Fiddle Classes
2024 Class Descriptions
Learn to Play – AM Class – Carolyn Huguenin
Prerequisite: Basic understanding of your instrument and string names.
Materials Needed: Size-appropriate fiddle, recording device(optional), and music stand.
This class is for those who are just beginning their fiddle journey. We will go over correct hand and arm positions to make learning faster and easier. We will talk about how to get the best sound from your fiddle. This class will be taught mostly with tablature and some by ear. By the end, students will be playing several simple tunes to get you on the path to learning more difficult tunes. This class will have a mix of adults and children; I will do my best to balance the needs of both. If you, or your child, require extra help I am happy to stay a bit after class. A spiral-bound booklet of all tunes and instruction will be provided. I love questions and will answer them to the best of my ability and if I don’t know, I will find out!
*tunes and instruction may change based on the general needs of the class.
Level 1 – PM Class – Carolyn Huguenin
Prerequisite: Student should have a basic understanding of common fiddle tunes and styles: similar to Tennessee Waltz, Swallowtail Jig, and Red Wing.
Materials Needed: Fiddle, recording device (optional), pencil, notebook (optional), and a music stand.
We will go over correct hand and arm positions, etc. We will talk about how to get the best sound from your fiddle. This class will be taught mostly with tablature. By the end, students will be playing several tunes—some quick and easy and some to take home and master. We will talk about bowing for different tune styles, and also finger placement for different keys. A spiral-bound booklet of all tunes and instruction will be provided. I love questions and will answer them to the best of my ability and if I don’t know, I will find out!
*tunes and instruction may change based on the general needs of the class.
Level 1 – AM Class – Emilie Miller
Level 2 – PM Class – Emilie Miller
Level 2 – AM Class – Sheila Wright
This class will be at a slower pace, with fun tunes that can be mastered easily and played frequently! Much more fun to have long tune list than work so hard on one tune for months. Previous songs have included Bluegrass Bounce, Pretty Little Dog, and Minnesota Waltz. Pretty much on a level with Redwing or Arkansas Traveler.
We will be talking about technique for bowing, fingers, performance and most importantly, how to practice!
On the first day of class students will be given their supplies and music, in notation and tab. If you can bring a spiral notebook of some kind, that would be helpful. Recordings can be made at the time we start learning or I can message you recordings of the songs individually.
See you there!!
Sheila Wright
Level 3 – PM Class – Sheila Wright
This class will include some challenging tunes beyond the basics. But ones that can still be mastered easily. Past tunes we’ve worked on include Pretty Maggie Morrisey, the beautiful “If Ever You Were Mine”, and some fun Irish jigs. Tunes on a level with Red Haired Boy, Swallowtail Jig and Down Home Waltz. Hard to say what fun we’ll have with new tunes!
We will be talking about technique for bowing, fingers, performance and most importantly, how to practice! Some basic theory and harmony if there’s time.
On the first day of class students will be given their supplies and music, in notation and tab. If you can bring a spiral notebook, that would be helpful. Recordings can be made at the time we start learning or I can message you recordings of the songs individually.
See you there!!
Sheila Wright
Level 3 – AM Class – Andrew Wilson
Understanding clean bowing through hornpipes and reels. Learn some cool new tunes while studying better bowing. We’ll use a new tune each day to illustrate different techniques for keeping a “downbow on the downbeat” mindset and in the process, add a rhythmic feel to your playing
Level 3 – PM Class – Ruthie Dornfeld
Prerequisites: This class is open to anyone who already has some experience on the violin, whether it’s one year or 20, and is comfortable in the keys of D, G, and A. I’ll be teaching by ear, so some experience learning that way would be helpful.
Styles/tunes taught: A variety of American tunes – from hoedowns and hornpipes to schottisches, jigs, & waltzes
Course objective: Learn a varied repertoire of tunes by ear. Find ways to remember a tune so you can lead it in a jam session. Learn some common bowing patterns and left hand ornamentation that affect style. Know what key you’re playing in, and be able to easily change keys. Learn about general techniques, such as the most efficient way to practice, how to stay relaxed and avoid pain, and improve your ear.
Materials Provided: Mp3 recordings of all tunes taught; Printed sheet music for all tunes – though in class I will focus on playing by ear, so please don’t bring music to class.
Level 4 – AM Class – Ruthie Dornfeld
Prerequisites: Have a few years of fiddling behind you, and know at least a couple dozen tunes by heart. Be comfortable at least in the keys of D, G, A, and C, and open to learning flat key tunes. Have experience learning by ear.
Styles/tunes taught: A variety of North American fiddle tunes, possibly including a few tunes from north and south of the US border.
