Musical Workshops
2008
National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest^®

Workshops are held Monday through Friday in conjunction with The National Oldtime Fiddle Contest in Weiser, Idaho. Sign ups for the workshops are foyer. Sessions are held in the band room behind the contestant practice room. 

Members of the National Oldtime Fiddlers Association and their immediate family may attend all workshops free of charge.  All Non-NOTFA members will be charged $5.00 per workshop.  For more information about becoming a member click on the menu under "Information About" and select NOTFA Membership or call 208-414-0255. Memberships will also be sold at the door.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO  CHANGE

11:00 - 1:00      Texas Style Backup Guitar-Rex Gillentine

BIO: Rex Gillentine grew up picking with and learning from some of the legendary Texas style players. He has performed at the Grand Ole' Opry and with Roy Acuff at Opryland. Rex has just been inducted in the Texas Fiddler's Hall of Fame. Rex also does workshops at Jana Jae's fiddle camp.

WORKSHOP: A brief history/description of “Texas” or “Contest” style plus a “thumbnail theory” for understanding the principles of the style. He'll get into some tunes and explains substitutions as they are used in the tunes.

1:00 - 3:00      Beginning Mandolin-Carol Martin

BIO:  In 1975, Carol was a beginning mandolin player in Colorado when she attended the NOTFC in Weiser, Idaho and where the whole new world of fiddle tunes and bluegrass was opened up to her. She now resides in Seattle, WA with her fiddle-playing husband, Pete. She gives workshops and teaches mandolin, plays and has played in a variety of Northwest Bluegrass and string bands, including the notorious Tennesseans, the award-winning Lonesome Doves and the Weiser-inspired band Noteworthy.

WORKSHOP: Carol will cover the basics: correct right hand techniques, such as pick mechanics, direction, wrist motion: left hand fingering, selective placement for chording, strengthening exercises, and you will learn a fiddle tune. Please bring a mandolin that is east to play if you have never played before. For the more advanced players, she will cover chord changes and address questions that you may have.
 

3:00 - 5:00      Master Fiddler-Lisa Barrett (Limited to 10 participants only. Sign up early!!!)

BIO: Winner of many titles since she started competing in the late 1970’s. Lisa and her husband Dick, another well respected fiddler, reside in Rapelje, Montana where they operate a school for advanced fiddlers.

WORKSHOP: In this class format, each individual will be given time to work on their own playing while the rest of the class observes. Lisa will spend time with each person discussing the strengths of their playing and offering guidance for techniques that need work.
 

9:00 – 11:00      Flat Pick Guitar-Sue Thompson

BIO: Sue has played and sung for over thirty-years in old time, country, Balkan, Irish and bluegrass bands, including Seattle's legendary Tall Timber and the All Star Cowgirl Revue. She's one of the a small number of accomplished women flat pickers, and a dedicated teacher who has taught the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Coast Music Camp, British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop, and Port Townsend's renowned Fiddle Tunes Festival

WORKSHOP: This workshop is geared toward a solid intermediate player-someone who knows how to play backup chords and can play rhythm, but has not played much in the way of melodies or solos.
 

11:00 – 1:00      Jamming for Beginners-Jenni Stippich

BIO: Jenni stared studying Suzuki classical violin when she was four. At the age of ten she started playing fiddle and has been playing every since. She has been a past Idaho State Young Adult Champion and currently plays the fiddle, banjo, and sings in a bluegrass band. Jenni also teaches fiddle lessons and plays for contra dances in the Magic Valley. She organized and started the 1st Idaho Open Fiddle Contest.

WORKSHOP: This workshop is geared for the beginning fiddler. It will try to introduce them with ease into the circle of jamming. Bring your fiddle and enjoy!


1:00 - 3:00       Beginning Standup Bass and Contra Dance-David Quinley

BIO: David Quinnley was exposed to contra dancing in Berea, Kentucky. After dancing for a few years, he joined a contra dance band and played rhythm guitar. Later, he learned to call dances and has been calling for the last thirty years. He is currently playing the standup bass for a bluegrass band in the Magic Valley.

WORKSHOP: This workshop is geared for beginning bass players and those that are interested in contra dancing.
 

3:00 – 5:00      Celtic and Irish Fiddling-Dave Daley

BIO: Dave Daley is the founding member of the Mores Creek Sting Band, and more recently the GIANT LEPRECHAUNS. Over the past 35 years, he has played, performed, and taught old-time and Irish fiddling throughout Idaho and the Northwest. Dave has been a participant, performer, and an instructor at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, WA. More recently, Dave participated in the 2007 Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp.

WORKSHOP: This workshop will contain a couple of tunes with bowing ornamentation: cuts, rolls, and trebles (bow triplets), and using them in the tunes.
 

