About Mr. Kagan:

        Thomas Kagan grew up in northern New Jersey, in historic Morris County.
Both of his grandfathers were fiddlers and woodworkers.
He has been playing and performing on violin, viola, and mandolin for 30 + years.

Mr. Kagan was initially self-taught, and played everything "by ear", until the early 1980s, when he learned to sight-read music, while taking private lessons on Baroque flute with Peter H. Bloom (of New England Conservatory in Boston, Masschusetts).
Mr. Kagan received informal instruction in violin set-up and repair from New Jersey luthier Paul E. Fiechter. He has been doing repairs in Raleigh since 1996.

Mr. Kagan uses a number of handmade old violins and mandolins when performing, including a special violin by American maker Roy Willard Lyon.
He has attended workshops featuring famous fiddlers, as follows:

Johnny Cunningham (Silly Wizard, Relativity)
Alisdair Fraser (Scottish Fiddle world champion)
Jay Ungar (Fiddle Fever, "Ashokan Farewell")
Dr. John Turner (Scottish fiddling authority and teacher)

        Fiddle music and classical music share some things in common- both are played with a violin, and both use the same basic techniques. Whether you want to play "fiddle" or "violin", learning the basics of how to play and read will get you off on the right foot. I began by learning Irish, Scottish, and Old-Time fiddle tunes mostly by ear, and I know from experience that it is much easier to learn fiddling when you have the understanding that lessons give.

        One more thing that not all teachers talk about, and that is the concept of fun. I try to get across to my students that playing is as much for personal enjoyment as it is doing exercises. Being part of the greater world of string players, making the magic of music happen for your listeners, and making beautiful sounds for yourself, these things are what motivates us.

Teaching Philosophy

        Each student is an individual, with different ways of perception and learning, so I try to discover what works best for each one. Sometimes it may be repetition, some times to hear the tune, and sometimes to dissect the tune and work out the difficult bits.

        Along the way, we discuss Music Theory concepts, the great composers and bits of musical history as they relate to each lesson.

I should point out that while I am a great admirer of the Suzuki Method, I am not currently qualified to teach Suzuki, however I do use Suzuki Method Books 2 through 5 as supplementary to the main lesson books (usually Strictly Strings or All for Strings, both popular with Wake Schools music teachers). I do try to use some of Dr. Suzuki's ideas in my teaching:

        • no harsh criticism or ridicule.
        • learning should be fun.
        • learning is easier if taken in small bits at a         time.
        • we build on previous knowledge.

Mr Kagan took Second Place in the 2006 Scottish Fiddle Open Competition at Loch Norman Highland Games, Davidson, North Carolina.

Currently he performs with Ferguson's Friendly Fiddlers, one of Raleigh's premier traditional Irish music groups, and he directs and performs with the Raleigh Friends Orchestra.

Mr. Kagan is also available as a solo fiddle/violin, or with accompanist(s) for weddings and receptions.

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Play more fiddle!

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