Brothers resin the bow on New Year's Eve

Wyatt and Jesse Maws' parents don't have to nag them to practice their instruments. They do it on their own accord.

And it's that kind of drive that has earned the boys national recognition among fiddle playing competitors.

Wyatt, 17, and Jesse, 12, for the past three years have placed in the top three of their respective competition categories at the national fiddling competition. They perform Friday night on their home turf as part of First Night Flathead. Their father Steve Maw will accompany them on the guitar, and the boys also will play some pieces on mandolin.

The brothers' fascination with the fiddle was born out of intrigue, although it quickly burgeoned into a competitive streak. When Wyatt was 7, his mother, Susan Maw, took him to a talent show at the Kila School near where the family lives. There Wyatt got his first glimpse, and earful, of live fiddle playing. And he was interested immediately.

Wyatt's father had long played guitar. But the family never listened to bluegrass or other music with fiddles and neither of their older two children played instruments, Susan says. Nevertheless, she signed Wyatt up for lessons.

"I was just little at the time," Wyatt said of those initial lessons. "She put it in my hands, and I went away with it."

Susan remembers the going was slow at first. Wyatt often practiced playing "Boil the Cabbage Down." When she later heard the song played elsewhere, she realized Wyatt was behind on the song's standard speed. He's since proved he has no trouble keeping up with tempo, or with other fiddle players his age.

This year at the annual national competition in Weiser, Idaho, in the 13-17 year-old category Wyatt took second, the same spot he claimed the year before. Second place was a step up from his third place in 2002.

And a step up is what both Maw brothers perpetually crave. They both remember the place they took in their first competitions - last.

"He came in last," Susan said of Wyatt's first contest in 1995. "He was little enough, but he still knew he was last. And he didn't want to be last."

His brother had the same sentiment after his inaugural competition.

"Not too good," is how Jesse describes his feelings after his first loss at a Dillon festival in 1998. Jesse started playing seven years ago after being interested in the instrument from watching his brother play. This year at the national contest he showed that last is not a place he's willing to stay. He took first in the 9-12 year-old division. The previous two years, he took second.

They say their interest in the fiddle keeps them playing, but they admit their competitive streaks are added incentives for rehearsing. On a scale of 1-10, Wyatt says his streak rates a nine. Jesse describes himself as less competitive than his brother and says he's an eight.

"I don't have to say anything to get them to practice," said Susan, who home-schools the boys.

They practice for about an hour a day, following lessons laid out for them by their teacher, renowned fiddler Jimmy Don Bates of Texas. The boys have studied with him for about four years. They travel to Texas once a year for critiques with him and he sends them home with tapes and lessons to pursue until the next meeting.

They play several styles of fiddling, including jazz. Their favorite, though, is the Texas hoe-down style Bates specializes in. It's a "grittier, kind of tougher" sound, Wyatt says.

The Maws spend several months a year traveling to competitions across the country. In their down time, their father has taught them to play guitar.

"And they passed me nothing flat," Steve said.

Steve now occasionally plays backup for his sons either at competitions or at exhibitions. Last year the trio played to a packed room during their First Night performance. Steve arranged that performance, but this year Wyatt has done most of the music selection and show coordination.

The Maw brothers and their father play at the Noice Gallery on Main Street in Kalispell at 6-6:45 p.m. and again at 7-7:45 p.m. First Night passes cost $5 in advance and $7 at the door and cover admission to all performances, including the Maw brothers. Passes are available at various local stores and organizations. Call 881-4088 for more information or check the special section that was publoished in Tuesday's Inter Lake.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com