Fiddleheads and The Back Row Gang (Some of Sarah and John’s students) will be performing!
We will gather outdoors in Sarah’s yard and share tunes and jam with family members and friends. Picnics and snacks will be encouraged. Enjoy the park across the street for Frisbee, Tennis, or the playground! We will also have our Maypole!
The Third Saturday of May is annual World Fiddle Day and we will be hosting a very informal jam session and musicale on my yard between 2 - 4 pm. Rain date will be Sunday, May19 from 11 - 1 pm. Here is what you need to know:
1. Please RSVP so that I know you plan to come. If I don't get enough 'yes' confirmations, I'll need to cancel or modify so I do need to know if you intend to come for some or all of it.
2. You may arrive any time during the event but I will plan sort of a rough outline of a schedule:
2:00 Sharing of tunes either individually or as a group (whoever can play the tunes). All ages and adult students welcomed. Bring a picnic if you like!
3:15 May Pole practice! We'll need a band once we get it going! We'll see who wants to volunteer for that and come up with a common tune on the spot.
1 - 5 pm The creemee stand will likely be open at the pool around the corner. This may be a great thing to do before or afterwards! You can keep your car parked on North Street if you wish, or drive over to the park parking lot. Their creemees and floats are an amazing treat!
3. Here is the list of things you'd need to know or bring:
your instrumentsa
music stand and book for group tunes
a picnic if you would like, or snacks and beverages
blanket to sit on or lawn chairs
sun protection for your skin and eyes and shoes required for your safety
anything else you think you need!
The park across the street has porta potty, too. and a playground if you need to take restless children over there.
Please stay only on the back yard at my house and do not explore in the woods or other side of the house as there could be things unsafe for children like broken glass in the woods, or gas tanks and fishhooks by the boat for example.
There is likely to be soccer across the street which will take up parking places in front of our house. You may need to park a distance. If anyone will be with someone that needs to park close let me know so that I can make room in my driveway for them.
If I think of anything else I'll let you know! Let me know if you have any questions.
—Sarah
This is the last day for Sarah’s students who are on the school year calendar. Make sure you sign up for summer lessons at the beginning of May!
NOTE: Friday afternoon students will meet on the first week of June for their last school year lesson.
On Sunday, June 2nd, Sarah and John will be attending the Northeast Fiddler’s Association Meet in Montpelier, Vermont along with their friend and traditional Vermont fiddler, Sandy Kerin-Weaver. We will be inviting any of our students along who’d like to come try it out for the day. We could all play at once, and anyone who would like would also be welcome to sign up for their own spot. Typically participants play three tunes and audience members dance or listen. Youths are welcome to play just one tune if they prefer. If you are interested, let me know so that I can help you prepare!
In 1964, Goddard College of Plainfield, VT sponsored a fiddle contest under the direction of Ray McIntyre who was the music teacher at that time. Clem Myers of South Barre attended that contest along with his wife, Ginny. Clem, a well known and respected musician in the area, had laid down his fiddle years prior to raise his family, and when asked to participate, Clem had to borrow a fiddle to do so. However, the contest awakened his dormant love of the fiddle, and he became the driving force behind the birth of the Northeast Fiddlers Assoc.
Bob Slora, also of Barre and a friend of Clem, had asked Clem to play at various functions around the State. At this same time, a young man named Bob Clarke of Middle Hadden, CT was a student at Goddard College, and he was writing a paper on the topic of “Promoting and preserving the art of old time fiddling.” He contacted Clem to help him start a fiddle club. The object was to get fiddlers together once a month to play, exchange tunes and provide a good time for the entire family. Clem and Bob Slora diligently worked at this project and were very successful in recruiting fiddlers all by word of mouth.
On December 16, 1965 the Northeast Fiddlers Association was granted a charter, and they incorporated into a non-profit organization. Monthly meetings immerged in town halls and grange halls in small towns such as Hardwick, Wolcott and Adamant with an early membership of 50. After a fiddle meeting in the Hardwick American Legion in 1965 Clem called a business meeting, and the officers were elected. Clem Myers was elected President, Rene Peloquin elected Vice President, Frank Grow elected Secretary, and Ray McIntyre was elected Treasurer. Thus the Northeast Fiddlers Assoc. was born.
