SO, HOW OLD ARE YOU TRISTAN?
I’m 11 years old. I’m currently in fourth grade, I go to Rockenbaugh Elementary and I’ve been playing the violin since I was 3 years old.
WOW, THAT’S A LONG TIME! HOW DID YOU START PLAYING?
Some of my cousins used to play violin, and they were really good. My mother saw them playing a classical Suzuki violin and wanted my brother and me to try it. We eventually started fiddling and have had fun playing ever since.
YOU SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF INSTRUMENTS. HOW MANY DO YOU OWN?
My family owns 18 instruments, including five violins, eight guitars, a mandolin, two flutes and a couple of ukuleles. Plus I rent a saxophone. But the violin is my favorite.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?
I really love the contests. They can be in all kinds of places, like courthouses, schools, fire stations, fancy auditoriums or even in fields where people camp in tents and RVs. People just stay up all night long and jam. It’s like a big fiddler’s reunion.
HOW MANY CONTESTS HAVE YOU BEEN IN?
I compete in around 5-8 junior contests a year, so I’ve participated in around 20-30 contests throughout my fiddling career. Last year, I placed first in all youth divisions except for one, where I finished second. I play against kids older than me all the time since sometimes there’s only one division for kids.
DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR CONTEST EXPERIENCE THAT’S SPECIAL TO YOU?
Last year, a fiddler named Wes Westmoreland took a $2 bill around and had three fiddle legends sign it — Dale Morris, Roberta Rast and Marty Elmore. Then he stuffed it in my cowboy hat, put it on my head and told me to never lose it. I carry that $2 bill in my hat with me at every contest I go to.
WHAT DOES YOUR PRACTICE ROUTINE USUALLY ENTAIL?
Every morning, I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and start practicing. I play each of my songs, then I’ll do 3-5 reps on a new song or a song I’m having trouble with. If I don’t finish, I’ll come back after school and finish my reps with my instructors, Sherry and Joey Mackenzie. I’m always practicing.