The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Hannah, at age ten, has been studying fiddle with Ricky Boen since her very first lesson four years ago (November 2003).  Hannah handles a good percentage of the instrumentals for our family band, playing old favorites such as Clarinet Polka, Liberty, Red Wing, Soldier's Joy, Ashokan Farewell and many others.  She also sings some sweet gospel songs.

In June of 2005 she participated in her first fiddle competition.  We were bowled over when she took "First Place" in the Pee-Wee Division for the 13^th Annual Old-Time Fiddler's Contest at Snyder Park near Lawrenceburg, Missouri.  She placed 4^th in 2006...  And on June, 23^rd, she came in 2^nd place!  Guess she'll have to keep practicing.

Hannah's fiddle teacher, Ricky Boen, is an excellent, classically-trained musician with over 25 years of teaching experience.  You can catch his band, Texas Mud, in Branson sometime, and he also plays fiddle at Shepherd of the Hills with the Sons of the Pioneers.

Academia: About the Violin (Fiddle)

"The violin is the best known of all Western orchestral instruments.  The smallest in a family that includes the viola, cello, and double bass.  The violin developed in the 16^th Century and descended from the Medieval fiddle and rebec.  All the members of the violin family have four strings, a tailpiece, a bridge, a waisted body, f-shaped sound holes and an arched top.  The design has changed little since formalized by the great 16^th Century Italian makers Stradivari and Guarneri."

Sam Davis Youth Camp

Harriet, Arkansas / July 2006