Keeping the Tradition Alive: The Heart of Michigan Fiddle Music
Budd Greenman grew up with music in the air. With a mother who taught music at the local Pine View school and a neighbor—his uncle Jim Clawson—who was a masterful traditional Irish-style musician, the foundation was set early on. Jim played cello, guitar, and octave mandolin, and many nights were spent out on the porch, playing tunes together until the sun went down.
As a homeschooled student, Budd’s musical interests naturally gravitated toward the Irish fiddle. To support this growing passion, his parents took him to the legendary Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan. Walking into their dedicated fiddle room was a formative experience. Budd soon picked out a sturdy 1960s German import from Scherl & Roth—an instrument built like a tank, but with a beautiful, resonant sound.
Today, that single experience of finding the perfect instrument in a dedicated space is the driving inspiration behind the wall of fiddles at Quinn's Music Store. With Elderly no longer carrying fiddles, the goal at Quinn's is to fill the walls with as many fiddles as possible, hoping to recreate that same spark of magic for the next generation of up-and-coming musicians.
Expanding Horizons: From Classical to Old Time
After acquiring his first fiddle, Budd dove right into teaching himself Irish tunes. Because there were no traditional Irish fiddle teachers in the area at the time, his parents enrolled him in classical violin lessons to further his development. His dedication paid off, and a couple of years later, he was invited to play with the Ferris State University Chamber Orchestra under conductor Don Flickinger. Budd was one of three young homeschoolers performing with the orchestra, eventually rising to lead the second violin section.
It was through his experience at Ferris that Budd met Sandy Jones. Sandy was a local fiddler who hosted traditional Old Time music jams in her custom-built Music Barn. These gatherings drew all kinds of local musicians who shared an affinity for traditional Michigan Old Time music, inspiring Budd to branch out beyond the Irish style.
The Magic of the Jamboree
Sandy also served as the treasurer for the Original Michigan Fiddlers Association (O.M.F.A.), and it wasn't long before she convinced Budd to get involved. The O.M.F.A. was deeply invested in preserving the unique fiddle music of Michigan, hosting jamborees all over the state, from Coral to Newberry.
The format was incredibly welcoming. A main stage was set up with a PA system, and volunteer musicians would back up the lead fiddle players who signed up to play three-tune sets. But while the stage performances were wonderful, the realmagic was happening off-stage. Spontaneous jams would erupt all over the building and the surrounding grounds. This was where the actual passing of the tradition took place: an elder fiddle player would pull a young fiddler aside to start their own jam, share stories, teach techniques, and learn new tunes.
Continuing the Legacy
This organic, person-to-person exchange is exactly how traditional music is passed down from generation to generation. It relies on people gathering in one place, sharing musical ideas, and actively handing the traditions to those who come next.
That format continues to this day, and you don't have to wait for a rural jamboree to experience it. Everyone is welcome to join this rich musical tradition at Quinn's Music Store. Come share a tune, learn a technique, or simply enjoy the music during our monthly jams, held on the second Saturday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
