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News

Film premiere: “Bonsoir Mes Amis / Goodnight My Friends” — A Film by Huey

February 11, 2021 by Alden Robinson

“Huey explores the changing relationship of two top folk musicians and captures a joyous facet of Maine life. From start to finish the film is a unique, sensitive and satisfying contribution to understanding our time and place.”

(William D. Barry, Maine historian and writer).

“Bonsoir Mes Amis” features cameo appearances by MFC’ers MFC Ellen and John Gawler, Greg, Doug, Smokey, Don and Cindy, plus others from Maine’s Franco community. The film is a wonderful look at how traditional music and dance helps build and maintain community!

Come to the Maine Tent Zoom Room at 6:00 pm EST the filmmaker to put the film in context (and some live music). Watch the film premiere live on YouTube 6:30 – 7:30. Then rejoin the Zoom gathering for questions, dialog, music and rememberances.

https://zoom.us/j/91209198883
password: fiddle

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Maine Country Dance Fiddle Workshop, Feb 13, 2021

January 22, 2021 by admin

A note from Greg Boardman: We would just like to tell you about the upcoming Maine Country Dance Fiddle Workshop this February 13, 2021. We are still negotiating for a hall in which to invite the first five registrants of each group, advanced, intermediate and beginner, to do the live portion of the workshop (wearing masks and keeping our distance, of course). Simultaneously, the entire workshop will go out on Zoom and thus involve as many folks as care to participate. [Read more…] about Maine Country Dance Fiddle Workshop, Feb 13, 2021

Filed Under: News

VIRTUAL MAINE FIDDLE CAMP February 19-21 2021

January 12, 2021 by Alden Robinson

Register Now!

An online traditional music camp for all ages and abilities!!!

 

“Twice the program at half the price”. We laugh but it’s really not a joke.
Read on!

What is MFC? Why is it different?
I am often asked “why is Maine Fiddle Camp different?” I don’t normally answer that question here on the MFC newsletter because I’m pretty much preaching to the choir, BUT with the advent of “Virtual” MFC this past June, things have changed a bit. With an enlarged audience that doesn’t have to travel to Maine to go to camp, many of you out there reading this might not know much about MFC, so I thought I’d start out with a short description. The following (PRE-COVID) blurb is from a piece I wrote in 2018. Here we go: [Read more…] about VIRTUAL MAINE FIDDLE CAMP February 19-21 2021

Filed Under: News

Interview with Sylivia Miskoe

October 30, 2020 by admin

 

Most Fiddle Campers know who Sylvia Miskoe is. She has been teaching piano accordion at Camp for a couple decades, a petite woman with blonde/grey/white hair walking through Camp with an accordion slung over her back. Sylvia loves traditional Scottish dance music and also New England traditional dance music and old time country dancing. [Read more…] about Interview with Sylivia Miskoe

Filed Under: News

Help Jeremiah McLane!

August 9, 2020 by Alden Robinson

Jeremiah, Annemieke, and Luke McLane’s house in Strafford, VT burned to the ground on Tuesday night. Luckily, they were not home and no one was hurt. However, they lost all their possessions—including their treasured instruments. Jeremiah is the second MFC staff member (after Kaity) to lose a house to fire this summer.

[Read more…] about Help Jeremiah McLane!

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

KAITY NEWELL HOUSE FIRE

July 1, 2020 by admin

Most of you know from FaceBook that long time MFC staff member, Kaity Newell’s, home in Damariscotta burned to the ground last week. Kaity is fine as are her dogs, cats, chickens, car and fiddle. Everything else is pretty much gone. There is a go fund me campaign started to help Kaity recover from this devastating loss, and you can find that here: www.gofundme.com/f/kaity-newell-fire-recovery I can’t say enough about how big a part Kaity has been in the traditional music scene in Maine for the last 40 years or so. Please help as much as you can!

Filed Under: News

Going Forward…

July 1, 2020 by admin

Those of you who registered for V-MFC all received a survey form to fill out. If you haven’t done that yet, please do, so we know what we did right and what we could improve on. We will definitely have more Maestro Bistros throughout the summer and there is talk about a “virtual winter MFC”, but no definite plans at this point. There are still “Camper Concert” Virtual Ensemble videos being processed and you can stay informed by watching the website and all news will be carried on the newsletter right here!! And of course, we are still hoping to get back to REAL “in person” live Maine Fiddle Camp in 2021. We will keep you informed right here!!

