Bluegrass Fiddle Bowing Workshop with Glenn Asch

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this new online workshop, renowned violinist Glenn Asch explores the various bowing techniques employed in bluegrass fiddle playing. Designed for beginner and intermediate violinists as well as more experienced players who are new to fiddle technique, the class will introduce key bowing concepts particular to the bluegrass style. The techniques include the fiddler's bow-hold and how to use the bow to facilitate improv. These skills translate and branch out to other styles such as Celtic, Texas swing, gypsy jazz and classical playing. Any violinist with an interest in facilitating expanding their horizons will surely benefit from this rare opportunity to study with a modern master of the fiddle.         

ABOUT GLENN ASCH

​Violinist Glenn Asch has been a member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) since 1980. His teachers include Gerald Stanic, Norman Paulu, and Ralph Evans, under whom he earned his Master's degree in violin performance at University of Wisconsin. He is an accomplished violinist in many styles, having studied with David Baker, Matt Glaser, and Jamey Aebersold. He has also studied Hindustani and Karnatic rhythmic Talla with Hindole Majumdar. He is well-versed in classical, jazz, bluegrass, Texas swing-contest, bebop, fusion, Celtic, and Karnatic styles.

He premiered his violin concerto with the Denver Chamber Orchestra under JoAnne Falleta in 1988 to a standing ovation. He has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras, playing everything from the Tchaikovsky violin concerto to his own arrangements of “Back Home in Indiana”, “Donna Lee”, “the Devil Went Down to Georgia”, and so on. He won the University of Wisconsin School of Music concerto contest and performed the Stravinsky violin concerto with the school's orchestra.

Glenn has taught private lessons in all styles for decades. He co-authored Mel-Bay’s Anthology of Jazz Violin Styles and also conducts improv clinics for school orchestras. Glenn’s current bands include the Chris Hanson Band, the Tritonics (a rock-steady reggae group in which he plays viola), Tilibo (a Senegalese band with kora player Yaya Kambaye), and the Jason Seed Stringtet.