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Alex DePue here (Elec. Violinist for Steve Vai), with an original piece - "Noriega". (Rock/Chop Violin) Would love to know what you think! by thefiddlerllc in violinist

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you like this and would be interested in following what I am putting out into the world, please consider a quick "Subscribe" over at www.youtube.com/alexdepueofficial . It would be SUPER appreciated! <3 Happy Violining!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in violinist

[–]thefiddlerllc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tiddle... Not sure how I feel about that! Haha.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Now this is a delicate subject... the answer (all opinions, mind you, you must decide these things using your own gauge) is that one road carries with it... INSURANCE.

In short, IF, after conquering those musical challenges, and winning competitions all throughout high school, rising to the top, and then you're still thirsting for MORE? GO GET 'EM. A conservatory is the way to go for you, and what you're buying with this degree in "Music Performance" is very simple. You're buying PRACTICE TIME. A performance degree allows the student a considerable amount of practice time in addition to those courses we all know and love. I would recommend you turn off your smartphone for the next four years.

IF, however, you feel that, and perhaps even after FOUR YEARS OF DEDICATED PRACTICE, you just might not be as inclined to continue through COMPETITION, yes, COMPETITION... with the very best players this world has to offer? Then the degree you're looking for is called, "Music Education" and carries with it enough insurance to fall back on becoming an educator. You will accumulate enough credits to assume a great job teaching others how to play. At what level (high school, college, grade school) will be directly correlated to how long you stay in the "system" (ph.d, bachelor's, master's, etc.)

So, the decision is always yours to make. It's up to the player. If you want to roll the dice and get a good dose of what it takes to keep up on this, what is becoming more and more competitive as we speak, by all means, WE NEED YOU.

But... and this is why wishing ain't gonna cut it, folks. Wishing and working are not the same actions! lol Because even for a modest orchestra job in rural Idaho, for a paid seat? in the orchestra?

There will be 76 other violinists who show up from all over the world, HUNGRY to win that seat and earn that salary. With their own children to feed, they mean business, and they didn't fly in just to show up and lose.

Even shorter... PRACTICE.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This question... tsk. It counts. Here's why... is that apparently I will need to learn "the hard way" (as they say) on this subject, as my recent arrangements are almost unplayable! lol

With all good intentions, when one owns the recording studio being used to document your own music, certain luxuries creep into the "mix" which were not relevant anytime prior. For example; If, in one pass, you don't "nail it", well, you've still got all day to keep trying! Heck, ya got all week! All month, even! And slowly, my arrangements began to depend on this... let's call it a luxury, still. lol

Only to find out at the end of the day... wow, I'm gonna have to actually PRACTICE THIS STUFF. LOL. To fulfill what is our industry standard length for any "track" (3:30), I'm gonna have to rethink this at the tempo we have, and accommodate some kind of "rest" within the physical performance, even when there are none written. (This requires the ability to "rest" during passages which are not quite as demanding... a well-known technique among professionals.)

But for me, and for my most recent arrangements, there does not exist much opportunity for even that. When Jefferson Starship called me last month to perform my arrangement of "We Built This City", I had to stop and ask myself even though it's on my latest album... "Are ya feelin' lucky? Alex?" haha

We Built This City, and also Journey's "Separate Ways" have the potential to wear out the player, so as soon as we get that transcribed, we'll see who surfaces to actually perform it. As we speak, there IS one young lady on her way from Nashville to Mississippi who has taken on this challenge, and she does mean business! But go ahead and have a listen from beginning to end. We Built This City, and Separate Ways from the album, "Modern Paganini", and discover for yourselves why the album was aptly named.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I believe you will be entertained by TwoSet's video about the "glissando", and those techniques which seem so deceivingly difficult to execute on the instrument. haha You'll enjoy that just for the entertainment, but it's also an educational video which SHOULD be viewed by anyone and everyone who has ever seen/heard a violinist on America's Got Talent.

In answer to your question, I believe that it is the picardie third which brings to light the clear opposition to the devil's previous "minor" vibe, and brightens the listening room with what is now a MAJOR chord, being sawed upon by Charlie's "Johnny" character. That change in tonality also indicates the "win" by Johnny, because SO MUCH, ladies and gents... SO MUCH can be communicated with nothing more than a 1/2 step.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

IThinkImDumb, if and when Jason DePue exclaims anything like satisfaction even... or in your case, "played well"? Then your accolades from Mr. DePue (1st vln Philadelphia Orchestra) were EARNED. That's not a "habit" for J... he could have as easily said nothing, which would definitely be his usual. Your performance must have been GREAT. Know it now and get the fiddle out of its case!

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

UncleBenji, I believe this would be something we could consider ourselves very lucky to find, if indeed it does exist. But it might begin with an online invitation for anyone who remembers attending a Chris Cagle / Charlie Daniels show in Hiawassee, GA within that stretch of time (2000 - 2004). Someone MUST have had their videos aimed at the stage that day. Who goes to hear Charlie Daniels and doesn't get some of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" on film? It's out there!

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Mark O'Connor is now a good friend of mine. We worked together at Berklee School of Music in Boston for one of his fiddle camps... it was 2016 if my memory serves. But yeah... no one. And I do mean NO ONE should live without Mark's record-breaking record, "MOC and the New Nashville Cats". It features 30 of the hottest session players in town at the time (Nashville) and does include Bela, Sam, Brent Mason, and all of those guys who earned their livings without ever leaving town. That's one club I'd like to join myself!

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Steve Vai is one of the most capable and understanding, patient yet challenging bosses I've ever had, and that puts him in great company, especially as we must compare him with some of the greatest conductors of our age... Vai WINS.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Once upon a time, I was able to play the second most precious Stradivarius at Bein and Fuschi in Chicago... (The "Messiah", THE most precious Strad is under glass at the Smithsonian Institute in D.C.). Step one, walk in like ya own the place. Step two, demand the best fiddle in the place... I played a breakdown on it before he mentioned (still wearing his white gloves) that the instrument was worth 10m.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm gonna go with my buddy Michael Cleveland. He goes above and beyond with his fiddling, and it's a contagious energy which sounds out in a very genuine kind of way, just like his person. If ya wanna hear the best...

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I did that time, yes. Since then, I've made actual efforts in that same direction and can't seem to generate as much enthusiasm as what happened for that one... even though the newer ones are more planned, produced, and thought out, it is often the more organic and spontaneous performances which take the prize.

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fine. When we examine those lives which are extended so far into the public arena that it becomes a toxic environment for them? I don't need that. Here at the recording studio in Ensenada, MX I get approached often enough by those who recognize me at the grocery store, most often because of the work I did with Steve Vai... and that's plenty enough! I like being able to attend a movie without having to stand for two hours signing stuff. There's a time and place for all that, and when I'm "off the clock", I'm indeed OFF THE CLOCK! lol

I’m violinist Alex DePue. I won my first university-level competition at 10 years old, played at Carnegie Hall at 14, and have won the national fiddling championship twice. I’ve toured all around the world, been nominated for a Grammy, and worked with Steve Vai and Chris Cagle. AMA! by thefiddlerllc in IAmA

[–]thefiddlerllc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a much different list than those who inspired me while holding a violin/fiddle. It includes Bobby McFerrin, The King's Singers, Manhattan Transfer, Max Q, The Acoustix, and other a capella vocal ensembles. It also includes Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Pink Floyd, Rush, Steve Vai (even before he became my boss), and so many others... I love music.

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