Course objective: Learn some great tunes. Become more comfortable playing in the keys of C, F, and Bb. Discover the advantages of second and third position. Improve general technique related to both bowing and left hand intonation and ornamentation.
Materials Provided: Mp3 recordings of all tunes taught; Printed sheet music for all tunes – though in class I will focus on playing by ear, so please don’t bring music to class.
Level 4 – PM Class – Andrew Wilson
Simple Texas Style breakdowns to build repertoire, and technique…specifically: clean bowing, clean position jumps and simple double-stop patterns. There will be a different, multi-part Texas Style breakdown per day. Uses mostly tab but being able to pick things up basic things by ear will be a valuable skill in this class.
Level 4 – AM Class – Jacie Sites
Styles/tunes taught: Celtic, Show Tunes, Twin Fiddle, Contest, Old-Time, Gypsy
Course objective: In this class we will learn a variety of tunes from several genres all designed to challenge the intermediate to advanced player. Some tunes will have harmony parts. Celtic, Contest and Twin Fiddle Style tunes featured and supplemented with a show tunes/medley, fancy fiddling techniques, old-time cross-tuned style or gypsy tune/medley.
Materials Provided: Sheet Music, TAB will be provided for all tunes and harmony parts will be provided for tunes that have harmony
Jacie Sites is a three-time National Fiddle Champion and Grand Master Fiddler Champion. She has a degree in Music from Eastern Oregon University and studied elementary education at Idaho State University. Jacie has been a featured performer on the Grand Ole Opry and at the International Bluegrass Music Association main stage, she has written several number one selling fiddle books, won the Rockygrass fiddle competition and plays fiddle and cello with the Mountain River String Band. She is currently the music director at the Mountain River Ranch. She loves celtic and American fiddle music and lives in Idaho with her husband Joe where they own a violin shop and music teaching studio. She loves fiddling, being out in nature and playing with her Goldendoodle Gibson.
Level 5 (HOT SHOTS) – PM Class – Jacie Sites
Styles/tunes taught: Celtic, Show Tunes, Twin Fiddle, Contest, Old-Time, Gypsy
Course objective: In this class we will learn a variety of tunes from several genres all designed to challenge the intermediate to advanced player. Some tunes will have harmony parts. Celtic, Contest and Twin Fiddle Style tunes featured and supplemented with a show tunes/medley, fancy fiddling techniques, old-time cross-tuned style or gypsy tune/medley.
Materials Provided: Sheet Music, TAB will be provided for all tunes and harmony parts will be provided for tunes that have harmony
Jacie Sites is a three-time National Fiddle Champion and Grand Master Fiddler Champion. She has a degree in Music from Eastern Oregon University and studied elementary education at Idaho State University. Jacie has been a featured performer on the Grand Ole Opry and at the International Bluegrass Music Association main stage, she has written several number one selling fiddle books, won the Rockygrass fiddle competition and plays fiddle and cello with the Mountain River String Band. She is currently the music director at the Mountain River Ranch. She loves celtic and American fiddle music and lives in Idaho with her husband Joe where they own a violin shop and music teaching studio. She loves fiddling, being out in nature and playing with her Goldendoodle Gibson.
Other Instrument Classes
Beginning Guitar – AM Class – Shawn Hughes
Necessities: Guitar and picks, tuner, pen or pencil, recording device (phone works), Notebook
In this class well will learned the basics of the guitar as well as learning basic chords and rhythms to play with fiddle and bluegrass tunes. We will also go over jamming and what to do when you are first learning the play guitar. This is a beginning class so no pressure to have any prior knowledge of guitar. This will be a slower class and will go at the pace the majority of the class is comfortable with. Chord forms and chords charts will be provided. I will also provide you with an online drive with songs to play chords to at your own pace.
Beginning Mandolin – PM Class – Tom Moran
Prerequisites: As the title implies, there are no prerequisites to this class other than a mandolin and a desire to learn more about the instrument and how to play it.
Styles/tunes taught: This class will begin with the mechanics of playing the mandolin, including concepts and exercises aimed at developing left and right hand techniques. Along the way we will also be learning some simple tunes and chords that will reinforce these ideas and allow you to begin developing your repertoire of melodies and songs.
Course objectives: To provide a solid foundation for the study and practice of the mandolin.
Materials provided: CD, Musical notation and tablature provided.
Fiddle Tunes for Frets – PM Class – Shawn Hughes
Necessities: Guitar or Mandolin, picks, tuner, pen or pencil, recording device (phone works), notebook
Still tired of playing just backup guitar? Do you play mandolin and would love to play some duos with another guitar. Or maybe you already pick a few tunes and just want to learn some more. This may be the class for you! Back from last year we are going to do More Fiddle Tunes for Frets. In this class we will be learning fiddle tunes on the mandolin and guitar. We will be learning melodies and other things that you can do to play along with other instruments.
