Ken Kolodner, right, and his son, Brad, recently released a third CD.
In 1978, I began working on a doctorate at The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, as it was called back then. Just prior to that and just for fun, I thought I would teach myself to play the fiddle. I had absolutely zero music background, but I thought learning to play the fiddle would be a great diversion. A few years later, I discovered the hammered dulcimer and was totally hooked.
I still looked at all this music-making as just a fun thing, not a professional endeavor. But by the time I finished my doctorate in 1985, I was performing regularly and decided I would split my time between working as a musician and an epidemiologist/statistician consultant.
Over the years, music gradually became much more of my focus. I toured extensively with a world music trio called Helicon (up to 150 concerts per year) and later with partners including Scottish National Fiddle Champion Elke Baker and Quebec fiddler Laura Risk. I performed in nearly every state in the US, recorded more than 20 CDs, published five books about playing the hammered dulcimer and fiddle, and founded a four-week series of elite master classes to teach the hammered dulcimer.
As much as I love performing, I also enjoyed the challenges of doing research. There was always significant down time while touring, which gave me time to work part-time as a consultant. And in between tours, I usually found chunks of time to do consulting. Over the years, I published more than 100 articles in medical journals.
For the last five years, I have been doing music almost exclusively, largely because I have a new partner. My son, Brad, started playing the banjo at age 17 and has become one of the finest “clawhammer” banjo players in the US. He is also a fiddler like his dad.
I’ve had many great music partners over the years, but nothing could top playing professionally with my son. I decided it was time to enjoy performing with him for as long as possible. I also perform with various other younger players. It is a blast! We just released our third CD, “The Swift House.”
On other fronts, I am also totally addicted to playing soccer. I am now 62, but still play soccer 3–4 days per week and squeeze in a game of squash now and again. I can’t say I have ever been bored. Life sure is busy!
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