Filed Under: News

VIRTUAL MAINE FIDDLE CAMP IS THE BEST EVER!!!

July 1, 2020 by admin

Well… we ALL did it!! Virtual Maine Fiddle Camp is over and it was an unqualified success. There were close to 500 registered campers and well over 1000 who “stopped by.” (Many stayed!) I’d like to let you know about the “crew” who put this all together. This was unchartered territory, and starting approximately one month before the virtual camp, we pretty much made it up as we went. Some of the MFC staff had familiarity with Zoom meetings and other interactive online platforms. Others had knowledge of YouTube, and others yet were familiar with website design, etc. None had EVER done anything approaching the scope of Virtual Maine Fiddle Camp 2020, but we wanted to give it a try. Read on if you want to know who made this happen… [Read more…] about VIRTUAL MAINE FIDDLE CAMP IS THE BEST EVER!!!

Filed Under: News

FIDDLE HELL ONLINE JAM

June 11, 2020 by admin

Hello Musical Friends!
My family and I have initiated the FIDDLE HELL ONLINE JAM, every Wednesday at 5PM Eastern Time, live streaming on the Fiddle Hell Massachusetts Facebook group. That’s 4PM Central, 3PM Mountain, and 2PM Pacific. We will also jam every Sunday at 8PM Eastern Time. That’s 7PM Central, 6PM Mountain, and 5PM Pacific time.My wife Cindy and I are taking time every day to play tunes together. We’re remembering old ones and learning some new ones. Playing music takes us to a good place . As well, our son Andy and his wife Joy are doing a lot of creative playing, and our son Eric and his fiancée Autumn Rose are never far from their instruments.

Checkout the Fiddle Hell website!

Filed Under: News

Ashokan Music & Dance Camps Online

June 10, 2020 by admin

Ashokan Music & Dance Camps Online
The Ashokan Center offers interactive online Music & Dance Camps this summer. Attend workshops, concerts, hangouts, sing and play-alongs, and much more. At Western & Swing Week (June 29-July 5), learn vintage Jazz, Swing, Western-Swing, Country, and everything in between. At Northern Week (July 20-26), the focus moves to New England, Québéc, Sweden, France, and the British Isles. Then at Southern Week (August 17-23), it’s Appalachian, Old Time, Cajun and Zydeco music and dancing. Ashokan will also hold Acoustic Guitar Camp (July 29-Aug. 2), Family Camp (Aug. 5-9), and Bluegrass Camp (Aug. 12-16). All 2020 camps are online – learn more & sign up at: ashokan.org

Filed Under: News

A Step Back in Time with Don Messer

May 7, 2020 by admin

“When we were in our twenties searching out the old-timers who played for the country dances in Maine, all the fiddlers said their idol was Don Messier.  For many decades he kept the fiddle tradition alive and crystallized the regional “downeast” or “Canadian” style of fiddling.  He was an inspiration to them and they all aspired to be as good.  I always admire how he took the local fiddling, dancing and singing traditions from the Maritimes and created a variety show around fiddle tunes.  His Canadian broadcasts were avidly picked up by Mainers. He was an enormous influence throughout Canada and Maine.  Here is a link to some of his shows.”
Fearless leader, Doug

[Read more…] about A Step Back in Time with Don Messer

Filed Under: News, Virtual MFC Time Machine

Canadian Reel

May 7, 2020 by admin

A note from Doug:

This is a dance tune we played for many years, along with The Dominion Reel.  It works great and is an intermediate level classic. This tune was first collected by Smokey Mckeen, Greg Boardman, John Gawler, and Bob Childs around 1976 when visiting maritime folklorist -tune collector Gale Huntington in Cape Cod.  He played it for them on a button accordion.
I think it is on the OGG Folkways recording from 1978. — Douglas Protsik