Important to note: There will be some new chords and chording in this class however it will be based mostly around learning the melodies and playing with others. This is an intermediate class and will require some knowledge of some chords and basic tunes.
Intermediate Mandolin – AM Class – Tom Moran
Prerequisites: Be able to comfortably play the melody and chords to at least a half dozen or more fiddle tunes that occur in different keys. Understand and employ the basic down-up pick motion in right-hand picking patterns. The ability to read musical notation and/or tab and a basic knowledge of music theory are helpful but are not by any means required.
Styles/tunes taught: After a review of the basic technique, the emphasis will be on adding to your repertoire of tunes from the old time and bluegrass traditions.
Course objectives: To provide a solid background for intermediate players to raise their playing to the next level
Materials provided: CD, musical notation/tablature
Intermediate Back-Up Guitar – AM Class – Pam Borso
Prerequisites: Ability to play basic chord formations in A, C, D, E, & G comfortably.
Styles/tunes taught: Most fiddle tunes: Hoedowns, Jigs, Waltzes, Rags, and others.
Course objectives: We will learn bass runs from the beginning including 1,2,3,4, & 5 note runs into other chords in all the basic keys. We will explore dynamics of what makes a good back up musician, including chord positions and substitutions, and rhythm styles. We will learn basic music theory. Explore how to play in a jam and figure out what the next chord is likely to be even if you don’t know the tune.
Materials provided: Numerous printed tunes and practice CD.
Advanced Back-Up Guitar – PM Class – Deanna Wilson
Using bass-notes to dress up your chords and create a sense of movement in your rhythm playing. We’ll be adding some moveable shapes. We’ll be learning several tunes per day in this class while building repertoire and technique and giving you the tools to dress-up your standard rhythm playing for yourself
Beginning Swing Guitar – PM Class – Pam Borso
Prerequisites: Some familiarity with playing chords smoothly. You will be learning all new chords if you have never played closed, swing chords before.
Styles/tunes taught: Traditional swing tunes, Western swing tunes, some rags, blues and country tunes
Course objectives: Want to unravel the circle of 4ths and 5ths? This introduction to Swing Guitar will teach basic theory as applied to standard swing, western sing and blues tunes. It is primarily a rhythm guitar class. We will start with basic open chords, learn some closed and moveable chords and even passing chords. We will learn key, chord and tune structure. You do not have to read music. We will be using chord charts.
Materials provided: Music for tunes covered in class, including chord diagrams, and a practice and source material CD.
Advanced Swing Guitar – AM Class – Deanna Wilson
Focusing on Moveable Shapes. Using the “6” chord, passing chords (diminished and augmented) using patterns and shapes to navigate the Circle of 5ths. A new tune per day to build repertoire, technique and a better understanding of Advanced Swing guitar
All Things Banjo – AM Class – Isaac Callender
In this class we’ll start with the basics of five string banjo. We’ll cover a couple of different tunings, chord shapes, basic rolls for three finger style and the right hand patterns for playing clawhammer/frailing. No prior experience is necessary for this class but we welcome more advanced players as well.
We’ll learn a few tunes (TBA after polling the class) and learn how to play backup in addition to the melody. We will be learning mostly by ear but video and TAB will be provided at the end of the week for you to take home.
The goal of this class is for students to be able to play in a jam setting.
Back-up Piano – PM Class – Louise Steinway
Pre-requisites: For students who can play the piano already and want to learn how to play chords behind a fiddle tune. Must bring your own electronic keyboard, stool and headphones.
Style/tunes taught: Canadian and American Old-time basic piano back-up.
Course Objectives: To play the piano accompaniment behind a fiddle tune. We will learn the chords to many standard tunes, played at jams and dances, what the right and left hand do in 4/4, 2/4, 6/8 and 3/4 tempos. We will learn how to hear the chord changes so that we can chord “by ear”, and also how to read chord chards. We will get comfortable with the keys of G, D, A and C, and become the steady, consistent rhythm instrument that fiddle players will love to play with! Bring a positive attitude, be prepared to work and have fun!
Bass – AM Class – Jim Adams
“This class is for designed to help you learn techniques to make your playing easier and more intuitive. You’ll learn basic patterns that can be used to navigate your way through any song in any key. We’ll then learn how to expand on that pattern to add rhythmic and harmonic interest to your bass lines. We’ll be learning foundations for bass playing technique that reduce or avoid the risk of repetitive stress injuries. This class is not for absolute beginners but will be taught at a basic level. You might even learn a little music theory while we’re at it.”