The weekend of May 28, 1966 was our first two day festival. A full-fledged show was staged on Friday night. Saturday afternoon was spent at the concert followed by a supper and then public dancing at the Woodbury School in the evening. In 1967 the club presented our two day contest in Middlebury where many college students participated. It was also our first exposure to television cameras.
In 1968 the club moved the contest to Montpelier and to the first weekend in October. It drew such a large audience that we were forced to move to the Barre Municipal Auditorium in 1972 and to the 3rd weekend in September. The contests ran through 2008, and during that time we had many distinguished guest fiddlers to entertain us during intermissions. The first being Graham Townshend of Ontario, Canada in 1971 who was the Champion Trick & Fancy Fiddler at that time. Other entertainers were Ivan Hicks, also from Canada and then later on Graham made many appearances along with his wife Eleanor who was an accomplished fiddler in her own right. This was the Annual National Old Time Fiddlers and Step Dancers’ Contest. Step dancing was added in 1982 as a related art. In 1995 the Vermont Champion fiddle division was added to the program. The contest was selected several times by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top Ten Fall Events in the State of Vermont. The first Old Time Fiddlers’ Week was proclaimed by Governor Howard Dean for the week of September 24 – 30, 2000. In 2008 the yearly contests ended due to lack of participants and financial constraints.
In retrospect, let us thank those 20 fiddlers who gave us our first concert: Clem Myers, Frank Rekman, Fletcher MacIntyre, Elroy (Ted) Hedges, Florence Weed, Wilfred Guilette, Raymond Anair, Frank Grow, Neal Converse, Wessel Lafoe, Carl, Rene Peloquin, Dennis Clofford, Tom Azarian, Bill Royer, Ozzie Ploof, Louis Beaudoin, Rene Guimond and Allen Chertok.
We have been very fortunate to grow to a membership of over 500. There are now several very good young fiddlers coming along who will carry on this tradition and hopefully they will enjoy the association as much as we old timers have and still do. The association is still strong, with excellent attendance and a number of very good fiddlers.
The yearly dues started out at $1.00 back in 1965 and are now only $15.00, $18.00 for Canadians. Our membership now, in 2019, is considerably down from that high of over 500 during the contest years, and we are actively trying to increase it.
Written by Lu-Ann (Grow) Mashia in 2014 for the 50th anniversary.
Jean Paul Lague, Chick Commo & Marty Young, fiddles; David Carr, guitar & Janice Carr, piano
Summer lessons will be on Thursdays and Fridays. 9:30 am to noon and 3 - 6 pm. The schedule will be made available in early May, though there will likely be open spots all summer. This is a great time for special summer enrichment for those who are new to the fiddle and banjo and would like to try it out just for the summer! Since spots are limited in the fall, and in high demand, priority will be given to those enrolled in summer lessons for fall spots, so it is especially important to keep going over the summer! We will work around your vacation and camp schedule!
Old Time on the Onion is an all-acoustic, very informal, mostly non-performance gathering – all jams, all day, and all night for the exceptionally vigorous. Come for the whole weekend to camp or for a day to jam, listen, and take workshops.
The Music: It’s mostly old-time, but all traditions (Irish, Scandinavian, Indigenous, Baltic, Balkan, Blues, etc.) are welcome.
The Food: There will be a Saturday evening pot-luck under the big tent. “Hook and Peel” is our food vendor.
The Dates/Times: Arrival at 2:00 pm or after on Friday July 19 with camping through 3:00 pm Sunday July 21. RVers who want to arrive before July 19 can contact the campground at (802) 426-3233. Be sure to tell them you want to stay over for OTOTO weekend, and let R.D. know as well so that you can be assigned an OTOTO RV site.
The Location: The Onion River Campground is located at 61 Onion River Road, Plainfield, VT (located in Town of Marshfield, VT). The campground offers access to the Winooski (aka Onion) River with plenty of tenting space on the main field or in the overlooking orchard area.
