Prepare for the Fiddle Contest in New Boston, Michigan!

It’s time for all interested fiddlers to start choosing tunes and getting them polished for the 27th Annual Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest.

The contest is sponsored by the Huron Township Applefest and is just one of many activities taking place during Applefest weekend. The contest will be held Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 12:00 pm on the Applefest Stage, located at 37260 Huron River Drive, New Boston, MI 48164. Contestants register at 11:00 am and draw for positions at 11:30 am. The contest starts before the Applefest parade begins at 1:00 pm, but contestants should be aware that Huron River Drive and Waltz Road will be closed for the duration of the parade.

The contest is open to fiddlers of all ages. There is a non-refundable $10.00 entry fee. Contestants will be required to play a waltz, a schottische, a jig and a reel, all in six minutes and all in a manner suitable for Michigan old-time dancing. Contestants will be judged on timing/tempo, intonation, expression and repertoire. Complete rules can be found at http://www.huronapplefest.com/fiddlerscontest.php

Our judges this year will be:


Glen Morningstar - fiddler with the Olde Michigan Ruffwater Stringband, nationally acclaimed old-time dance instructor, author of “Great Contras and Squares from the Great Lakes State” and “Dance the Winter Away”

Judy Raber - fiddler and author of “Come Dance With Me – Original Fiddle Compositions and Favorite Tunes of Les Raber”

Brad Battey - fiddler with Dr. Grangelove, The Sharon Hollow String Band, Aunt Lu and the Oakland County All Stars, and The Olde Michigan Ruffwater String Band, co-music director for Cumberland Dance Week, board member for Michigan Dance Heritage and past-president of the Ann Arbor Council for Traditional Music and Dance

The Huron Township Applefest would like to thank our co-sponsors for making the 27th Annual Michigan State Championship Old-Time Fiddlers Contest possible:

DoSan’s
29048 Garden Blvd.
Flat Rock, MI 48134
734-782-1310

Psarianos Violins Ltd.
79 E. Maple, Troy, MI 48083
248-689-8424
157 E. Hoover, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-761-8423
http://www.psarianosviolins.com/

The Les Raber Memorial Foundation
Preserving old-time Michigan fiddling
1149 Hillview Dr., Hastings, MI 49058
www.GoldenGriffonStringtet.com/raber.htm

Elderly Instruments
1100 N. Washington
Lansing, MI 48906
888-473-5810
http://www.elderly.com/

Dance Lab Debuts in Ann Arbor!

The Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance (AACTMAD)  held the first dance in their new Dance Lab Series last Friday in Ann Arbor’s Concourse Hall.

AACTMAD is a non-profit volunteer organization sponsoring over 200 traditional music, dance, and related events each year. These are lively public gatherings where you can enjoy dancing, playing instruments, or listening to traditional music.

The Dance Lab Series is designed with several purposes in mind:

 - allow new, learning and inexperienced callers to get time behind a microphone calling to real dancers,

 - allow experienced callers to try out dances that are new to them,

 - allow callers and choreographers to try out original dances to see how ideas they’ve been thinking about actually work on the dance floor,

 - allow aspiring dance musicians to get experience in an open band playing with more experienced musicians.

In addition to serving the callers, dancers and musicians who are already participating in community dance, the Dance Lab Series also promotes AACTMAD’s larger vision of increasing the number of participants in the dance community, training and encouraging the next generation of dance leaders and increasing the public awareness of Michigan’s community dance heritage.

Friday’s line-up saw three musicians from the Pittsfield Open Band brave the threatening snowstorm to play for the calling of Marlin Whitaker, Mark Hillegonds, Ed Vincent, Joan Hellmann and Jim McKinney while 15 patient dancers whirled, twirled, offered feedback and made suggestions.

The pace was a little slower than a normal contra dance.  Callers took extra time to explain figures that the dancers hadn’t seen before and slower music gave the dancers a little more time to think as they were dancing.