9:00 – 11:00      Intermediate Fiddle-Jeanine Orme

BIO: Jeanine is a past Utah State Fiddle Champion & Oregon State Adult Champion. She has competed and served as a judge at the NOTFC as well as other regional and state contests. She has been teaching fiddle for over 20 years and has authored two books on fiddling.

WORKSHOP: Learn the basics of developing a twin fiddling part including simple music theory. Learn a song and the twin fiddle part by ear. Information sheets and music will be available. This class would be most appropriate for players at a beginning to intermediate level.

11:00 - 1:00      New Acoustic-Tristan and Tashina Clarridge

BIO: Tristan is the youngest person to win the Grand National division, in 02, 03 & 04 & 06. An inventive cellist, he currently tours with Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, and has appeared with Cape Breton Fiddle phenomenon Natalie MacMaster. Tashina, the 2005 Grand National Champion, has performed at Carnegie Hall and has toured with Mark O'Connor. Both have instructed at Mark O'Connor's Strings Conference. They have worked together in their own groups, Darol Anger’s Republic Of Strings, and in banjo master Bill Evans’ String Summit.

WORKSHOP: Focus on New Acoustic music with Bluegrass, Celtic, Jazz, Oldtime, and world music influences. Learn a tune, work on different methods of improvisation, fiddle accompaniment. All are welcome. Ear training will be geared towards the high inter/advanced player.

1:00 – 3:00        Bluegrass Banjo Basics-Bill Evans

BIO: Bill Evans is the author of Banjo for Dummies, the world's most popular banjo instructional book. He has spent over thirty-five years teaching bluegrass banjo to thousands of players all over the world. He also has taught at every major bluegrass and banjo camp in the world. He hosts the Sonny Osborne NashCamp Banjo Retreat each fall outside of Nashville. As a performer, he now tours worldwide with fiddler Megan Lynch. He also has played with Dry Branch Fire Squad, Peter Rowans, David Grisman, Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick, among others. His two CDs Bill Evans Plays Banjo & Native and Fine, are worldwide bestsellers and have topped the bluegrass charts. For more information visit www.nativeandfine.com.

WORKSHOP: This workshop is for beginners or for those who want a refresher course. Bill will cover everything you need to know to get started: hand positions, fitting the fingerpicks, roll patterns, left-handed techniques (slide hammer-ons, pull-offs & chokes), common licks and how to create melodies in Scruggs style.

3:00 – 5:00       Master Fiddle-Lisa Barrett

BIO: Winner of many titles since she started competing in the late 1970’s. Lisa and her husband Dick, another well respected fiddler, reside in Rapelje, Montana where they operate a school for advanced fiddlers.

WORKSHOP: In this class format, each individual will be given time to work on their own playing while the rest of the class observes. Lisa will spend time with each person discussing the strengths of their playing and offering guidance for techniques that need work.
 

9:00–11:00      Master Fiddle-Alex DePue

BIO: Alex DePue studied classical violin at Bowling Green State University.  He developed an interest and began competing in improvisational music, or fiddling, at age seven. He won numerous trophies and has held the Mid-American, Ohio, and Wood County fiddling champion titles. Alex reigned as the Michigan State Fiddling Champion from 1994-1998; won the first-place trophy at the Walnut Valley National Fiddling Championship in Winfield, Kansas in 1999 and 2005; and won first place in the Halletsville, TX "Gone to Texas National Fiddling Championship" in 2000. He has been ranked among the top ten fiddlers in the nation at the Grand Masters Fiddling Championship in Nashville, TN and is a two-time winner of The Alabama State Fiddling Championship (2005-2006). In 2006 he also won the California State Old Time Fiddlers’ Association Championship and was deemed, "Fiddle King", at the Tennessee Valley Old-time Fiddling Championship in Athens, Alabama.

From 2000-2007, Alex toured as musical director/fiddler with Capitol Recording artist, Chris Cagle, with whom he can still be seen on The Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Television and Great American Country.  Alex is currently on hiatus from a world tour with legendary rock guitarist, Steve Vai.

WORKSHOP: Mr. DePue's 2-hour class will cover basic approach to the violin (fiddle) and will focus on BAD HABITS. Everything from the bow hold to right arm/wrist movement will be individually checked and addressed. We will play the bow, not the violin (fiddle). LIMITED TO 25 STUDENTS.

11:00 - 1:00     Texas Style Backup Guitar-Rex Gillentine

BIO:Rex Gillentine grew up picking with and learning from some of the legendary Texas style players. He has performed at the Grand Ole' Opry and with Roy Acuff at Opryland. Rex has just been inducted in the Texas Fiddler's Hall of Fame. Rex also does workshops at Jana Jae's fiddle camp.