The Cost: $35/weekend, $25/Saturday, $20/ Friday or Sunday when you arrive. For RV sites with power and water, we take reservations or advance payment by cash or checks for an extra $15. We strongly advise that you reserve in advance by contacting R.D. Eno at rdeno@fairpoint.net.
Sarah and John are planning a 20th anniversary trip which could take place in August, September or October. Dates to be determined but it will involve pushing the end of lessons for the school year to a later date. We’ll let you know once we know!
Sarah’s cousin’s son, Hans Williams is on tour and playing in Vermont! Sarah is unabashidly pleased that she noticed his exceptional talent at age five when he put together a percussion instrument with a pot lid and rubber band. She was so impressed with the rhythms that he created that she instantly recommended to her aunt and cousin encourage and support any music instruction he was willing to have. Her aunt bought him a ukulele that summer and the rest is history! Check out his website to get the full story!
Born and raised in Vermont, independent singer-songwriter Hans Williams grew up listening to the likes of Al Green, Tracy Chapman, Steely Dan, and James Brown – all favorites of his parents. After moving to New Orleans for school, he now calls the city home, continually finding inspiration from its deep-rooted musical scene. Crafting music as a form of personal catharsis, Williams channels his emotions into each composition, aiming to provide solace and resonance for others who connect with his work. With his signature raspy vocals that cut deep and a guitar always at the core of his production, his DIY approach to indie-folk music has connected with audiences worldwide.
Amassing over 65 million streams to date, Williams has found success with singles like “All Is Well,” “Checklist,”, and “Willows,” all racking up millions of streams and propelling the rising artist’s career. Garnering attention from the likes of Billboard and 2022 Ones to Watch, while landing editorial support across streaming platforms, Williams introduced his first single of the year, “Skin,” as he builds anticipation for the release of his debut EP, expected later this year.
John and I would like to encourage any of our audience to attend this concert. Two of Sarah’s previous students (Fiona and Emmett) that were passed on to Pete Sutherland will be performing that night. Also, years ago Pete Sutherland invited John and Sarah, among others, to share the Farmer’s Night stage with him for which we were truly grateful. Sarah and John also performed at this venue two other times; once with the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra and once with their duo, High-Low-Jack. If you haven’t been to one of these concerts you should go. It’s truly a Vermont experience!
“The Farmers Night Concert Series is a longstanding State House tradition which goes back over 100 years to a time when lawmakers entertained themselves in the House Chamber mid-week while away from home. Artists from around the state, in genres ranging from classical music to bluegrass to spoken word, perform in the well of the House Chamber each Wednesday night at 7:30 during the legislative session.”
April 17: Concert honoring the late Pete Sutherland
A leader of traditional and Americana music, Pete Sutherland touched and inspired many in Vermont and internationally through his composing, playing, mentoring and teaching. We will be joined by musicians who were friends, fans, students, collaborators, admirers and more to celebrate and pay tribute to this beloved Vermont artist. Some of the guest musicians include:
Lee Blackwell, Jim Burns, Patti Casey, Grey Larsen and Cindy Kallet, Tom MacKenzie, Oliver Scanlon, Fiona and Emmett Stowell, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman
Students of Sarah Hotchkiss will perform with the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra (Founded by Sarah in 2003) for their spring concert. This concert is by donation. It will be a very enjoyable concert!
Sarah’s students will perform with Presto. This is a free concert and very short so it is an excellent one to bring your young children to!
Sarah’s students will perform with Fiddleheads at the Irish Heritage Festival in Burlington, Vermont
Seven of Sarah’s former students and one of John’s current students, Mae Dery, will perform at their first concert for the Young Tradition Vermont Young Touring Group at the Starksboro Meeting House in Starksboro, Vermont. Free, donations accepted!
No lessons Friday, December 22 but there will be lessons as usual on Wednesday December 20 and Thursday, December 21.
Sarah and John will be featured in the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra’s 20th anniversary concert.
Our 20th Anniversary Winter Concert will be performed Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Barre Opera House at 7 pm. Save the date!
Traditional music that makes you want to dance and sing is uplifting and uniting, especially in times of hardship. Admission is by donation with proceeds going to Barre and Montpelier Flood Relief.
