So, I did it! I made a nice amount and, after that, I was shining with confidence. I went to the fiddle camp and met amazing musicians, including Kimberley Holmes who plays the piano in this backing track. I hitchhiked to John Arcand's Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon, SK. I even had my first house concert in Three Brooks, New Brunswick at Helen Edgar's home -- where she gave me this awesome backing track. The photos in the video don't even capture all the awesome people who patiently listened to me play my violin which was not only for them, but a way for me to grow. I thank each and every one of you for helping me.

Ashokan Farewell

E. Satie Gymnopedie No. 1 for Violin and Piano

A lullaby to accompany with the poem I wrote as a young child. 

"Changes are coming,
The wind is blowing. 
We're not ready to fly;
Let the wind pass us by."

Changes

My name is Jasmine Reese. I began violin at age 14. Always lacking in confidence due to the “late” start, I never went all in to pursue my dream of becoming a professional violinist. I went through a phase of blaming a number of factors on the disadvantage of being a teen starter: poverty and demographics. If only I had been born to a rich family, maybe I would have started an instrument earlier. If only I was a different race, maybe I would have learned about classical music earlier. If only I was born in a certain neighborhood, I would have been exposed to a more diverse selection of music. However, these were all absurd worries created in a mind filled with regret. Quite frankly, while having a certain advantageous edge on your competition can lead to dreams coming true, they are not the key ingredients to success. Talent born of passion, hard-work and perseverance does.

However, I did not learn this lesson and settled for the “secure” career path. Unhappy with my major in college, depressed and failing miserably, I set off on a bicycle across the U.S. with my doggy, Fiji, in 2013. It’s hard to admit, but the challenge was an extreme way to escape; it was also a way to feel determined again–to accomplish something extraordinary, to push myself to higher limits, to prove to myself that while I had “failed,” I was still capable of uniquely great things.

On that adventure, we met tons of interesting people and musicians! I learned patience and fortitude (never give up; don’t stop pedaling), and I fell in love with traveling via bicycle. Reinvigorated, the violin dream–that never died–came back full force.

In 2016, I will take off on my bicycle again. This time, however, it’s not about running away or proving anything to myself. It’s about mixing some of my greatest loves together and learning about the grand Earth we live on. I love testing my physical and mental capacities through long-distance cycling; I love meeting people of all nationalities and hearing their stories; I want to learn language and photography, continue writing on my blog, and most importantly, I need to learn more about the art I gave up on.

I will pedal through dozens of countries in an effort to learn from musicians all over the world, and I will share those experiences with you. I hope my adventure and knowledge gained can create a platform for others to draw inspiration from. We can accomplish our dreams even if we’re poor, or old, or disabled, or isolated; we can challenge ourselves. We do not have to feel trapped like puppets of fate.

Thanks for tuning in.

I am Jasmine. I was 26 years old in 2015. In 2016, I set off on an adventure around the world with my doggy, Fiji, and my violin.