Master bluegrass fiddler, Kenny Stone.  Photo by Ilze Akerbergs.

Kenny Stone, Dyer, Indiana
Kenny Stone describes himself as a musical "mutt," because he plays many different styles of music -- jazz, blues, country, cajun, Irish, Texas-style, old-time. But his heart was always in bluegrass. You can always learn something from everyone who plays bluegrass -- a song you've never heard, a lick, or just an appreciation for the music, says Kenny.

Kenny was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1970. He played in the family band at a very young age. "It's all about camaraderie," says Kenny. "It's values oriented music." His dad played the guitar, and often a group of people would come over to Ken's home to "pick" some songs. "And they have pictures of me, a little guy, sitting in the middle of all this, with a mandolin that looks like a guitar, I'm so small."

As a teenager, Kenny won many competitions in his region, and developed quite a reputation as a fine fiddle player. He started teaching when he was 17, when he gave up classical music to devote himself to bluegrass. He encourages classical music as a foundation for his students, but bluegrass is something that has to be learned by ear. In this way, it develops your improvisational skills, says Kenny.

Apprentice Scott Conley.  Photo by Ilze Akerbergs

Scott Conley, apprentice
14-year-old Scott started off taking classical lessons on his fiddle, but he soon became interested in bluegrass fiddle. He studied violin in a music store in Valparaiso, when somebody recommended taking bluegrass lessons from Ken Stone. Now he's been taking lessons from Ken for about four years.

Scott has already entered some fiddle contests, winning first prize in the 2003 Traditional Arts Indiana State Fair fiddle contest. He had undergone a "fiddle bootcamp" with Kenny before the contest, spending several days at Ken's house, receiving intensive training in competition playing. Scott accompanies Kenny to local jams that allow him to improve his stage presence and acquaint himself with the fiddling bluegrass community.

Fiddle apprentice Shannon Doolittle performing on TAI Day at the Indiana State Fair. Photo by Ilze Akerbergs.

Shannon Doolittle, Indiana
Shannon has completed a year-long fiddle apprenticeship with Kenny Stone. As a closing requirement for her apprenticeship, Shannon performed with her teacher Kenny Stone at the Indiana State Fair in August 2006.