As you all know, most MFC staff members teach year-round full or part time. Many have taught in person lessons for years (or decades) but many had been teaching on-line even before the pandemic and even more now. Since there is so much uncertainty about when things will “get back to normal” we thought it would be a good idea to list the Fiddle Camp staff members who are giving lessons, both in person and online. We plan to make this list more interactive soon, but for now here is the raw data with teachers in alphabetical order, instruments offered and contact info. Just about every instrument normally offered at Camp is on the list including voice. Check it out!!!
Elizabeth Anderson – Fiddle
email: violin [dot] devil [at] hotmail [dot] com (preferred)
(774) 641-7728
www.elizabethandbenanderson.com
Quincy, MA and Westborough, MA
Instrument: Fiddle
Format: Online and outdoor distance lessons
I specialize in Scottish fiddle styles and teaching technique through fiddle music. I teach all ages and abilities.
Jennifer Armstrong – Banjo, Fiddle, Storytelling
jenwrenmusic [at] gmail [dot] com (preferred)
207-322-2265 (text preferred over call)
www.jenniferarmstrong.com
Belfast, ME
Instruments:
- clawhammer banjo for adult beginners and intermediate players,
- fiddle for children and adults all levels
- storytelling coaching for adults all levels
Format: live and via Zoom
I learned fiddle by ear (as we do at Fiddle Camp) from traveling musicians given hospitality by my parents when performing in the Chicago area.The most influential fiddlers for me from age 8 to 13 were; Michael Gorman (Ireland), Aly Bain (Shetland fiddler from the Boys of the Lough) and Fiddler Bob Beers.
Aidan Boardman
aidannboardman [at] gmail.com, 207-344-5322
Brooklyn, NY
Teaching in-person and online
Guitar, Voice, Ukulele, Electric Bass, Beginner Piano and Mandolin
Aidan Boardman is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and music educator living in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Lewiston/Auburn, Maine, Aidan grew up performing and enjoying music with his family and friends on and off stages all through his school days, afterwhich attending Ithaca College and earning a Bachelor’s in Music Education, studying voice with Mezzo Soprano, Professor Dawn Pierce. He continues to teach, write, and record music in all four seasons.
Greg Boardman
bowandstring [at] gmail [dot] com
Lewiston, Maine
Instrument: Fiddle
Online or in-person
I teach all ages and levels the tunes and techniques I have picked up from the greats who have gone before as well as the greats who are among us yet, mostly people I have met and played with in our neck of the Maine woods, representative of myriad ethnicities, religions and traditions.
Sunniva Brynnel
www.sunnivabrynnel.com
info [at] sunnivabrynnel [dot] com
Instrument: Accordion
Private tuition currently online, all levels welcome! Accordion, Swedish folk music, Swedish folk singing, composition, arranging and improvisation.
Baron Collins-Hill
www.mandolessons.com & www.youtube.com/mandolessons
Free online mandolin lesson videos & sheet music
Instrument: Mandolin
Baron runs the website and youtube channel MandoLessons, which offers free mandolin lessons mostly focusing on fiddle tunes of various genres.
Louisa Engle
engle [dot] louisa [at] gmail.com
bmcvt.org
Brattleboro, VT
Instrument: Fiddle, plus ear-training skills on any instrument
Online, intermittent opportunities to jam in-person in Brattleboro
During the pandemic, Louisa Engle has moved her teaching online. Now enrolling: online traditional music class for intermediate students of all ages. All melody instruments are welcome. Students will exchange video clips of themselves practicing and receive feedback from Louisa. There will be occasional video-chats in real time and intermittent opportunities to jam in-person in Brattleboro. The class repertoire is harvested from the tunes played locally by the musicians of Brattleboro in recent years including New England, Irish, Quebecois, and Old-time styles. Contact Louisa directly for more information. This class is administrated by the Brattleboro Music Center.
Liz Faiella
izfaiellamusic (at) gmail (dot) com
www.lizfaiella.com
www.patreon.com/lizfaiellamusic
New Hampshire
Instrument: Fiddle
Online
Hey fiddlers! You can take fiddle lessons with me via videochat through the Concord Community Music School, and you can also subscribe for my fiddle tune kits (with sheet music and playalong recordings) and fiddle tutorials over on patreon.com/lizfaiellamusic
Noah Fishman
noahfishmanmusic [at] gmail [dot] com
Instruments: Mandolin, guitar, bass, music theory
Online via Zoom
Noah has been a faculty member at MFC for a number of years. He teaches mandolin, bass, guitar, and music theory to all levels, and specializes in jazz, bluegrass, and Scandinavian styles as well as old time and Irish. Noah is specifically seeking advanced and adventurous students, but is more than excited to chat about musical growth through lessons with anyone!
Alex Fortier
Alex Fortier Music School
Alex [at] PaintedBirdsMusic [dot] com
508-431-6037
967 Long Pond Rd. Rochester, NY 14626
Instruments: Piano, Music Theory, Basic Guitar/Mandolin/Bass
Online or In-Person
Styles ranging from traditional folk genres to classical, rock, jazz!
Mia Friedman
miadfried [at] gmail [dot] com
ariandmiamusic.com
Westfield, MA
Instrument: Fiddle
Online
I teach many different styles all by ear! I love teaching old-time, Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian, and Quebecois tunes. I teach all levels. (I’m expecting my first child in October 2020, and I’ll be taking a short break from teaching from October-January!)
Elsie Gawler
elsiegawler [at] gmail [dot] com,
207-441-2927,
www.elsiegawler.com
Lincolnville, ME (or greater mid-coast area)
Instrument: Cello
Online or in-person
All ages and levels with a focus on the cello within traditional music. tunes, accompaniment, chops, and harmonies. Also offering beginner Suzuki method for cello- books 1 & 2.
