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Fiddle Fest
January 9 @ 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
The 9th Annual Fiddle Fest, hosted in partnership with the Gilbert Town Fiddlers, is a day for string students and teachers alike to explore fiddling traditions from around the world. It will be a packed day of fun tunes, new techniques, and performances from wonderful musicians. While Fiddle Fest is geared towards students in grades 4-12, all student levels on bowed string instruments (violin, viola, cello, and bass) are welcome!
This year’s Fiddle Fest will be held on Zoom with incredible teachers from across North America! Our flexible class structure allows students to “choose their own adventure,” picking classes and teachers that suit their individual ability level and interests. And, at the end of the morning, students can sit back and enjoy performances from the teachers while they eat lunch at home! This year’s Fiddle Fest faculty include:
Eli Bender, cello | BC, Canada
Melissa Brun, cello | Pennsylvania
Rachel Capon, cello | BC, Canada
Sara Duce, violin | Arizona
Taylor Morris, violin | Arizona
Daniel Pentecost, violin | Tennessee
Lauren Rioux, violin | Maine
SCHEDULE (Mountain Standard Time)
9:00-9:20 | Orientation (Overview & Instructions)
9:30 – 10:20 | Class 1
10:30 – 11:20 | Class 2
11:30 – 12:20 | Class 3
12:30 – 1:20 | Concert (Enjoy performances while you eat lunch!)
LEVELS
During each class period, teachers will be offering instruction at each of the following levels:
BEGINNER (HIGH STRINGS) | For violinists/violists who have played 1-3 years (approx. elementary school level).
BEGINNER (LOW STRINGS) | For cellists/bassists who have played 1-3 years (approx. elementary school level).
INTERMEDIATE | For students who have played 4-6 years (approx. middle school level).
ADVANCED | For students who have played 6+ years (approx. high school level).
Fiddlers commonly learn from teachers who play different instruments. But, it can sometimes be challenging to learn that way! In our Fiddle Fest beginning levels, students can expect to learn from similar instruments to the ones they play: the high strings classes (for violinists/violists) will be taught by violinists; the low strings classes (for cellists/bassists) will be taught by cellists. At the intermediate and advanced levels, however, students will be taught by both violinists and cellists.
All classes will be taught by ear, without sheet music. Older students with minimal experience learning by ear may be more comfortable in the beginner or intermediate levels. Younger students with lots of experience learning by ear may be more comfortable in the intermediate or advanced levels.
During Fiddle Fest Orientation, students will be given examples of difficulty levels they can expect to encounter, along with some tips on learning by ear for those who are new to the process.
INSTRUCTION & ATTENDANCE
Each class will have a separate Zoom link, so students will be able to attend different levels if they want to learn from a certain teacher, explore a certain topic, or decide they need to move at a slower/faster pace.
A complete schedule with separate Zoom links and course descriptions will be sent to all students in the days leading up to Fiddle Fest.