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Latest News

Updated 2/2/12

The new "Whistling Swans" CD is here!

We recorded the entire collection live, and all in one day at Electric Wilburland Studios in Ithaca, N.Y. There's also a bonus track with a tune from our performance on WVBR's Bound for Glory radio show.

The CD is an EP (10 tunes), and is available for $10 in limited quantities. I might say they're "flying" off the shelves (Ha! Pun intended).

To hear audio previews or to order the CD, CLICK HERE.

Our public radio station, WSKG, produces a program of interviews with local authors called "Off the Page".

This month the interview was with author Katherine Aldridge, who'd found a box of letters from a Civil War soldier in her barn. I was thrilled that as excerpts of the letters were read on the air, recordings from my "Tune of the Month" archives were used as background music.

The interview, including the reading of the letters and the music, has been archived
and can be heard by clicking on

January was filled with both excitement and ennui.

The exciting part:
Jim and I travelled to Chicago to visit his daughter Allison. We toured the Art Institute of Chicago, marveled at artifacts from the dawn of time, ate at fabulous restaurants, and I acquired the always useful skill of picking handcuff locks with a bobby pin (long story).

The non-exciting part:
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism immediately after the trip, and had to cancel all teaching and performances the rest of the month while doctors tried to find a balance of medications to slow my heart and body down. On the road to recovery now. Thank goodness for modern medicine.

Updated 1/2/12

Happy New Year to you! After an fun trip to Maryland for Christmas, Jim and I started 2012 with a quiet New Year's Day at home.

The holiday "break" included a recording session at Electric Wilburland studio with Rick Manning and Tom Hodgson.

I love the recording process! Music is so ephemeral, and it's amazing to be able to capture a piece of it in a physical form.

We'll have a new CD coming out soon, but we desperately need suggestions for a cool band name.  Any ideas?

Featured fiddle website: SCHOOL OF FIDDLE

Internationally known fiddler Daryl Anger has launched a "School of Fiddle" website, where you can access hundreds of fiddle video lessons for all different skill levels. You can even upload a video of yourself playing to get feedback direct from Daryl.

Like Daryl's playing? You can hear him live (and attend his fiddle workshop Saturday morning) at the Winter Village Bluegrass Festival in Ithaca, N.Y. the weekend of January 27th -29th.

Visit www.wintervillagebluegrass.org for more info.

A Peek Ahead

February 13 - March 19: I'll be teaching a six week group class, "Beginning Fiddle I for Adults" at the West Presbyterian Church parish house, 85 Walnut St., Binghamton. 6:00 p.m. Upstairs room.

The course is offered through Broome Community College's Continuing Education program. No prior fiddle experience is necessary. This class usually sells out, so if you'd like to register or you know someone who'd like to register, contact the Continuing Education Office soon at 607-778-5012.

Click here for a Youtube audio preview

 

My new project, "Building Repertoire" is available!

The book contains a collection of 63 tunes from the New England, French Canadian, old-time, and Celtic genres, and two accompanying CDs.

Ideal for:

  • The fiddler or mandolin player looking to expand their repertoire
  • The classical violinist seeking to build a basic repertoire of fiddle tunes in various genres
  • A rhythm player looking for melody tracks to practice along with at home.

I'll be using the material with my students, but it's available to the general public as well on the STORE page of this website.

Website design by Hope Grietzer, copyright 2008