Molly Gawler
mollyfaye8[at]gmail[dot]com
207-930-0778
www.dropletdance.com
Blue Hill, ME
Instrument: Fiddle / Violin
In-person
Molly is a teacher for youth ~ in parallel tracks of fiddling and Suzuki violin ~ so that there is a good classical base alongside the fun of fiddle.
Sara Grey
Sara [at] saragrey [dot] net
www.saragrey.net
(207) 593-8612 home
(828) 989-3617 cell
Rockland, ME
Instrument: Banjo, song, any level
In-person
I love teaching banjo and I had seven banjo students in Maine in the Rockland area before the Covid-19 hit. I am back to teaching live one on one with good distancing in my garden so I would love more students! I teach old time banjo including two finger picking. and I love to teach how to coordinate oldtime banjo and song!
Adams Kornblum
adamskornblum4 [at] gmail [dot] com
Brunswick ME
Instruments: Fiddle, Irish Flute/whistle, voice.
Online
I play and teach traditional (wooden/irish) flute/whistle and fiddle, at all levels, as well as voice (classical etc.) Currently studying towards a degree in music (voice performance) at University of New Mexico.
Glen Loper
e-mail: glenloper [at] gmail [dot] com (preferred)
phone: (207) 837-8249
website: glenloper.com
Portland, ME
Instrument: Mandolin, tenor banjo (irish tuning GDAE), beginning ukulele
Online or In-person (currently online only)
I teach primarily “by ear”, although I do use a few chord diagrams and charts. We can use sheet music if you prefer. We’ll learn about chords, scales, and music theory as we learn specific tunes and songs in our lessons. I use a digital recorder to record mp3 clips as we go along, and that I e-mail to students after each lesson. My repertoire is mostly focused on traditional fiddle music (Irish, Old-Time, New England, Contra) but we can work on whatever interests the student has.
Sylvia Miskoe
sylviasmiskoe [at] gmail [dot] com
ph: 603-225-6546
Concord NH
Instrument: Piano accordion – Scottish, New England styles
In-person or online
For contra and square dancing and for Scottish Country dancing, includes jigs, reels and strathspeys.
Helen Newell – Fiddle
Email: helennewellfiddle [at] gmail [dot] com
Website: helennewell.com
Located: Online for all ages + abilities
If you are looking for online fiddle lessons, look no further! I have over 8 years of experience teaching violin to all ages and abilities! My approach focuses on developing your technique while exploring any style of music that excites you! I teach many genres of music, including Celtic, classical, old time, jazz, and much more! I currently am teaching fiddle online to people from all over the US, and we can find a schedule that works for you! If you are interested, contact me for a free trial lesson and we can get started!
John Pranio
pranioshima [at] gmail [dot] com
(207) 213-3294
Belfast, Maine
Fiddle, harmonica and guitar. Online or in person.
On fiddle: I like to focus on what you can do with the tunes you already know to bring them to life, through simple but effective techniques that focus on rhythm and dynamics. We can also apply this to new tunes we learn.
On harmonica: We can learn from scratch to play accompaniment, fiddle tunes or blues.
On guitar: I tend to focus on the right hand, being a reformed drummer as I am. I also like to teach chord voicing in standard tuning that mimic DADGAD tuning. Finger picking, simple jazz standards and rock and roll are all on the table.
Nicole Rabata
nicolerabata [at] gmail [dot] com (preferred)
www.nicolerabata.com
207-807-6192
Scarborough, Maine and Colby College, Waterville
Instruments: Flute, Irish flute, whistle
Online only. Will teach in person again when safe to do so.
Flutist Nicole Rabata is well known for her diverse musical interests and her virtuosity in the celtic, classical and Brazilian choro genres. Holding an International Artist Diploma and Masters Degree in Performance from Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, she is on the faculty at Colby College and the University of Maine at Augusta. She enjoys teaching all levels and ages!
Kenny Raskin
kennyraskin [at] gmail [dot] com
617-680-3033
I teach ukulele to the beginner as well as the highly-skilled. The ukulele is a wonderful instrument for accompanying other musicians, so my focus is on rhythm and chords.
That being said, I’ll teach you anything you want to know!
Kenny Raskin
www.kennyraskin.com
Beth Robinson
cello1 [at] twcny [dot] rr
315-212-0562 (text only)
northern NYS
Instrument: Cello, Alexander Technique
Online – FaceTime or Zoom
I teach cello as well as Alexander Technique principles to help people play their instruments with ease.
Lissa Schneckenburger
lissafiddle [at] gmail [dot] com
Brattleboro, VT
Instruments: fiddle, voice
Online only
I am excited to teach New England fiddling to all levels, as well as violin technique, voice, song writing, arranging, or music business coaching. I miss all the Maine Fiddle Campers, and hope we can connect this way instead as best we can. Keep fiddling!
Julie Vallimont
julievallimont [at] gmail [dot] com (email is preferred)
401-481-5853
www.julievallimont.com
Brattleboro, VT
Online or in person during warm weather
Instruments: Piano, accordion
I teach piano and piano accordion to all levels. I specialize in children and adult beginners, and enjoy teaching everyone regardless of level and background.
Pam Weeks
www.pamweeks.com
fiddlerpam [at] gmail [dot] com
Bowdoin, ME
online or in-person
Instruments: fiddle, viola, cello, guitar, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, voice, piano, sax (beginners), flute (beginners), clarinet (beginners)
I teach many ages, styles and levels, depending on the instrument, both by ear and using music notation – I think it’s important to have all the tools possible for learning well – and enjoy adapting lessons to each student’s interests and needs.