Submitted to the Castlegar News
The BC Old Time Fiddlers, Kootenay Branch No. 9, are busy planning the 14th annual fiddle, guitar and piano workshop. This week-long summer camp will take place from July 13 to 17 at the Selkirk College Castlegar campus.
This very popular camp continues to provide some of Canada’s very best champion fiddlers as instructors, headed by master fiddler Gordon Stobbe from Nova Scotia. During the workshop, renowned guitar and piano teachers share their expertise balanced by down-to-earth teaching styles, effortless patience and easy going sense of humours.
“This five-day camp promises to be another year of offerings that will meet a wide range of interest and skill levels,” says Gary Shannon, president of the local Old Time Fiddlers. “There will be a little something for everyone and a whole lot of fun and great memories. Whether you are at an absolute beginner or advanced level, everyone is welcome.”
The workshop is an immersion in fiddle music to learn and improve techniques, styles and expand your repertoire in a small camp environment. By learning to memorize tunes on-the-fly without music notation, students learn the traditional aural style of sharing and learning fiddle tunes. The piano and guitar workshops focus on playing backup to the fiddles and help participants become a more polished and confident musician.
In addition to instrument classes, the camp offers mini-workshops including step dancing, orchestra, and harmony. This year there will be an offering of a mandolin mini workshop.
The evenings are fun filled with a talent show, outdoor jamming, and an outdoor instructor’s concert held at Gyro Park in Trail. The public is invited to take in a very entertaining and upbeat evening camp recital and community dance to be held at the Castlegar Recreation Complex on Thursday, July 16.
“This is a rare opportunity to hear some of the best fiddling and enjoy a fun old fashioned evening with the whole family,” says Shannon.
For registration information and on-campus residence housing information, please visit kootenayfiddlers.com or contact Selkirk College at 250-365-1208.