The Dance Lab Series is free to attend and open to all callers, dancers and musicians who are ready to try their material in a real dance environment.

The next Dance Lab dance will be Friday, February 17, 2012 at the Pittsfield Grange in Ann Arbor.  There is a caller’s workshop from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and the dance runs from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.  Admission is free for everyone.

Hammered Dulcimer and Fiddle Concerts Coming Up!

Last night, the Golden Griffon Stringtet had a practice session at the McKinney's. The special practice sessions we've been having have been getting us ready for a couple of big events we have this year. Yes, we play for some sorts of things all the time -- weddings, funerals, contra dances, civil war balls . . . -- but these other couple of events are concert-style, so quite different than our usual.

The first is the Frankenmuth Snowfest on January 28. We will be at the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, Fischer Hall, 613 S. Main Street. The show starts at noon and playing until 5 with many musicians on stage with dulcimers, guitars, fiddles . . . Then at 1:00 & 3:00, performing for 1/2 hour sets will be Golden Griffon and Sonas. This event is free of charge, and there are lots of other free events during the Snowfest, so take a drive to Frankenmuth!

The other big event is the North Central Regional Fiddlers' Convention, hosted by the Michigan Fiddlers Association. This will be August 10-11 in Hillsdale, Michigan. We'll be conducting workshops on fiddle, dulcimer, guitar, upright bass, and probably penny whistle or Irish flute.  We'll also perform for a concert on Saturday afternoon.

The tunes and medleys of them are coming together nicely. It always feels good when we just play and they're finally second-nature, with the muscle memory taking over, and we don't have to really work at it. We're all very excited to be able to share what we do during all of the upcoming events.

Contra Dancing in Rossford -- Lots of Fun!

We went to Rossford, Ohio, last night to do some contra dancing. We don't get to do this very often. Usually, if we're going to dances, we're playing for them - not dancing! It proved to be a very fun time, though. There were 60+ dancers. The caller was Barry Dupen from Indiana, and the band was the Root Cellar String Band, from Ohio. I'm loading a video separately to Facebook showing the dancers doing "Symmetrical Force".  I can't seem to get this blogger to load videos very well. Many of the dancers were new, so this shows that even if you've never danced before, you can do it.

Here are several still photos of the dance, though.

This Friday, we'll be going to Concourse Hall in Ann Arbor for the new "Dance Lab". Jim will be one of the callers practicing with the group. See the flyer below.

Saturday, we'll be heading out to Hastings for the Original Dulcimer Players Club meeting. There will be a jam, too. So any level of acoustic musician can come and join in. This is at the Commission on Aging, 320 W. Woodlawn Avenue, Hastings, MI 49058. There will be a potluck at noon, short meeting around 1 and the jam after.

I Went to the AACTMAD Square Dance!

After work on Sunday, I managed to get over to the Ann Arbor Community for Traditional Music and Dance (AACTMAD) Square Dance at Concourse Hall in Ann Arbor.  Marlin Whitaker was calling three hours worth of old-time square dances of all kinds while the Stout Hearted String Band provided live, and lively, old-time music.  Marlin has been calling squares for many years and really knows his stuff.

 

Marlin Calling Squares at Concourse Hall

Most local dances will have a square or two in the course of an evening of contra dancing, but this is the only dance in the area featuring ONLY squares.  It’s a lot of fun and it’s well worth trying out.  Many of the figures will be familiar to those who are used to contra dancing.  Even if you’ve never done any kind of community dancing before, beginners are always welcome.  No experience is necessary and you don’t need to bring a partner with you.  All figures and dances are taught and walked through before the music starts.  Wear comfortable clothes and low-heeled shoes.

 

Stout Hearted String Band

Marlin will be calling the next AACTMAD Square Dance on Sunday, February 12 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm to the exciting, old-time music of The Millers.  Admission is $8, $5 for students. Visit otsd.aactmad.info for more info.

Jim

  

Notice what a fabulous hall this is -- wood floor, lots of room!