Sarah Hotchkiss, who founded the VFO, the first statewide fiddle orchestra, will be the guest soloist. She will be accompanied by her husband, John Mowad, who composed the tunes they will play with the orchestra, including “Veefer Swing #2” which he wrote for the orchestra’s 10th anniversary.
The orchestra will also honor its previous director, David Kaynor, by performing several of his tunes. David took over when Sarah retired in 2013, helping to grow the orchestra to approximately 50 active musicians at any one time. Susan Reid joined the orchestra soon after David, her friend and mentor, became the orchestra’s musical director. When his health made it harder for David to always lead the orchestra, Susan stepped up as Assistant Music Director. The concert will feature 3 lively tunes composed by Susan as well, including an aptly named walking tune “Warm in Winter”.
Peter Macfarlane was so appreciated as the VFO guest artist in 2019 that he was asked to be the Music Director in 2020. His good humor and technical abilities with Zoom kept the orchestra together virtually during the Covid pandemic until we could play together again. The orchestra will play several of Peter’s compositions, including a Rag he has written for the orchestra’s 20th Anniversary Concert entitled “To Twenty More”.
Would you like to know more about the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra? Here is a link to the documentary celebrating the VFO’s first ten years. Here is a link to the first live concert that the VFO was able to play after the pandemic started in December of 2021 under the direction of Peter MacFarlane.
NO LESSONS THIS WEEK for the Harvest Break
Luke Donforth Caller
Maeve Fairfax and Brian Perkins, musicians
Located at the Pickering Room in the Fletcher Library on College Street in Burlington.
This event will be divided roughly into two segments. Anyone may share their “work in progress” at any time, but I recommend that we start with the younger children and their families and save the second half for older students and adults and possibly a Slow Jam to end the event. There may be a break midway. You have your choice of participating in person or via zoom. I will have a large TV in use for the rest of us (either in the room or on the zoom link) to watch. 3:00 - 4:30 or whenever we finish. This event is free. Anyone who would like can make a donation to the Fletcher Library but this is not at all required!
I would like to emphasize this as a sharing of our work with others and the community, so that they we can inspire others to consider trying an instrument. We don’t have to think of it as “performing” though there will definitely be an element of that. I will likely ask participants questions so that they can share information such as what they like about playing their instrument, groups or other musical activities they are part of, etc. I think this will enhance an informal atmosphere that will be enjoyable and inspiring to whomever comes to watch.
Participants should let me know if they are coming and whether they will be participating on Zoom or in person. Last minute shifts to this are allowed but please text me so that I know what to expect! Audience members do not need to let me know in advance but if there is bad weather or other issue check back here or an email in order to get updated on the day of the event. Seating is limited and families of performers will be given priority, but if there is room, the general public will be invited in.
Families and their participating family members will be provided with a zoom link that they can share with others. Please do not post the link on social media!
Thanks! The latest update of the schedule is below! —Sarah
HERE IS MY FIRST DRAFT OF THE SCHEDULE:
Starting at 3:15 (Arrive at 3:00 to get ready):
*meaning we may have a delayed start time as we get set up
Alice
Tobin
Charlotte
Henry
Julian
Malachi
Waylon and Ethan (Zoom)
Leo
John and Sarah will fill with some Irish tunes if need be, or there will be a break until 3:45
3:45 (arrive at 3:30 in case we start earlier)
Ashton
Fern
Morgan
Mae
4:00 (Arrive at 3:45 in case we start earlier)
Jack
Nancy
Mini Irish Fiddle Jam for anyone who’d like to play a few tunes together.
4:15 Banjo Band (arrive at 4:00 in case we start earlier):
Elijah
Ali
Jim
Each play a solo and then we’ll all play Worried Man together. We may be able to jam on a few other tunes from the Perlman book, too, if we feel like it.
We will bring in from out of state prominent instructors on banjo and fiddle. Students will prepare solos to share and those who elect will be critiqued by the instructors.
Schedule so far:
Banjo class with Ken Perlman at 10:45 - 12:00. Banjo students will prepare a tune to share.
