Fiddle Tunes for All Instruments
An Ensemble ClassInstructor: Donna Turk
Fiddle Tunes for All Instruments
An Ensemble ClassInstructor: Donna Turk
Course Description:
Level: 2 – 3 (see Playing Experience Level descriptions at the bottom of the page)
Fiddle Tunes for All Instruments
This class will work on making instrumental music as a group. I will bring arrangements of tunes and we will put it all together. It’s not about the notes, but the music!
All fiddlers are invited but please note less time will be devoted to technique and more on Making Music!
Friends of fiddles… Guitar, mando, uke, penny whistle, banjo! All friends are invited to join us; however, you need to be proficient on your instrument and know how to follow chords or music.
NOTE: This class is open to amplified acoustic basses. You will need to supply your own small portable bass amp. Please see our Amplifier Policy for further information.
Donna Turk
Donna Turk lives in Forget, SK where she runs a music studio with her husband. Before moving to Forget she lived and taught in Calgary, Alberta. Donna started playing the violin at the age of 4 and at 11 became a member of the world-renowned Calgary Fiddlers. This is where her love for fiddling began. After high school Donna moved to Ontario where she studied Violin Performance at the University of Western Ontario.
Donna has been teaching both fiddling and classical violin for over 25 years. She was the Artistic Director of the Bow Valley Fiddlers, the educational program of the Calgary Fiddlers Association from 1997-2014. She recorded her first CD – About Tyme in 2012 and published a music book to go with it. This year she started a performance group with Jacqueline Walbaum called Focal Point. The emphasis is on vocal and fiddle together with kids 11-17.
Donna’s love of teaching and working with both children and adults are recognized nationally and she spends much of her time travelling to teach at workshops across Western Canada and NWT.
Website: Donna Turk
Playing Experience Levels
These guidelines aim to ensure that all camp participants have an enjoyable experience. They represent what your playing capability should be before you take the class (prerequisites).
Classes are generally designed to pace themselves to match the participants' abilities. Level 1 classes aim to proceed at the pace of the slower students in the class. Level 2 and 3 classes aim to move at the pace of the majority of students in the class. Level 4 classes are designed to push the capabilities of all students and will target the pace of the more capable students Class descriptions that show a range (Levels 2-3) means the material presented is broadly applicable across that range.
LEVEL 1: You are new or relatively new to your instrument. You may be able to play basic chords or scales slowly. You want to learn the basics of the instrument. You have very little experience playing with others.
LEVEL 2: You are competent with basic chords and/or basic scales. You can keep rhythm and/or play basic melodies and/or sing and play at the same time if the song is familiar. You generally need the chords or melody to be written out in order to play along. You have some experience playing with others.
LEVEL 3: You are reasonably comfortable with most chords, basic major and minor scales, and can play at an appropriate tempo for songs. You are aware of time signatures, song keys, and know that there are chords called 6th, 7th, 11th, etc even if you can’t play them all. You are comfortable maintaining good rhythm and are willing to taking breaks while jamming with others, even if the breaks don't always turn out the way you planned. You may be hoping to take your playing up to the next level of performing with a group or band (beyond jamming) and you want to further improve your technique and speed.
LEVEL 4: You are skilled on your instrument and have a good understanding of musical concepts including scales, arrangements, harmonies and some improvisation. You play lead and back-up with a steady rhythm and can play skillfully with others. You know there is life further up the neck on your instrument and have some capability in that world. You have performing experience, can hold a tune, and can harmonize.