2009 Fiddle Hell Schedule (from last year!)

The 2010 schedule will be quite similar, on Nov 12-14, 2010.  However, we are considering hosting a concert Friday night followed by jams.

November 13, 2009 (Friday)

10AM-5PM: Pre-Fiddle-Hell Workshops Prior signup suggested for this fine day of friendly workshops at beginning and intermediate levels

6:00PM: FH officially starts. Look for fellow fiddlers in the dining room or the Grandma Moses Room at the Inn. Sign in, donate, get a name tag.
7:00PM - midnight: Open jamming in Grandma Moses Room (=GMR), around the bar, and in the Sitting Rooms
8:00 - 9:00PM: Slow jam on common tunes in GMR (Clayton March and friends) [Get ready for Saturday night!]
9:00 - 10:00PM or later: Beginners' jam in Sitting Room 1 [No leader, just show up and make some new friends!]
9:00 - 10:00PM or later: Old time Southern jam in Back Bar (Andy Reiner and Tim Rowell) [Up to speed, but with easy tunes!]
9:00PM - midnight: Bluegrass, swing, Irish and whatever jams in Grandma Moses Room, Front Bar, Porch, etc.

November 14, 2009 (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.

9:00AM - 7:30PM: Informal jamming all day [your choice of jamming or workshops -- we have multiple rooms available]
9:00 - 9:50AM: Early bird jam (no leader) in Grandma Moses Room (=GMR) [Why not? Would you rather sleep - or play your fiddle?]
10:00 - 10:50AM: Amazing bowing patterns workshop in GMR (Dave Reiner) [What you need to make your tunes come alive!]
10:00 - 10:50AM: Playing healthy discussion/workshopin the Back Bar (Led by Worldfiddler Jim Dorans) [Ouch! Drat! Relax...]
11:00 - 11:50AM: Half-speed tune workshop on common tunes for tonight in GMR (Clayton March) [Get ready for tonight!]
11:00 - 11:50AM: Scandinavian jam/workshop on Porch (John Chambers, of J.C.'s Tune Finder fame) [Bring your own herring!]
11:00 - 11:50AM: Gypsy jazz workshop in Front Bar (intermediate - advanced) (Jason Anick of the John Jorgenson Quintet) [Play it hot!] New!
Noon: Buffet lunch break [in the restaurant, or forage elsewhere, or just keep jamming]
1:00 - 1:50PM: Improvisation workshop in GMR (Andy Reiner) [The amazing Andy will spark your creativity!] New!
1:00 - 1:50PM: Essential left hand techniques workshop on Porch (Worldfiddler Jim Dorans) [Techniques/tunes from a super teacher!]
1:00 - 2:20PM: Scottish and Cape Breton jam in the Front Bar (No leader, but with the incomparable Eric Eid-Reiner on piano)
2:30 - 3:20PM: Chop bowing workshop in GMR (intermed-adv) (Andy Reiner, Julie Metcalf) [A modern backup technique - like playing drums on your fiddle!]
2:30 - 3:20PM: Cajun fiddle workshop in Front Bar (beginning-intermediate) (Paul Harty) [Laissez les bon temps rouler!]
2:30 - 3:20PM: Piano accompaniment workshop in Front Bar (beginning-intermediate) [Eric Eid-Reiner) [Solid tips from a pro!] New!
3:30 - 4:20PM: Play along with classic Western Swing tunes on the Porch (Paul Harty) [Not too hard, guaranteed fun!]
3:30 - 4:20PM: Intermediate Bluegrass fiddle workshop in GMR (Art Schatz of the Reunion Band) [Tunes / techniques from a fine local player!]
4:30 - 6:00PM: Irish jam in GMR (Brendan Carey-Block & Steve Brown (twice All-Ireland bones champion)) [Reels, jigs, and more! ]
4:30 - 6:00PM: Swing fiddle workshopin Front Bar (adv. beg. - intermediate) (Jason Anick of the John Jorgenson Quintet) [Come to play or listen!] New!
5:00 - 5:50PM: Beginner's questions answered workshop in Sitting Room 1 (Worldfiddler Jim Dorans) [Ask! Learn!]
6:00 - 8:00PM: Dinner break at the Stagecoach Inn [or elsewhere, or just keep jamming]
7:00 - 7:50PM: 5-string fiddlers' gathering in the Front Bar [Show me yours and I'll show you mine!] New!
8:00PM: The big Saturday Night Event! We'll gather in the GMR 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 are available. Alternating with the individual slots, we'll all play some common tunes together. Various free giveaways, including a carbon fiber Diamond NX Bow thanks to Codabow, many sets of Helicore strings, thanks to D'Addario, a bow rehairing, thanks to Shannon Strings in Concord, MA, a Bradivarius Violin Pickup from Bradivarius Violins, two tickets to the Jeremy Kittel concert on 12/4 in Somerville, MA from notloB Folk Concerts, and a Fishman V-200 Violin Pickup from Johnson Strings in Newton, MA.
10:30PM until whenever: More jamming at the bar and surrounding rooms.

November 15, 2009 (Sunday)

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

10:00AM to 6:00PM: More jamming and workshops. Jam, chat, trade tunes, wander around Groton.
10:00 - 10:50AM: Essential bowing techniques workshop on Porch (Jim Dorans) [Work on your bowing with the one & only Worldfiddler]
10:00 - 10:50AM: Learn a Missouri tune in Back Bar (Michael Richwine) [beg-int level, a fine tune taught by ear]
10:00 - 10:50AM: Contradance fiddle workshop in GMR (David Kaynor) [Rare opportunity to learn from a well-known fiddler/caller!] New!
11:00 - 11:50AM: Kids' fantastic fiddle workshop in Back Bar for kids who know at least 8 tunes (Cathy Goode) [A great teacher of tunes and techniques!]
11:00 - 11:50AM: Your fiddling questions answered workshop on Porch (Worldfiddler Jim Dorans) [Techniques, tunes, anything!]
11:00 - 11:50AM: How to play backup on the fiddle workshop in GMR (Dave Reiner) [an important skill, demystified by Dave!]
Noon: Lunch? Or would you rather learn a new tune from someone?
12:50PM: Free giveaways in GMR, including a braided carbon fiber bow thanks to KC Strings, many sets of Helicore strings, thanks to D'Addario, a helpful Bow Hold Buddy from Things4Strings, and a banjo or mandolin lesson, thanks to Minuteman Music in Lexington, MA.
1:00 - 1:50PM: Rags for the fiddle workshop in GMR (Dave Reiner) [Learn rag techniques and a classic rag!]
2:00 - 4:00PM: Beginners' jam in Sitting Room 1 [No leader, just show up and play with your new friends].
2:00 - 4:00PM: Old time Southern jam on the Porch (Tim Rowell and friends) [Some fine old tunes in an informal and fun jam]
2:00 - 4:00PM: Scottish and Cape Breton jam oin Back Bar [Led by friendly members of the Boston Scottish Fiddle Club]
4:00 - 5:00PM: Mellow waltz jam session in Back Bar [Play by ear or read them - bring copies of your favorite waltzes to help us wind down]
6PM: Fiddle Hell is officially over. Go to dinner, take in a live performance, head to Boston or Cambridge.