[Read more…] about Canadian Reel

Filed Under: 2020, All Artists, All Keys, All Levels, All Parts, All Types, All Years, D, Doug Protsik, Fiddle-Part, Intermediate, MFC Tunes, News, Reel, Virtual MFC Time Machine

The Grand Life of Upright Piano

April 22, 2020 by admin

       “The Grand Life of Upright Piano”
by John Pranio

(PA Starck Piano Co. est.1891 New York – Chicago)

So here’s the fairly thrilling story of the piano the Oshima boys grew up plunking away on as kids in Whitefield.  Toki’s mother’s old upright was gifted to us early on, and we all enjoyed years of its musical generosity.  We had the old-timer tuned countless times and refurbished more than once. But finally, a couple years before we moved to Belfast, it was beyond repair and it ended up out on the screen porch. Here it hunkered down, functioning as a table of sorts at pot-lucks; a dusty collector of stuff; a plant stand, etc. There, hit by sideways spraying rain or snow, spilled lemonade, or manhandled by a new generation of young musical explorers, it stood, dignified, with unflagging posture. [Read more…] about The Grand Life of Upright Piano

Filed Under: News

HERE IS A WAY TO SUPPORT MAINE FIDDLE CAMP!

April 21, 2020 by admin

Hi Fiddle Campers and prospective Fiddle Campers! As most of you know, the complete 2020 season of MFC has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. *sigh*.. BUT the MFC staff has put together a team to work on a “Virtual Fiddle Camp”. We plan to keep the spirit of MFC alive with live streaming concerts, workshops, presentations, music videos, one on one or group lessons with your favorite instructor, and MORE!! This will definitely be the BEST virtual Fiddle Camp ever!!! You can help to that end by donating with the knowledge that your donation will be going to help underwrite this project and help the MFC staff who are working on the project, many of whom have lost some or all of their livelihood. So keep an eye right here on the website for updates.. Stay safe!!

Click here to donate

 

Filed Under: News

MAINE FIDDLE CAMP SADLY CANCELLED FOR 2020

April 16, 2020 by admin

Dear MFC Campers and friends, It is my sad job to inform you all that we are canceling this season of MFC due to the obvious uncertainty of the virus situation.  Most camps have done the same. The plan, just for now, will be to return with the same line up and (approximate) dates in 2021. In the mean time we plan to keep the spirit of MFC alive with live streaming concerts, workshops, presentations, music videos, etc., maybe even a “virtual” online fiddle camp. We are putting together a team to work on that now and you can keep updated on the MFC website and there will be regular newsletters. MFC missed a year in the past and can do so again.  Staying healthy is always so important, we have been so lucky in that regard at camp.  Hopefully next year will be the best ever.
For Campers who have already registered for 2020, there are choices: you may request a full refund (including the “non-refundable” deposit), request to apply the funds to next year’s camp, or donate all or some of the payment to MFC to help support our staff until we can reopen next year. We will be contacting each of you soon regarding these refunds, and all refund requests will be honored without question.
With sorrow, but always optimistic, and many thanks to Bill, Jo-Anne and the rest of the MFC management team, and remember: “Look for the Silver Lining!!”
Your fearless leader,
Doug

Filed Under: News

Chris Brinn: Irish Piano Accordion

February 27, 2020 by admin

Chris Brinn taught piano accordion for a weekend at MFC several years ago. In 2020 he is BACK and will be teaching during the newly established accordion track for the June week, June 21-26. here are Chris’s own words!! – bill o.

I started playing the trumpet when I was about seven years old. I was extremely lucky that both my parents and teachers always encouraged music. Both my grandmothers played piano, and my grandfather on mother’s side (who was from Wicklow, Ireland) played in a harmonica band when he was in the army. In school though, the headmaster always played guitar and had us all singing during weekly assemblies. I think this was where I first heard, and became hooked on, folks songs and folk music.

[Read more…] about Chris Brinn: Irish Piano Accordion

Filed Under: News

AN INTERVIEW WITH QUEBECOIS FIDDLER ÉRIC FAVREAU, (BILL OLSON, FEB 2019)

February 26, 2019 by admin

Bill: When did you first come to teach at Maine Fiddle Camp?

