MUSIC

I was born in Ithaca, New York. Although I was too young to remember, my parents tell me that I displayed a real love of music from a very early age. My lullaby was Beethoven's 5th (I could not fall asleep to anything else!). I began studying the violin when I was seven years old with the intention of becoming a concert violinist. This was my sole focus for the next 15 years until I discovered fiddling, and my entire musical world turned upside down! Suddenly music became about connecting with other people in a joyful way with a community focus rather than isolating and striving for perfection of form. This discovery challenged (and continues to challenge) the very foundation I developed in my classical training, and invited me to set foot on a new and wonderful path of adventurous musical exploration. It began with Irish, Old-time and Bluegrass jams and festivals, and has grown into my current livelihood of teaching, performing, recording and collaborating with other musicians from a diverse range of world music genres. In 1999, I was introduced to (and fell in love with!) a wonderful Swedish folk instrument, the nyckelharpa (a 16 stringed, keyed bowed instrument). It has become an integral part of my work and musical expression.(please go to www.nyckelharpa.org for more information on this instrument). http://www.myspace.com/rossmartinguitar sandrawongmusic.com/