WORKSHOP: A brief history/description of “Texas” or “Contest” style plus a “thumbnail theory” for understanding the principles of the style. He gets into some tunes and explains substitutions as they are used in the tunes.

1:00 - 3:00       Banjo Backup Techniques-Bill Evans

BIO: Bill Evans is the author of Banjo for Dummies, the world's most popular banjo instructional book. He has spent over thirty-five years teaching bluegrass banjo to thousands of players all over the world. He also has taught at every major bluegrass and banjo camp in the world. He hosts the Sonny Osborne NashCamp Banjo Retreat each fall outside of Nashville. As a performer, he now tours worldwide with fiddler Megan Lynch. He also has played with Dry Branch Fire Squad, Peter Rowans, David Grisman, Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick, among others. His two CDs Bill Evans Plays Banjo & Native and Fine, are worldwide bestsellers and have topped the bluegrass charts. For more information visit www.nativeandfine.com.

WORKSHOP: For all levels, Bill covers the key elements toward successfully playing with others in a jam session or band. Topics include moveable chord positions, vamping, roll pattern backup, up the neck techniques, playing in other keys and much more.


3:00 – 5:00      Transition from Contest Fiddling to Bluegrass-Megan Lynch

BIO: Megan, raised in Redding, CA, began taking lessons at the age of four. She began competing shortly thereafter. Megan won her first National Championship at the age of eight and followed that with three consecutive wins at ages ten, eleven, and twelve. In 2003, Megan made a return to serious competition and captured two more national titles in 2003 and 2004. During the last twenty-four years of one-and-off competition, Megan has also won six California State titles, as well as the Minnesota State Championships. She is in high-demand as a private and group teacher. Her no-holds-barred workshops have drawn rave reviews across the country. Since moving to Nashville, Megan has played with country legend Pam Tillis as well as bluegrass luminaries Roland White, Larry Cordle, Jim Hurst, and Chris Jones. Megan is a former member of Kock recording artists 3 Fox Drive and west coast super group Due West. She is the founder and director of Fiddlestar Youth and Adult Fiddle Camps. Megan is a fiddler of varied interests and influences. You never know if she's going to go Texas style, Celtic, Motown, Bluegrass or all of the above!

WORKSHOP: Going from contests to bluegrass-How to get started improvising! Ever wonder hoe to take the skills you've mastered while being a contest fiddler and translate those into other musical worlds? Megan B. Lynch, National Young Adult Champion and professional bluegrass fiddler will help you learn the basics of improvisation. She will cover chord progressions, playing in a jam, and creating great breaks. Bring your fiddle as this is a hands on workshop and be prepared to be a more well-rounded fiddler!

9:00 – 11:00      Rockin' Piano-John Hoff

BIO: JOHN HOFF plays a variety of instruments and has played in numerous symphonies. He is famous in the Weiser valley for his mastery of the piano at the Illustrious Onion Skin Players, a melodrama group in Weiser.

WORKSHOP: Techniques on how to “Cowboy” your piano. Simple bass techniques for swing, rock, slow & waltz. You will learn performing dynamics, and how to get multiple instrument sounds from the piano and other techniques too numerous to list. Come enjoy!

11:00 – 1:00     Harmonica-Dennis Cooper

BIO: Dennis is a 2007 semi-finalist in the “Search for the Ultimate Band” contest at UBL.com, the 2001 diatonic harmonica division champion of the Yellowpine Harmonica Contest. He received a B.E.A.M. (Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music) Award from the Jim Beam Company in 2002 and has presented workshops from Southern California to Texas.

WORKSHOP: Focus on basic harmonica technique.

1:00 – 3:00       Oldtime Mandolin Blues and Rags-Becky Smith

BIO: Becky Smith is a prize winning mandolinist noted for her "hot" improvisational leads and expressive rhythmic drive. Her career began in Texas when she formed a string band and played everthing from American old-time fiddle tunes to gypsy swing jazz. She made her own mandolin and helped produce on the most popular mandolin magazines of all time (Mandolin World News). Beck teaches mandolin, fiddle and guitar

WORKSHOP: Learn techniques for playing lead, picking styles and moveable chord systems. Beginners-advanced players welcome.


3:00 – 5:00       Finger Style Guitar-Buster B. Jones (Godin Guitars)

BIO:  Buster is a master of the guitar styles of Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed. He is the 1988 winner of the 1st Guitar Player Sound Page Competition and also a 1990 winner of the National Finger Picking Championship held in Winfield, KS.

WORKSHOP: Expanding into the different styles and approaches to playing lead and rhythm guitar.