|
(webmaster for Peter Zaret and Sons Violins.com)
 Heather Malyuk and her sister Lisa have been playing celtic and old-time tunes in northeast Ohio for the last year, to rave reviews. As a duo, Lisa plays the Hammered Dulcimer and Heather accompanies on Guitar. They also routinely appear with another artist, Englishman Terry Richardson, with Heather trading in her Guitar for her first love, the violin. At only 16 years of age, Heather is already an accomplished performer on two instruments. She is also having a terrific time! Having seen her perform I was interested in knowing her musical history, and how she moved from being classically focused to learning to fiddle and play old time guitar.
Paula: How did you get started on the violin?
Heather: I've been playing the violin for about 10 years. At the age of 4 I started taking piano lessons and from there I chose to play the classical violin so that I could be in the homeschool band. My sisters and I were homeschooled, which allowed us to spend a lot of time on music. The Homeschool band was a very small group of homeschooled children who were just starting to play various instruments. It was a way to introduce us to playing in a group. Because we were all beginners, the music wasn't very hard, the pieces that we played were mostly simple, popular tunes.
My oldest sister Amy plays the piano and my other sister Lisa plays the flute and hammered dulcimer. My sisters and I have been playing together at church, nursing homes, and various other events for most of our lives.
Paula: How far have you gotten as a classical violinist?
Heather: I have played the violin in the Stow Youth Symphony, Akron Youth Symphony, and, although I have decided to not participate in it, I was accepted into the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra this year. I have participated in the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Festivals and have received Unanimous Superiors.
Paula: What did you need to do to be accepted into the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra?
Heather: I was accepted into the COYO after an audition in front of members of the Cleveland Orchestra. I had to prepare 1 major scale (I chose E major), 1 piece that would show my skill level (I played De Beriot's Violin Concerto No. 9), 1 orchestral excerpt (I played an excerpt from Mozart's Symphony No. 40) , and I had to sight read an orchestral excerpt.
Paula: Where does celtic and old-time music enter the picture?
Heather: Ever since we were little our parents have taken us to the old-time music festival at Hale Farm and that is where we initially heard that style of music.
My sister Lisa has always loved the hammered dulcimer and about 2 years ago she got one for her birthday. She started looking for a teacher and found that we live 15 minutes away from Tina Bergmann, one of the best hammered dulcimer players in the country. Lisa started taking lessons from Tina and, about 6 months later, I started taking old-time guitar lessons from Tina so that Lisa and I could play together.
Lisa and I started attending open mic sessions at coffee shops. From there we got many requests to perform at various venues such as art gallery openings, wineries, the Hower House, weddings, and many other places.
It has really been a blessing for us to be able to play for so many people! We really love it!
Paula: You and Lisa are also playing gigs with Terry Richardson; it's in these gigs that you're playing the violin. What kind of stuff are you doing?
Heather: The kind of music we play with Terry is mostly Irish songs and oldies. It's great to have the violin in the more lively Irish songs because it adds that "traditional" feel. And for the other songs I feel that the violin adds a certain softness and bittersweetness to the music.
Paula: How do you create the parts you play with Terry?
Heather: I develop the parts either by knowing the violin part that is in the song already, playing that, and adding variations to it, or by making my own part. Since I play guitar I can "read" Terry's left hand to know what the chords are and when they change (which is extremely helpful), and then I know which notes to play by knowing which notes are in the chords.
Paula: Where else are you currently fiddling?
Heather: I occasionally play at church and nursing homes but when I play my violin out it is usually with Terry and Lisa. And because I started taking fiddle lessons, I will be adding that style of fiddling to our gigs. At the same time I will continue to maintain my classical skills.
Paula: How does fiddling differ from playing classical violin?
Heather: There are many differences between classical violin and old-time fiddling. In the classical style you read music to learn a tune, but when you fiddle, the tunes are picked up in the aural tradition (by ear). Also in fiddling there are different tunings for the violin. In classical your violin is tuned EADG. But in old-time music, the fiddle can be tuned EADA or EAEA and many other ways. Fiddlers tune their fiddles differently so that they can use the open strings for droning. Also, in classical music we're taught to have very even bow strokes to make a nice, smooth sound. In fiddling we are taught to put emphasis on the first and third beats. This is partially because fiddling is common at dances.
Paula: Elaborate on why Fiddlers use alternative tunings -
Heather: Fiddlers use these different tunings so that they can use more open strings as drones. A drone is a single note that you sound in a passage of the tune while you are playing the melody of the tune. This technique is used alot in Celtic and Scottish music to make the fiddle sound like a bagpipe. In tunings like EADA or EAEA, the lower strings that double the notes are usually one octave lower than the higher strings.
Paula: Do you go to the same teacher for both styles of playing?
Heather: I do not have the same teachers for violin and fiddle. My classical violin teacher is Cory Smith. Mr. Smith is a member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra as well as a wonderful teacher. I take fiddle lessons from Susie Goehring. I was recommended to Susie through my guitar teacher Tina Bergmann who is taking fiddle lessons as well.
Paula: How do you think your fiddling is impacting your classical skills?
Heather: I think that playing other styles of music has only, if anything, enhanced my classical playing, and vise verse. By being able to play different styles of music you are able to, at times, fuse them together.
Paula: In addition to your violin playing you've become an "old-time" guitarist. What is that style about?
Heather: Old time guitar is a style that not many people play. You play regular chords but in a "boom-chuck" fashion, meaning that you play the lowest string first and then you strum the rest of the strings. Old time guitar players also use bass runs: bass runs are short single-note passages that you play on the strings and, most of the time, they are used to link two chords together.
Paula: And you're taking up another instrument as well - ?
Heather: For my birthday this year, I received a nyckelharpa from Sweden. A nyckelharpa is an instrument that you hold like a guitar and play with a bow. It has three melody strings, one drone string, and 12 sympathetic vibration strings. Instead of placing your fingers on the strings to make the different notes, there are 37 wooden keys that alter the pitch when pressed. The sound is similar to a fiddle but with a lot more resonance.
Paula: can you offer any advice to other violinists who are contemplating venturing into new musical territories?
Heather: The only advice that I can give someone learning how to play a new style is this: don't be afraid of not catching on right away. It's a difficult transition to a new style or even a new instrument, just do your best. It always helps to have a good attitude about everything in your life, don't let frustration or discouragement get you down! Also, be careful to not start any bad habits, they are hard to undo!
Learn more about Heather Malyuk at: http://www.lisa-heathermalyuk.com
Back to Top
|