1:00 - 2:15 or so Fiddle Master Class with Sian Phillips. Students will all prepare a Welsh tune to share.
Ukulele Master Class 4 pm TBA Because of limited enrollment on this one, we may reschedule it for another day. Stay tuned!
Sarah plans to host 3 or 4 weekly Slow Jam’s on Tuesdays from 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Make sure you are on that elist and you will get the updates weekly! There will possibly be more later in the winter if these go well!
Sarah will lead participants in learning slowly by ear fiddle tunes from North America and Europe which are either favorites from previous sessions or newly introduced. Some tunes can be accessed here at the North Atlantic Tune List Slow Jams. These jams will be mainly appropriate for fiddlers but anyone can participate on any instrument to try to improve their ear and pick up the melodies. Some chord charts may be available for those who would like to strum along as well.
Those already on the Slow Jam Online elist will receive links to Sarah’s Google Drive with more tunes, as well as zoom links to each jam along with options for payment. Suggested tuition for participants is $10 per class.
Contact Sarah for more information or to get on the elist!
Have a fantastic break, everyone!!!
Hey, this happens to be my birthday which is also Santa Lucia Day. I love melodies and tunes that celebrate anything to do with bringing in the light at this dark time. Perhaps if we learn a few tunes you’ll have a week to practice them so that you can play them on the winter solstice if you wish!
Participants will need to preregister via email and $10 will be the suggested fee for the class. I will teach tunes by looping phrases and then we will slow jam them in their entirety if it seems like people are getting them okay! I plan to follow up with a google drive of tunes that participants could draw on after the event.
TUNES that I am collecting for my personal favorites, some of which I will teach on December 13th:
Nos Galen (Old version of Deck the Halls)
New version of Hen Fercheten Beautiful Welsh Melody being repurposed for the solstice
Here we come a Wassailing
The Holly and the Ivy
The Holly Tree
Rowan Tree after the singing of Jean Redpath
Santa Lucia Italian folk melody
Old Man Winter by Pete Sutherland from The Great Road Album 1987
The Solstice A Canadian Tune by Jason Little
The Setting Sun as Air, Jig and Reel Irish
Da Caald Nihts O’ Winter Shetland Reel
THe Humours of Winter from O’Neills
Da Slockit Light Scottish by Tom Anderson
The Sound of the Sun by Fred Morrison
Jump at the Sun by John Kirkpatrick
The Rising Sun both as a hornpipe and a reel
Join us for fiddle class at the Violin Shop! Preregistration is required. Here is all the information that you need: Green Star Playhouse News — Green Star Fiddle Lessons
Join us for fiddle class at the Violin Shop! Preregistration is required. Here is all the information that you need: Green Star Playhouse News — Green Star Fiddle Lessons
Our annual CD making project will commence this week. Students who have made recordings during the year will be putting them in chronological order and providing artwork and design elements. Sarah possesses both CD making and printing software.
Our youth students (and sometime adults!) look forward to this annual event. Each child takes one home usually on the second or third week of December. Additional copies as gifts may be purchased by families if desired for $5 a piece to cover time and costs.
Join us for fiddle class at the Violin Shop! Preregistration is required. Here is all the information that you need: Green Star Playhouse News — Green Star Fiddle Lessons
Located at the Pickering Room in the Fletcher Library on College Street in Burlington.
This event will be divided roughly into two segments. Anyone may share their “work in progress” at any time, but I recommend that we start with the younger children and their families and save the second half for older students and adults. There may be a break midway. You have your choice of participating in person or via zoom. I will have a large TV in use for the rest of us (either in the room or on the zoom link) to watch. 11:00 - 11:50; 12:00 - 1:00 or whenever we finish. This event is free. Anyone who would like can make a donation to the Fletcher Library but this is not at all required!
I would like to emphasize this as a sharing of our work with others and the community, so that they we can inspire others to consider trying an instrument. We don’t have to think of it as “performing” though there will definitely be an element of that. I will likely ask participants questions so that they can share information such as what they like about playing their instrument, groups or other musical activities they are part of, etc. I think this will enhance an informal atmosphere that will be enjoyable and inspiring to whomever comes to watch.