Éric: I think it was over ten years, or around

Bill: Who recommended you to MFC? Was it either Guy B. or Lisa O.

Éric: No body recommend me to go at MFC, I remember Guy Bouchard had been there before. I was just interested to travel, to go someplace where the people are interested about Québec music. I sent to Doug a package with my CD Reel à 2 and the last album I did with the band Entourloupe. His answer was cool and he invite me the years after.

[Read more…] about AN INTERVIEW WITH QUEBECOIS FIDDLER ÉRIC FAVREAU, (BILL OLSON, FEB 2019)

Filed Under: News

Want to play in the dance band?

June 14, 2018 by admin

Check out this page about MFC’s old-time country dances and some common tunes that might be played.  Join the fun!

Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

Simon St. Pierre Project

July 16, 2017 by admin

Fiddle campers Emeline Dehn-Reynolds, Peter Yarensky and Paul Fackler, have just completed a project to transcribe the tunes played by Maine fiddler, Simon St. Pierre.  Check out this page to see a short biography of Simon and a discussion of his playing, as well as the detailed transcriptions of his three albums.

Filed Under: News

New Simon St. Pierre Interview Video

May 7, 2017 by admin

In honor of the untimely passing of Maine’s legendary Simon St. Pierre in 2016 we are celebrating his music this year at Maine Fiddle Camp. Click HERE to view the last interview and music playing I did with him just a few years ago, and his fiddling is still masterful and a classic example of our region’s fiddling style. More tunes from this session on mp3 are available on our website: www.mainefiddlecamp.org.
Also there will be an upcoming version, just music performance, with many more tunes from Simon.

Filed Under: News

Like MFC? Send Us a Review

May 9, 2016 by admin

Hi Fiddle Campers and potential Fiddle Campers! A few days ago we received a very nice review of MFC for the first August Camp last year. This was so great, we realized we need a page just for folks to send in “testimonials”. You will now see that at the top of the web page and can access it here. Feel free to send Camp reviews to us (assistant@mainefiddlecamp.org) and we will review and possibly post them on the website. We won’t use your full name if you don’t want us to.. Thanks.. – bill o.

Filed Under: News

If you like receiving the Maine Fiddle Camp newsletter and want to continue, please read this!!!

January 14, 2016 by admin

We are moving our newsletter emailing list to Mail Chimp and we need your help.  Please click on this link: Newsletter Signup to subscribe to the new list.  The process is pretty simple and will insure that you get our newsletters in the future.  We send occasional newsletters to let you know about related events and activities both at camp and in the community.

Filed Under: News

You Asked For It: Maine Fiddle Camp Director Doug Protsik

June 1, 2015 by admin

Published on Jun 1, 2015
Maine Fiddle Camp Director Doug Protsik talks about this multi-generational tradition music camp and demonstrates the music on various instruments offered at the camp in an interview by Ann Page.


Filed Under: News, Uncategorized

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Support MFC!

Help support “Virtual MFC” and other Camp programs!
You can donate money to MFC right HERE!

2021 Dates(Tentative):

All camp sessions for 2020 have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Here are the tentative 2021 dates.  We should know by the end of March, 2021 if the August in-person camps will be held.

August Week I – August 8-13, 2021
August Week II – August 15-20, 2021

Quick Links

New Tunes Posted for 2020-2021:

  • A Hundred Pipers
  • After the Ball
  • Britches Full Of Stitches
  • Canadian Reel
  • Daleigh
  • Flop Eared Mule
  • Ganglot från Appelbo
  • Have You Been to Ireland?
  • Highland Laddie
  • In the Good Old Summertime
  • Indian Reel
  • Irish American Waltz
  • La Moquine
  • Maggie Brown
  • Monk’s March
  • Moonlight Bay
  • Quebec Reel
  • Rain
  • Saponette
  • Spotted Pony
  • Wait Till the Sunshines, Nellie

Photos:

  • Camp Life Slideshow

Newsletter Signup:

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Other Items of Interest

  • Doug’s Letter to Campers (6/18/2020)
  • Videos
    • Maine Master Fiddlers Showcase Videos
    • Other Videos of Interest
  • Music of Simon St. Pierre
  • MFC Staff Offering Private Instruction

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