Fiddle
Photo by Mike Melnyk
Fiddle level 1—Annie Staninec—In this class we will work on proper technique and learn exercises to build strength and control in our bowing arm to achieve the best tone. We'll discuss how to find the basic melody to a song and ornament it with slides, double stops, vibrato, and grace notes. We'll learn how to integrate a couple of common bluegrass shuffles into our playing to emphasize rhythm and drive. The class will focus on both vocal and instrumental pieces in the traditional bluegrass repertoire, and we'll also learn a few tips and tricks to enrich our solos.
Prerequisites: Students should be able to play a couple of fiddle tunes or solos to songs that they're comfortable with at a slow-medium pace. You should also be familiar with the A, D, and G major scales in first position.
Annie Staninec started playing bluegrass at the age of five, began performing professionally at the age of 12, and now makes her living playing, recording, giving lessons, and touring across North America and internationally. Annie's collaboration with the Kathy Kallick Band showcases her fiery soloing (think Scotty Stoneman meets Benny Martin) and gives her the chance to express lyrical, sensitive backup. Annie won the 2008 and 2009 Fiddle Player of the Year awards from the Northern California Bluegrass Society, as well as the 2006 Outstanding Young Musician award at Djangofest Northwest. She has recorded and toured extensively with Town Mountain from Asheville, NC, has guested with Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings, and played with David Grisman’s Gypsy Caravan. Annie has been giving workshops and private lessons since the age of 16, and has led workshops at the Cordova music camp for three consecutive years in addition to having taught at the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop in 2011. Besides being a good teacher, she’s fun and energetic, and we’re happy to welcome her to her first year teaching at our camp.
anniestaninec.com
Fiddle, oldtime, level 2—Sammy Lind— Sammy likes to teach fiddle by jumping right in and teaching tunes. With old time fiddle, the bowing is probably the most important factor. There is a lot of syncopation in old time fiddling rhythm so this will be the focus of every tune. Sammy will start by teaching tunes that have a repetitive bowing pattern throughout both the A and B parts and then move on to other tunes that just vary slightly in their patterns. After a few tunes are learned this way and certain bowing patterns are recognized, it should be easier to hear these rhythms in other tunes and should be helpful for learning new tunes. Sammy will teach a lot of tunes during the week, but he will also talk about the similarities between many tunes, tools that are helpful in jam sessions, etc.
Tunes will be taught in standard tuning (GDAE) for G,C and F tunes , high bass tuning (ADAE) for D tunes and A modal tunes and cross tuning (AEAE) for A tunes.
Prerequisites: This is an intermediate class so students must be comfortable with the fiddle and have a general knowledge of what "old time" fiddle is and have a few tunes they feel comfortable leading in a jam session. Also, students must be open to "cross-tuning" the fiddles to get that authentic old time sound. Many students find a recording device really helpful so…
Bring an audio and/or visual recorder if that helps.
Stephen ''Sammy'' Lind, born in Minnesota, has established himself as one of the most critically acclaimed old time fiddle players in the country. Co-founder of the Oregon based Foghorn Stringband, he has traveled the world playing and teaching a vast repertoire of tunes from Appalachia and the Midwest. His playing reflects tremendous respect and passion for all the fiddle players and old recordings he spent countless hours learning from.
Sammy has taught at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Festival Camp, Sorrento British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop, Sioux River Folk Festival, Indiana Fiddler's Festival, Fiddle Fair in Ireland, Open House Festival in Ireland,
Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysia, and many more. He has two instructional DVDs available, " Stephen 'Sammy' Lind's Old Time Fiddle Tunes- Beginner and Advanced" available at filmbaby.com and elderly.com. Sammy taught at our summer camp this year, and his students loved the class, so we’re bringing him back for more.
www.foghornstringband.com
Fiddle, bluegrass/country, level 2—Heidi will teach how to play breaks based on the melody, create effective fills, and support the voice. She will be teaching Kenny Baker tunes as well, in honor of this great fiddler that we lost this year.
Prerequisites: This is an intermediate class. You must be comfortable playing in the keys of A, D, G, and C; have a large number of tunes in these keys in your repertoire, and have experience with learning a melody by ear. We will be playing in standard tuning. All learning will be by ear.
Bring a recording device---the tunes will be taught by ear.
Heidi Clare, formerly of the Reeltime Travelers, has been busy this year touring and recording with Jimmie Dale Gilmore & the Wronglers, bringing her focus back to the traditional bluegrass and country fiddling that she cut her teeth on. She also fronts her own band AtaGallop, and is just beginning an Artist-in-Residency at UCSF. Heidi’s '06 CD, I Declare, features not only her distinctive, powerful fiddling but also her wide range of musical influences, her decisive interpretations of rare tunes, and her attention to insightful vocals and organic rhythms.
Heidi is a dedicated, individualistic, and creative teacher. She holds a Master's Degree in music from Holy Names College in Berkeley, CA, and has a comprehensive knowledge of the fiddle which extends from mastery of bowing techniques to accurate noting. She knows hundreds of tunes and the music theory involved in explaining and sharing them, and she loves to teach these techniques along with methods on how to master them. She is a raved-about teacher whenever she comes to our camp, and we’re pleased to have her back for her fourth year with us.
www.heidiclare.com
Photo by Mike Melnyk
