From an itch to cross off a bucket list goal to a desire to try something new, first-timers making a fresh foray into the world of fiddling noted a number of reasons for picking up the instrument at an Aurora Fiddle Society an adult beginnerSA国际影视传媒檚 workshop Saturday in Ndilo.
SA国际影视传媒淢y son-in-law plays. My daughter plays. I got encouragement from my granddaughter to try it,SA国际影视传媒� said Robert OSA国际影视传媒橰ourke, clutching a fiddle inside the Kalemi Dene School.
OSA国际影视传媒橰ourke, who took part in the adult first-timers workshop, was one of dozens who visited the day-long event, where fiddlers of all skill levels were divvied up into groups including youth first-timers, youth beginners and intermediates, along with adult first-timers, adult beginners and advanced players.
Katherine Guay, another newcomer who joined the adult first-timer class led by Nanaimo-based musician Geoff Horrocks SA国际影视传媒� one of three B.C. musicians brought in by the society to instruct SA国际影视传媒� said she attended the workshop to carry on an interrupted childhood interest.
First-timer Laurie Gault said she won't be playing the fiddle on a Canada Day float any time soon, but she had fun experiencing something new and challenging.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e always wanted to and I almost got around to it. I started when I was seven but never really got the chance to pursue it further,SA国际影视传媒漵aid Guay.
After going over the basics, including the difference between a fiddle and a violin (hint: the instruments are virtually identical SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 the style of music played thatSA国际影视传媒檚 different) Horrocks laid out SA国际影视传媒渢he good news and the bad news.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a wonderful instrument. You can make beautiful music and itSA国际影视传媒檚 really rewarding SA国际影视传媒� because itSA国际影视传媒檚 so difficult. You have to be really patient when youSA国际影视传媒檙e learning to play. You have to be dedicated, pick up your fiddle and play it 15 minutes a day,SA国际影视传媒� said Horrocks.
But Horrocks added it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter when you pick it up.
SA国际影视传媒淢y oldest student I started was 80-years-old. You can start at any age,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
In another room down the hallway, a group of advanced fiddlers gathered to play classic folk fiddle music, led by instructor Trish Horrocks and accompanied on guitar by Ryan McCord, a society member and workshop coordinator.
McCord told Yellowknifer thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a number of reasons people new to fiddling come to the workshops SA国际影视传媒�
held three to four times during the school year SA国际影视传媒� but that there's a common denominator among all newcomers.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think they see the value in playing music and the joy it can bring to them and they want to learn to do that,SA国际影视传媒� said McCord.
With a mandate to promote fiddling in Yellowknife and the North Slave region, McCord added the Aurora Fiddle Society event is SA国际影视传媒渁bout building community.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 about bringing people together and making music together,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
After completing a lesson in the adult first-timer group, Yellowknifer caught up with Laurie Gault, who said curiosity and an affinity for violin music brought her to the workshop.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 having fun. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 doing something different, doing something with your mind as opposed to work,SA国际影视传媒� said Gault.
While she noted the instrumentSA国际影视传媒檚 inherent challenges, like the need to employ cross-pattern coordination from both hands moving at the same time, Gault said SA国际影视传媒渁nything you want to do takes hard work.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if ISA国际影视传媒檒l ride of the float July 1,SA国际影视传媒� she laughed, SA国际影视传媒渂ut ISA国际影视传媒檒l definitely do more workshops.SA国际影视传媒�
She isnSA国际影视传媒檛 alone.
Exiting the Horrocks-led first-timer class, Katherine Guay said the workshop encouraged her to put the knowledge she gained to use.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 thinking ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to practice with what they teach me today and then ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to keep an eye open for what comes next from the Fiddle Society. ISA国际影视传媒檒l do what I can, learn on my own and come back and see what happens,SA国际影视传媒� said Guay.
The next Aurora-Fiddle beginnerSA国际影视传媒檚 workshop is slated to take place in September. The organization, launched in 2008, now boasts close to 80 members.
