From Orchestra to Fiddle Festivals: Kari’s Personal Elixir for Professional Burnout

In the field of mental health and other helping professions, we dedicate ourselves to supporting others through their most challenging moments. While this work is deeply rewarding, it also requires immense emotional energy, focus, and resilience. Over time, without conscious effort to balance our lives with other activities, we risk burning out and losing the joy that initially drew us to this field. This is one of the main reasons that I have dedicated a tremendous amount of time to music. For me, finding joy outside of work has been critical to fueling our best work in the office and to help as many people as we can.

The Digital Dilemma

As our world becomes increasingly digital, we find ourselves looking at some sort of screen for hours daily—reviewing patient records, writing notes, attending virtual meetings, or scrolling through the news. While technology has undeniably enhanced our efficiency and connectivity, it has also diminished the time we spend on activities that nurture ourselves. This is a common experience for so many people.

I believe it’s essential to recognize the red flags in your life that indicate rebalancing is needed. For example, working on a Saturday night instead of playing music is a sign that I need to recharge to give my best to my patients. Often, after a vacation filled with music and art—or just learning something new—I feel excited and ready to see patients with renewed energy and focus. I wanted to share my musical story with you as a way to inspire you to pick up a passion or hobby, or simply to try something new to recharge.

From Violin to Fiddle

As a child, I was trained as a classical violinist at a music school several times a week. I was immersed in the works of Mozart, Mahler, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Bach. The music was exquisite, and I pursued both the technical and artistic mastery it demanded. But something was missing. Orchestra rehearsals often felt serious and solitary, with little time spent chatting, and the environment was more disciplined than social.  

While there is nothing quite like the journey of a Mahler symphony, the harmonic innovation of Beethoven, or the perfect balance of a Mozart concerto, classical music felt exhausting to me. It required an intensity of focus that left little room for playfulness or improvisation (for me personally- many people find incredible joy and passion in joining an orchestra).

Years later, I found myself falling in love with the world of American fiddling, and it changed everything. After a long overnight shift as a Penn medical intern, I went to the gym to decompress. As I ran on the treadmill, listening to the music of American fiddler Jay Ungar (of Ashokan Farewell), I thought, Why am I not playing this beautiful, soulful music? I want to play music that people can dance to!

I went home and promptly Googled "fiddle camps." A few months later, I was packing up my car for my first camping experience in years. As I drove away from Philadelphia toward the camp, it felt like my life was about to change. Unlike the structured rigor of classical music, fiddling felt alive and liberating. It felt like a calling to me. It was something that I had wanted to do for years but had never put my full effort into it. I wanted the community and the joy. Like many other folk genres, the music is steeped in community and collaboration, where jam sessions sometimes replace formal rehearsals and improvisation is celebrated. Gone are the sheet music and formalities; learning is done by ear.

Through fiddling, I found a new relationship with music—one that was not about what was on the page but about storytelling, flexibility, and spontaneity, with plenty of room for imperfection. It reminded me why I had always loved the violin: the joy of creating something beautiful is irreplaceable. I just needed to find my path with the instrument in hand.

The thing I love about being an American fiddle player is that the music is deeply rooted in American culture. It draws on the influences of Scots-Irish immigrants, other European communities, and Americans of African descent, who brought a variety of gourd instruments and dance styles to this continent. These gourd instruments eventually evolved into the modern banjo. The music and dance are a mix of rhythms from the UK and Africa.

For those interested in this music, I highly recommend the works of Rhiannon Giddens, an expert in the field. This music is deeply infused with nature, as it was traditionally played in rural and mountainous areas. Many of our weekends in warmer months are spent camping and playing these old tunes, which have crossed oceans and evolved into a unique American art form. The community is filled with a deep love for creating beauty, a reverence for nature, and a recognition of the complex history from which it arises.

The Role of Joy in Preventing Burnout

Engaging in hobbies like fiddling has been transformative for my work in private practice. It’s not just about having a hobby for the sake of distraction; it’s about reclaiming a sense of play that permeates every aspect of life. I recently spent a weekend with a group of American folk musicians upstate, and if I had to describe the experience, I would use the words creative, playful, beautiful, and accepting.

If you find yourself working all the time and not engaging in any activities outside of work and family obligations, it might be time to dive into something new. For me, playing music provides a much-needed mental break from the demands of work. A fiddling session recharges my energy and helps me return to my patients with renewed happiness and focus. They can sense it and feel reassured knowing they are seeing a clinician who takes care of herself creatively and socially.

There’s likely a tangible benefit to the work you do when you engage in creative processes outside of it. For me, improvising on the fiddle mirrors the flexibility and creativity I strive to bring into therapeutic sessions. It’s a reminder that adaptability and experimentation can yield the most rewarding results. Some of my best music has been entirely improvisational, and likewise, when I relax into my work and allow for spontaneity, some of my best clinical outcomes happen.

The power of connection is paramount in fiddling, as in therapy. Whether we are playing with fellow musicians or collaborating with patients, shared experiences create bonds that energize and sustain us. When we practice connection outside of work, we are more accessible to it in our work.

Finding Your Joy

The path to finding your own joy is deeply unique, but the principle is universal: we all need something outside of work that brings us happiness. Whether it’s painting, gardening, hiking, or playing an instrument, these activities can energize us and deepen our capacity to help others. Some may enjoy joining a local sports team (I personally love tennis!) or trying their hand at improv theater. Others might find fulfillment in community service projects, book clubs, or dance classes. Whatever it is, I hope my story inspires you to seek out these kinds of connections—if you are feeling a little stuck or isolated. Could be as simple as a google search for "fiddle camp".

For me, fiddling has become more than a hobby—it’s a full avocation and community. Becoming a fiddler has taught me to embrace imperfection, celebrate spontaneity, and find joy in the moment. 

So, if you’re feeling the weight of the screen or the monotony of routine, consider taking a step back. Reconnect with the activities that light you up and bring you joy. It’s an investment in your well-being and, ultimately, in your work to help others. When we prioritize joy, everyone benefits—our patients, our loved ones, and ourselves.

P.S.

If you want to go to fiddle camp, I highly recommend Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp! They have a great family camp if you have young kids.

Thanks for reading and sharing!

A little video from back in my earlier days of fiddling: CLICK HERE