The Jink & Diddle School of
Scottish Fiddling

Registration - CDs

The Twenty Sixth Annual Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling, will be held July 26 - August 2, 2009. The school, held in an intimate and peaceful mountain setting, is a unique opportunity to concentrate on Scottish fiddle music in general and strathspey playing in particular. Dr. John Turner, the school's director and instructor, is the third generation in a family of traditional fiddlers.

One full week of classes Directed by John Turner, ten times National Scottish Fiddle Champion
with options for group classes at different levels led by:
Colyn Fischer 2005/2006 National Scottish Fiddle Champion,
David Gardner, regional champion and fiddler for The Virginia Company, plus
Melinda Crawford – 2003 National Champion
Guest Instructors - to be announced

- Sunday afternoon July 26 through
- Sunday morning August 2, 2009.

Three group classes daily - choice of
Beginning, Intermediate or Advanced
Additional group classes on technique, playing by ear, harmony and accompaniment, Scottish dancing
Individual lessons scheduled during the week
Free time for practice, sightseeing, jam sessions,
hiking, shopping at the Mast store, or just relaxing
Additional free time activities for "under 18" participants.

Evening classes feature a variety of
playing experiences, including:

Scottish Country Dancing, a Ceilidh,

and

Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

cittern, guitar, cello, oboe, accordion, double bass viol, harpsichord and other instruments. The 2008 group included a two fiddlers who also play bagpipes, and played them at the Scottish Ball or the Ceilidh.

Participants usually devote themselves to a single instrument during classes and practice hours. The great Scottish fiddlers of the 18th century could read and write music, and you should be prepared to read music, too, although there is also some playing by ear and a daily class on learning by ear. Books by the Gows and William Marshall and others included bass lines for cello, and music will be available for viola and for cello and other bass clef instruments. Bring your own instrument and a music stand. Be prepared for a lot of sight reading. It is not unusual for the Jink & Diddle classes to cover 40 or more tunes in a week, not to mention often playing the same tune as a strathspey, as a reel and as a march, sometimes even as a slow air. Music is sent out by mail well in advance to those who request it. The Scottish dance music for 2008 alone included more than 40 tunes.

The great fiddlers of the Golden Age of Scottish Fiddle all wrote books of their fiddle music. Each year, Dr. Turner provides a music book from his collection of 18th Century Scottish fiddle music for day classes, and a separate collection of ceilidh and dance music for night classes. Past classes have included the music of Niel Gow and the Gow family, Dow, Mackintosh, William Marshall, Capt. Simon Fraser and Petrie, among others. For the 22nd Year the music featured a 1769 collection of Scottish dance music by Bremner. For the twenty third year (2006) the music featured a collection by Robert (Red Rob) Mackintosh. For 2007 the music will be from a variety of 18th century Scottish sources collected by Sara Johnson. Music for 2008 was also from a variety of sources. Music for 2009 will feature tunes by the late Hector MacAndrew. Participants may also bring their own music for individual lessons.