Schedule for November 12-14, 2010

November 12, 2010 (Friday)

9:30AM-5PM: Pre-Fiddle-Hell Workshops Prior signup requested for this fine day of friendly workshops at beginning and intermediate levels.  Six workshop leaders this year, with many parallel tracks and traditional styles.

6PM: Fiddle Hell officially starts! Look around for fellow fiddlers everywhere at the Old Groton Inn. Sign in, donate, get a name tag in the Martha Washington Room or the Carriage House.

6PM - midnight: Open jamming in Front and Back Bars and Sitting Room, ... Jam even later at Carriage House!

6:30 - 7:30PM: Slow jam on common tunes in GMR (Clayton March and friends) [Get ready for Saturday night!]
6:30 - 7:30PM: New England jam in CH (Julie Metcalf, Eric Eid-Reiner on piano) [Get in the spirit at the Old Groton Inn!]
6:30 - 7:30PM: Swing/Texas jam on Porch (Andy Reiner, Marshall Racowski on guitar) [It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!]
6:30 - 7:30PM: Beginner's questions answered one-on-one in SR (Worldfiddler Jim Dorans, here from England) [Ask! Learn!]

8 - 9:30PM: Showtime in the Carriage House – a fiddle concert by the incredible Blue Moose & the Unbuttoned Zippers, Kimberley Fraser, Dave Reiner, Clayton March, Julie Metcalf and Eric Eid-Reiner [free if you’ve paid for Pre-FH Workshops or for Fiddle Hell; walk-ins are $10]

9:30 - 10:30PM: Easy beginners' jam in GMR (Julie Metcalf) [Make some new friends!]
9:30 - 11:30PM: Old time Southern jam in CH (Andy Reiner and Tim Rowell) [Up to speed, easy tunes!]
9:30PM - midnight: New England, bluegrass, Irish, and open jams at Porch, Front  and Back Bar, Sitting Rooms, etc.  Jam until even later in Carriage House!

November 13, 2010 (Saturday)

Most workshops and jams will end 10 minutes before the next ones start, to give us time to move around and have a quick break.

9AM – midnight: Informal jamming all day in various rooms until midnight. Jam even later in Carriage House! Roving musicians for jams include Sam Grisman on bass (tentative), John Robinson on guitar, Marshall Racowski on guitar, and more.

9 - 9:50AM: Early bird jam in GMR (no leader) [Would you rather sleep - or fiddle?]
10 - 10:50AM: Fundamental bowing patterns workshop in CH (Dave Reiner) [Make your tunes come alive!]
10 - 10:50AM: Kids' fiddle tune workshop in GMR for kids who know at least 8 tunes (Andy Reiner, Julie Metcalf)     [Learn tunes and techniques!]
10 - 10:50AM: Playing healthy discussion on Porch (Worldfiddler Jim Dorans) [Ouch! Drat! Relax...]
11 - 11:50AM: Half-speed tune workshop on common tunes on Porch (Clayton March) [Get ready for tonight!]
11 - 11:50AM: Swedish jam/workshop in Back Bar (Bronwyn Bird) [The most innovative nyckelharpa player in the US!]
11 - 11:50AM: New England jam in CH (David Kaynor, Eric Eid-Reiner on piano)
11 - 11:50AM: (TENTATIVE) Gypsy jazz workshop in GMR (intermed - adv) (Jason Anick of the John Jorgenson Quintet) [Play it hot!]

Noon: Buffet lunch break in the restaurant, or forage elsewhere, or just keep jamming

