About Paul

About Paul Carlson

I got my start playing violin when I was quite young. When I was just four years old, my parents asked me "Would you like to learn how to play the violin?" and I said "Sure!" I learned to play through the Suzuki Method studying under Diana Peelle. I played in school and youth orchestras starting in 3rd grade; ensemble playing was part of my musical life up until I left for college.

After college, I moved to North Carolina and thought I'd give fiddle a try. North Carolina is real bluegrass country and I started playing bluegrass (after a short dabbling in Country Western). While playing bluegrass, I began listening to the roots of that music; the Celtic fiddling of New England and Ireland that I had heard in my youth.

I knew I had to dive into this music seriously. I was very fortunate to meet up with Jason Cade, an outstanding Irish fiddler and fiddle teacher living in my town. I studied under Jason for several years and fell in love with the drive, swing, and beautiful melodies of Celtic fiddle.

Nordic Fiddling

So how did I decide to take up Nordic Fiddling too? I have Swedish blood in me and several of my ancestors were writers, artists, and musicians. I thought I'd try out Swedish fiddle and was again lucky to have one of America's best Swedish fiddle players, Bart Brashers, living in my town. He had formed a music group (a "spelmanslag" in Swedish) which I joined right away. I played with the spelmanslag for several years until I moved to the D.C. area.

I have completed Suzuki Violin Method teacher training under master teacher Ronda Cole. I have also returned from three weeks in Finland attending the Nordlek and Kaustinen Folk Music Festivals. There I played with and spent time discussing teaching and music with some of the top players and legends of traditional Nordic music. My thanks to the Finlandia Foundation and the American Scandinavian Association for their generous grants which made this trip possible.

Here in Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area, I play with the Nordic Dancers of DC and Scandia DC. I do freelance performances also. Please let me know if you would like me to play for your event!