Nate DeMaria
About
Nate DeMaria is a classically trained violinist with a passion for improvisation and fiddle
styles. Nate studied violin performance and string pedagogy at the Baldwin Wallace
Conservatory under Dr. Julian Ross, and music education at SUNY Potsdam College,
graduating with a B.A. in Music (2005). He received a scholarship to attend the 2001 National
Orchestral Institute, studying with the nation’s finest symphony musicians. Discovering a talent
for improvisation, he turned his focus to fiddle styles including Bluegrass, Rock, Jazz, Celtic, and
Klezmer. Nate is a founding member of the nationally touring Dave Matthews Tribute Band.
Notable performances include the House of Blues in West Hollywood, the Cuyahoga Falls
Amphitheatre, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Illinois State Fair. Nate held the
position of lead fiddler with Klezmer group Hypnotic Clambake while in hometown Rochester,
NY, and was a house band member of the Roc City Pro Jam.
Nate has taught Suzuki Violin lessons for 19 years, receiving certification in 2007-08
from the Ithaca College Suzuki Institute. At SUNY Potsdam, he studied Suzuki Pedagogy with
Dr. Sara Hersh, a student of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. Nate utilizes a stylistically eclectic method,
pivoting between fiddle tunes, folk music, and Suzuki repertoire in teaching string pedagogical
concepts. The musical interests of the student inform the repertoire chosen, offering the student
a unique lesson experience. Nate is a professional transcriber, offering students the ability to
play their favorite songs during lessons.
The teaching style I employ depends on the student's technique level, and the type of music they want to learn.
Beginner: Suzuki Method Book 1, simple folk tunes (variety of sources), shuffle strokes, bow grip basics, posture.
Intermediate to Advanced: Fiddle students and classical students will use different books (see below). I have my own method of folk songs (unpublished) that mirrors the Suzuki Violin technique development map. Depending on what type of fiddling the student is interested in, I will select songs that follow the technique progression in the particular desired style. The O'Connor Method is an option for this level as well.
I am a trained Suzuki Method teacher, and hope to soon be certified in the O'Connor Method.
Fiddle students:
Beginner:
Bluegrass Picker's Tune Book-Richard Matteson, Jr.- Mel Bay Publications
Carry On- A History in Song and Picture - Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser-Simon and Schuster
Country Blues Songbook- Stefan Grossman- Oak Publications
The Bluegrass Songbook- Dennis Cyporyn- Collier Books
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Songbook- Oak Publications
The Songs of Ireland - 103 Favourite Irish and Irish-American Songs- Mel Bay Publications
Intermediate:
Carry On- A History in Song and Picture - Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser-Simon and Schuster
Country Blues Songbook- Stefan Grossman- Oak Publications
Jumpin' the Strings- Byron Berline
Learning to Fiddle, Bluegrass Style- Neil Rossi- KdV Music
Teach Yourself Bluegrass Fiddle - Matt Glaser- Amsco Publications
The Bluegrass Songbook- Dennis Cyporyn- Collier Books
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem Songbook- Oak Publications
The Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes- Vol. 1- Mel Bay Publications
Bluegrass Fiddle- Gene Lowinger- Oak Publications
Advanced:
Bluegrass Fiddle Styles- Stacy Phillips- Oak Publications
Bluegrass Fiddle- Gene Lowinger- Oak Publications
Jazz Violin- Matt Glaser- Oak Publications
Learning to Fiddle, Bluegrass Style- Neil Rossi- KdV Music
Richard Greene's Exact Transcriptions - richardgreene.net
The Phillips Collection of Traditional American Fiddle Tunes- Vol. 1- Mel Bay Publications
Classical students
Suzuki Method: I follow the progression of the first seven books, and insert a few extra pieces, for example "Hungarian Dance No. 5" by J. Brahms is inserted in bk 4. After book seven the student will be assigned sonatas and concerti from composers they like. I also like to include pieces from the Gingold Orchestral Excerpts Book series.