1 - 1:50PM: Free improvisation workshop on Porch (Andy Reiner) [The amazing Andy will spark your creativity!]
1 - 1:50PM: Half-speed tune workshop on common tunes in GMR (Julie Metcalf) [Get ready for tonight!]
1 - 1:50PM: Left hand technique workshop in SR (Worldfiddler Jim Dorans) [Essential!]
1 - 2:50PM: Scottish & Cape Breton jam in CH (with the incomparable Eric Eid-Reiner on piano)
2 - 2:50PM: Chop bowing workshop in GMR (all levels) (Andy Reiner, Julie Metcalf) [A modern backup technique - like playing drums on your fiddle!]
2 - 2:50PM: Cajun fiddle workshop in Back Bar (beg-intermed) (Michelle Kaminsky of the Magnolia Cajun Band) [Laissez les bon temps rouler!]
2 - 2:50PM: Improvising workshop on Porch (Ellen Carlson) [Practical approaches from a fine player!]
3 - 3:50PM: Play along with classic Western Swing tunes on Porch (Paul Harty) [Not too hard, guaranteed fun!]
3 - 3:50PM: Bluegrass fiddle workshop (intermed) in CH (Art Schatz of the Reunion Band) [Techniques & tunes from a tasteful local player!]
3 - 3:50PM: Contradance fiddle workshop in GMR (David Kaynor)  [Learn from a well-known fiddler/caller!]
4 - 6PM: Irish jam in CH (Clayton March, Andy Reiner) [Reels & jigs!]
4 - 4:50PM: (TENTATIVE) Swing fiddle workshop in GMR (adv. beg. - intermediate) (Jason Anick of the John Jorgenson Quintet) [Come to play or listen!]
5 - 6PM: Beginning old time fiddle workshop in CH (Terri Lukacko) [Learn some easy old time tunes!]
5 - 6PM: Play along with a country/bluegrass singer in GMR (Berklee prof August Watters) [Try out your fiddling on these easy-to-follow tunes!]
5 - 6PM: 5-string fiddlers' gathering in SR [Show me yours and I'll show you mine! Test out a CodaBow Joule on your 5-stringer]
5 - 6PM: Hot licks for fiddle workshop on Porch (Jim Dorans) [Spice up your playing with a few over-the-top licks!]

6 - 7:30PM: Buffet dinner break at the Old Groton Inn [or elsewhere, or just keep jamming]

8:00PM: The big Saturday Night Event! We'll gather in the Carriage House to listen to and appreciate each other's playing! A fiddlers' round robin, with each of us encouraged to play one short tune - regardless of style, age, or experience. Backup musicians available, including Eric Eid-Reiner on piano and John Robinson on guitar. Alternating with the individual slots, we'll all play some medleys of common tunes together. Free giveaways: many sets of Helicore Strings from D'Addario, a Joule Carbon Fiber Bow from CodaBow (list price $650), and more to be listed later.

10:30PM until midnight: More jamming! Can go later in the Carriage House.

November 14, 2010 (Sunday)

Try the Inn's Sunday brunch from around 9:00-10:30AM Or wander out into Groton for breakfast. Or just sleep!

9 - 9:50AM: Early bird jam in GMR (no leader) [Would you rather sleep - or fiddle?]
10 - 10:50AM: Contradance fiddle workshop in CH (David Kaynor) [Put that lift in your playing!]
10 - 10:50AM: Essential bowing techniques on Porch (Jim Dorans) [Work on your bowing with Worldfiddler]
10 - 10:50AM: Learn a Missouri tune in SR (Michael Richwine) [beg-int level, a fine tune taught by ear]
10 - 10:50AM: Chop bowing workshop in GMR (all levels) (Andy Reiner) [A modern backup technique - like playing drums on your fiddle!]
11 - 11:50AM: Kids' fiddle workshop on Porch for kids who know at least 8 tunes (Cathy Goode) [A fantastic teacher of tunes and techniques!]
11 - 11:50AM: How to back up a singer on the fiddle workshop in GMR (Dave Reiner & Paul Harty) [An important skill, demystified by Dave!]
11 - 11:50AM: New England jam in CH (David Kaynor)  [Great tunes, surrounded by friends]
11 - 11:50AM: Your fiddling questions answered in SR (Jim Dorans) [Techniques, tunes, anything!]

Noon: Lunch? Or would you rather learn a new tune from someone?

12:50PM: Free giveaways in GMR: many sets of Helicore Strings from D'Addario, and more to be listed.
1 - 1:50PM: Rags for the fiddle workshop in GMR (Dave Reiner) [Learn rag techniques and a fun rag!
1 - 1:50PM: Swedish fiddle workshop on Porch (David Kaynor)  [Learn this style from a well-known fiddler/caller!
1 - 1:50PM: Southern oldtime fiddle workshop in CH (Andy Reiner)  [Simple but hypnotic tunes
2 - 4PM: Beginners' jam on Porch [No leader, just show up and play with your new friends].
2 - 4PM: Old time Southern jam in GMR (Dave Reiner, Andy Reiner) [Fine old tunes in an informal & fun jam]
2 - 3PM: Cape Breton workshop (Kimberley Fraser) in CH [Sponsored by Boston Scottish Fiddle Club]
3 - 4PM: Scottish & Cape Breton jam in CH (Kimberley Fraser)  [Strathspeys, reels, jigs, and more!]
4:10 – 5:30PM: Mellow waltz jam session in GMR (Bob Alessio)  [Play by ear or read the music - to help us wind down]

6PM: Fiddle Hell is officially over. Go to dinner, take in a live performance, head to Boston or Cambridge.