Ann Arbor Square Dance Today!!

Marlin Whitaker Calling for a Contra Dance in Ohio

Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance (AACTMAD) is hosting a square dance today at Concourse Hall -- 4531 Concourse Drive in Ann Arbor. This is south of I-94, east off of State Street, across from the airport. Marlin Whitaker will be calling to music by the Stout Hearted String Band.

Traditional square dancing to live old-time music by the Stout Hearted String Band. No experience necessary, all dances taught. Come alone or with a partner. No special attire needed; wear comfortable clothes and clean, non-marking shoes.

Today's dance runs from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with the cost being $8, $5 students ($1 discount for members). $4 off for new dancers with coupon (http://aactmad.org/newdancer/). Free for children under 15 with parent.

See the AACTMAD Website calendar of events for more information for today's dance, as well as others coming up.

Monthly Music Jam Returns to Farmington Hills!

We're getting an exciting month going after all. Our friend, Sid Holmes, has announced that, after extensive renovation of the church where this jam takes place, the monthly sessions are starting up again. This is a very fun jam, held generally the second Tuesday of each "winter" month. Many instrumentalists show up to play their dulcimers, fiddles, guitars . . . so come on out. Even if you don't play, or are just a beginner, you will be welcome. And - if you ARE a beginner, this is a good place to meet people and get more involved.

This month's jam is this coming Tuesday, January 10, starting at 7:00pm. The place is the Universalist Unitarian Church of Farmington, 25301 Halsted Road, Farmington Hills 48335.

Sid Holmes - just having fun

Lovely photo, Sid!

Danced into the New Year!

Playing for the dance in Troy last night was a lot of fun -- as it always is for all of the dances we play for! We arrived around 6 and got set up. The dinner started at 6:30. What a variety and abundance of food! The dancing started at 8. Tom Allen called for the first half of the evening and Ed Vincent took over for the second half.

Ed Vincent calling for the OCTDS dance in Troy to music of the Golden Griffon Stringtet

We learned that the floor in this facility is a floating wood floor, which makes it wonderfully comfortable for dancing. This is the same type of floor found in Lovett Hall in Dearborn. That hall was designed and built specifically for contra dancing.

There were several beginners at last night's dance. They quickly learned the basics and got on their way to hours of fun. A short break took everyone to the kitchen for the cornucopia of sweet treats. A waltz workshop followed and back to more contra dancing. Ed even led the Virginia Reel. We play for this dance very frequently, but usually only when we're playing for civil war balls.

Toward the end of the evening, Rosemary Kornacki led group singing that turned into rounds. This was a lovely surprise and addition to the evening of merriment.

We were served sparkling drinks and rang in the New Year with a toast, and singing and playing of Auld Lang Syne.  Thank you to the Oakland County Traditional Dance Society (OCTDS.org) for inviting us!

Golden Griffon is getting together a few times for practicing during January, but we only have one event scheduled so far for this month. That's the Frankenmuth Snowfest concert on January 28 at the
Frankenmuth Historical Museum, Fischer Hall, 613 South Main Street, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. There are multiple events going on at the same time. For ours, we'll be playing with many of our music friends, and then a couple of sets of just us. Dee Dee Tibbits organized this musical afternoon for the Snowfest (Dee Dee's site).

Come out to play some music for these fun dances, or try the dancing. Next Saturday, January 7, there are a couple of events in Ann Arbor, Michigan -- see the Ann Arbor Community of Traditional Music and Dance events page (AACTMAD events)  for more information.

• Pittsfield Open Band jam (contradance music) Free open jam of contra dance music. All instruments welcome.3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. (734) 994-9307. Pittsfield Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI).
• AACTMAD First Saturday Dance Drake Meadow calls to music by Twas Brillig and the Mazel Toves: Preceded by potluck at 5:30.  7:00 pm to 11:00 pm dancing.  734-769-1052. Pittsfield Union Grange (3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Ann Arbor, MI).