scott.mclewin

scott.mclewin's picture

History

Blog
View recent blog entries
Member for
2 years 28 weeks

Biography

I'm a software engineer, father and violinist. I have played classical violin since I was four or five and maintained a healthy love/hate relationship with my violin until college, which is when I finally decided to take it a little more seriously. Four years later with a minor in music performance in hand, I ran out of time to play as my career in software development took priority. I found time to play occasionally, but nothing structured. I didn't have time for orchestral play or to commit to chamber music. In 1998 I moved from New York to Kansas City to take on an even greater job challenge. This left even less time for music. I tried private lessons again, but my work travel schedule made it very hard to keep up a practice regimen.

In 2002 I started playing with the Olathe Community Orchestra. I reasoned that one rehearsal a week plus a few hours of practice was something that I could fit in, and it did. I managed to work my travel schedule to keep me home most Thursday nights for rehearsals during the season.

In 2003 I heard about an open jam session in Lawrence, Kansas that was part of the annual Fiddling and Picking championship held there. I'd never played my violin as a fiddle before and had no idea how I would do. I figured if I showed up and was embarrassingly bad that I was unlikely to see any of the other participants again anyway, so it was safe. This was a turning point in my playing. I've been finding and attending jams ever since and continue to play in the community orchestra. I eventually worked my violin into my travel and would seek out jam sessions while traveling for work.

It was the pain of finding jam sessions in other cities that led to the creation of folkjam.org. My friend Shawn and I have enjoyed building and using this site. I hope you enjoy it too.

Posted by scott.mclewin: Posted 29 May 2006 - Last edited 18 Feb 2008

Private messages

Contributions


rss feed of these contributions

Musician map

Find me on the musician map
Looking for OT/Contra Dance/Irish/Celtic players to join monthly 3rd Saturday jam. See group "Whiskey Just After Breakfast"

Instruments

Fiddle, Mandolin

Styles

Old time fiddle, Blues, Celtic, Irish

Terms of Use

Click here to review the terms of use for members for this website.

User login

Find local musicians and jams through folkjam.

  • Improve your skills - play
  • Promote your local jams
  • Join/start local groups
  • Connect with local musicians
  • Receive details of new jams via email
Sign up!  It's free

Play well with others

Top recent contributors

All time top recurring event contributors

Navigation

Recent comments

bow hair can 'wear out' scott.mclewin30 Sep 2008 - 1:50pm
new bow hair cabbagetaco29 Sep 2008 - 11:35pm
"Believe it or not" is ApK18 Sep 2008 - 9:25am
The question needs some fiddlefeller16 Sep 2008 - 8:56am
Ukulele Lessons rwdonsky14 Sep 2008 - 12:56pm
History of a tune Corey12 Sep 2008 - 9:33am
Radius for search from the given location
Close