Participants should let me know if they are coming and whether they will be participating on Zoom or in person. Last minute shifts to this are allowed but please text me so that I know what to expect! Audience members do not need to let me know in advance but if there is bad weather or other issue check back here or an email in order to get updated on the day of the event. Seating is limited and families of performers will be given priority, but if there is room, the general public will be invited in.
Families and their participating family members will be provided with a zoom link that they can share with others. Please do not post the link on social media!
Thanks! —Sarah
Students of Sarah Hotchkiss who are ready will be participating in PRESTO. This is one of the most inspiring groups my young beginners can participate in. They get a chance to learn a little bit about reading music and experience what it is like to play with multiple parts. Highly recommended! Please ask me if your child might be ready to participate and you aren’t sure. I will help them learn the music in their lessons if they participate. Their final concert is the same day as our recital. If children have to choose, they should do the Presto concert, but perhaps some of them can come to the morning recital as a warmup and play their group piece all together for us!
Our annual Buskathon, that supports the Woodbury Strings Scholarship Fund, is happening on Church Street in front of Homeport (52 Church Street) from 2 - 5 pm on Saturday, September 17th. Hold the date (raindate September 24th)! Come by and see us! This is a free outdoor event, and donations will be accepted for the Woodbury Strings Scholarship Fund from anyone who wishes, but this is not a requirement. We are greatly appreciative of Homeport and Church Street Marketplace for hosting this event for us!
Our performers are beginners through professionals, who are associated in some way with Woodbury Strings (and Green Star Fiddle Lessons) either as private students (former or current), group class participants, colleagues, or members of the Burlington and Beyond Slow Jam, the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra, Young Tradition Vermont, the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association, Northeast Heritage Music Camp, and the Northeast Fiddlers Association. All of these organizations are groups that Woodbury Strings students have been encouraged to participate in, among others, and Sarah has been associated with these groups as faculty or as a member.
Performers have signed up for 2-to-15-minute slots and a schedule can be seen below. We have room for a few more! If you play a folk instrument such as a fiddle, banjo, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, accordion, penny whistle, wooden flute or classical violin, viola, or cello then this is a great fit for the event. Any age and skill level are welcomed. Please sign up before the end of the day on Friday, September 16th. All those under the age of 18 should provide an email permission for being live streamed on Facebook (no last names will be printed or mentioned)
All donations will be given to the Woodbury Strings Scholarship Fund which can be donated to at any time or during the event or after.
LIVE STREAM LINK: https://fb.me/e/2cIKra9xU
To find out more please contact Sarah . Thank you!
John with his students Mae, Andrea, Rachel 20 - 30 minutes
Back Row Gang: Gabriela, Viva, Lydia, Ben, Evie 6 minutes
Evie and Viva 6 minutes
Gabriela 5 minutes
Lydia 5 minutes
Ben 5 minutes
Ann Whiting, Clogger 1 hour
Robin and Natalie 15 minutes
Jim Paulsen 30 minutes overlap jamming with Robin and Natlie, John and Sarah
John and Sarah as High-Low-Jack 15 minutes
Henry, Julian, and Heidi 15 min
Anna and Danielle 15 min
Burlington and Beyond Slow Jam Group: Rachel, Sybil, Danielle, Anna, Heidi, Henry, Zoe, Nancy, Emily, Jesse 30 minutes or until finished. Solos from those in Slow Jam group welcomed!
OTHERS TBA (Malachi and Rudy? Tobin?)
Group tunes Back Row Gang:
Road to Lisdoonvarna
Bus Stop & Shortnin’ Bread
Group Tunes Slow Jam (all welcome!)
West Leyden Waltz, Jamie Allen/Mairi’s Wedding, Amelia’s Waltz, Minstrel’s Strain. Road to Lisdoonvarna, Angeline the Baker
These Slow Jam tunes can all be found on the North Atlantic Tune List
Our fall session begins! If you haven’t already signed up for a spot, please get in contact in case I have any openings left. Most people sign up in August for fall lessons. If I do not have an opening, I will be happy to put you on my wait list!
