
Cody B.

Teaching Locations:



Teaching Locations:



Levels taught:
Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedAbout Cody B.
I was first inspired to play the fiddle by my grandfather, Tom Smith. Many of my cousins started learning traditional instruments around the same time and we had a lot of fun jamming at family gatherings and at music festivals in our home state of Indiana. In 2015 I was proud to carry the family tradition of fiddling all the way to Nashville where I had the honor of playing with Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mt Boys at Stanley’s last show at the Grand Ole Opry.
With beginners I emphasize developing good technique and tone, and my approach to teaching integrates the Nashville Number System, music theory, ear training, improvisation, and notation.
For intermediate and advanced students I tailor each lesson to help them explore their interests and goals. Maybe you’re interested in learning those moving double stops that Bobby Hicks is highlighted for, improvising and building more authentic solos, expanding your tool belt of licks, developing the qualities and techniques that make various fiddle styles unique.
Learning an instrument as a beginner or advancing your techniques as a professional can be fun, challenging, and rewarding. It has enriched my life in a number of ways. The most joy has come through the friends I’ve made and the unique way that music allows you to connect with yourself and other people.
More Info:
Cody Bauer has played with a variety of bands over the years, and in addition to playing at the Opry, Cody garnered first place in the 2016 SPBGMA International Bluegrass Band Competition with the Bluegrass Outlaws, has toured internationally, and garnered a number of ribbon wins at various fiddle contests. He studied under acclaimed fiddler Hunter Berry and has taught at Trinity Arts Center in Johnson City, TN, online, and from his home in Knoxville, TN. Cody holds a B.S. in Education and a M.A. in Religion.
When he’s not playing or teaching fiddle, Cody can be found teaching students at Knox County Schools, taking walks through his historic neighborhood, and hanging out with his super cool roommate, Cynthia.
Reviews
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I have taken lessons with Cody for about 6 months and he has taken me from knowing absolutely nothing about how to play a string instrument to feeling capable of playing a few tunes and excited to play in a jam once things open up again. I especially appreciate that he introduced me to the music of female old time fiddlers like Brittany Haas and Tatiana Hargreaves, and helped me to better see myself in a musical space often saturated by men.

Here are the pros: Cody is a very nice gentleman. He’s an experienced player and great teacher, very patient, respectful, with a good demeanor, and is easy to talk to about practical stuff so that I can play or jam with others more quickly. I study with him once a week for 75 minutes online from NJ. He answers my questions, helps me with technique, and then we work on a song that I want to learn such as our current song is Buck Owens country song Truck Driving Man —he’ll show me how he would improvise and do the back up— putting in classic authentic bluegrass/country sounding fiddle double stops, slides, hammer on licks. I am having a blast learning new stuff and feel I am quickly progressing — I am confident you’d enjoy his teachings too. But you don’t have to take my word for it, instead just listen to his playing on YouTube- it speaks for itself. I wanna play like him.
Here are the cons: even at 75 minutes a week the time just flies by too fast, I don’t want the fun to stop. I look forward to my lesson every week.
Photos & Videos
12 Photos & VideosExperience
Fiddle Instructor
Nov 2020 - PresentKnapps Music
Online/Virtual
Fiddle Teacher
Aug 2017 - PresentTrinity Arts Center
I teach fiddle lessons.
Professional Fiddler
Aug 2010 - PresentVarious Bands
I have toured locally and abroad with various bands of various genres for the past 10 years.
Education
Master of Arts in Religion
Aug 2014 - May 2017Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan University
Education
Aug 2009 - May 2013Johnson University
Languages
English
Fluent / Native Proficiency
Certifications
Licensed Teacher (Grades 4-8)
Jan 2014State of Tennessee
Awards
South Carolina Fiddling - First Place - Hot Licks Competition
Sep 2019South Carolina Fiddling - Hagood Mill
Happy Valley Fiddlers' Convention - First Place - Bluegrass Fiddle
Sep 2019Happy Valley Fiddlers' Convention
Ashe County Fiddlers' Convention - First Place - Bluegrass Fiddle
Jul 2019Ashe County Fiddlers' Convention
Tazewell County Fiddlers' Convention - First Place - Bluegrass Fiddle
Jul 2019Tazewell County Fiddlers' Convention
Ashe County Fiddlers' Convention - First Place - Old-Time Fiddle
Jul 2019Ashe County Fiddlers' Convention
Top Placing Fiddler in Various Other Fiddling Contests
Jun 2019Various Fiddlers' Conventions
SPBGMA Band Competition - First Place
Feb 2016SPBGMA
Grand Ole Opry Fiddler
Sep 2015Grand Ole Opry - Nashville, Tennessee
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