Just the Essentials

Just the Essentials is Mira Yamamoto and Barbara Phillips, a daughter & mom fiddle-accordion duo. We love to play lively, danceable fiddle tunes from North America and the British Isles.

    
2005 North Cascades Old Time Fiddle Contest           Providing background music at an
with Spokane guitarist Rod Anderson.                       outdoor dinner party, Langley, WA

Mira Yamamoto has been a Suzuki violin student since she was 3-1/2. She is currently concertmistress of the Everett Youth Symphony's Junior Symphony and plays first violin in the Whidbey Community Orchestra. Mira's an active contest fiddler and has won or placed near the top in numerous competitions. She also studies piano. Her goal is to be an orchestral conductor when she grows up.

Mira's mom, Barbara Phillips, plays a few musical instruments - mainly flute, bass and accordion. She works as a technical writer but her main focus is nurturing Mira's musical talents. She feels very fortunate to be Mira's "side man" in Just the Essentials.