User:David M Barton

My career was as an electronics engineer, employed by corporations 1961-1984, then an independent design engineer until 2007.

DOB: 1939

BA Physics/Math 1961, Linfield College (McMinnville, OR). Moved to the San Francisco South Bay Area, "Silicon Valley" in 1966, and have lived in San Jose since 1977.

I have 2 grown sons, Ken and Wes by a previous marriage, and Married Susan Michele Barton in 1982.

Private violin lessons: 3rd grade through high school. Played in HS orchestra, for musicals and more.

Sang in the Linfield College a'Capella Choir. Took classical guitar lessons in late 1960s (from Peter Danner, of Palo Alto and Stanford.) Sang in the chorus of Palo Alto's West Bay Opera 1966-69. Sang in the California Bach Society chorus 1969-75.

Took private violin (fiddle)lessons again 1992-96, and began playing American old-timey music(among other genres).

I've attended multiple fiddle camps most summers since 1995 -- Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, and Montana Fiddle Camp. I sometimes compete in CA fiddle contests, regularly attend the National Fiddle Contest (Weiser, for the great jams.) I also attend bluegrass festivals, looking for OT or swing jams.

Play in Balkan danceband, Vecernica, and for an occasional contradance.

I tunesmith. My "Too Late Schottishe" took 1st place in the 2011 Nebraska String Teachers' contest. Another published title: "Sweet Pickle Rag," which I designed to medley with "Dill Pickle Rag."

Favorite music magazine: "Fiddler" -- whose Fall 2011 ran a nice story plus "the dots" for "Too Late Schottishe."