A New England Fiddle Workshop with LISSA SCHNECKENBURGER

Saturday , April 21, 2007
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Elderly Instruments
workshop ($35.00)

You can be sure that a professional musician takes seriously the teaching--instructional or informative--aspects of her chosen career when she enjoys not only performing but also educating others regarding the history and traditions that surround her instrument, favorite genres, styles, etc. A look at Lissa Schneckenburger's website reveals that she clearly delights in sharing varying facets of fiddling.

Posing the question "What is New England Fiddling?" she answers with a clear 800-word synopsis (..."a synthesis...brought to New England by immigrant musicians from the 1600's..."), dividing her response into "What It Is," "What to Call It," a list of Traditional New England Musicians, Where to Find Traditional New England Music, and even a delightful poem titled Fiddlehead Fern, by Dudley Laufman: "Which came first, the fern or the fiddle..." Lissa also offers a serious answer to the oft-heard (at Elderly, anyway) question "What is the Difference Between a Fiddle and a Violin?"

Lissa's popular hands-on New England Fiddle Workshop is designed for beginning- and intermediate-level players who have a basic knowledge of their instrument, she explains; "everything will be taught by ear." The class will begin with a brief introduction to and description of New England fiddling, its stylistic element and history, with examples of the music. The class will learn one or two tunes from the traditional New England repertoire by ear. Following this, the class will review and practice specific elements of the style such as ornaments, harmonies, chords, etc., as time permits. Please bring your fiddle and a tape recorder or recording equivalent to the workshop.

Educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, Lissa received an honors scholarship and other awards along with her Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Improvisation. She placed first in the Maine State Fiddle Championship in Brunswick, Maine, and in 1999 became a prize-winner in the USA National Scottish Championship.
She has taught at Dandelion Romp (isn't that a catchy name for a music camp?) in Oberlin, Ohio, and at such prestigious music camps as the Maine Fiddle Camp and the Pinewoods Music and Dance Camp in Massachusetts.

Lissa Schneckenburger has opened for Judy Collins, Richard Thompson, Alasdair Fraser, Kate Campbell, and Karen Casey. A former member of the bands Mad Pudding and Muse, she currently plays with Halali, Spin, and Phantom Power. Lissa may be seen in concert at the Ten Pound Fiddle on Friday, April 20.

A bit more on the difference between a fiddle and a violin. Lissa's informative essay begins, "Performing fiddlers across the country are REALLY BORED" with this question. (They may hear the question even more often than we at Elderly do.) She then offers an enlightening answer, elaborating on the fact that the two differ only in the style of music being played.

"World class fiddler....far from just offering one dance tune after another, simple settings allow the true beauty of the music to shine through." - Sing Out!

"Hugely endearing and toe-tappingly enjoyable." - Folk Roots

"...a slick and versatile fiddler...makes for great dance music." - Dirty Linen

Check out recordings we carry featuring Lissa Schneckenburger