"a wild storm of music!" 2007 Philly Folk Festival |
Groovemama |
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Great Groove Bands at Old Songs & Philadelphia Folk Festivals every year |
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Contradancing at weekends, camps & festivals |
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Old Songs Fiddle & Strings Camp 2007 |
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Jane teaches a fiddle group |
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Donna, Jane and Max in Phoenix - March 2008 |
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Donna on faculty at Mark O'Connor's San Diego Strings Conference - 2006 |
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Max Cohen teaching fingerstyle guitar at 2007 Old Songs Festival |
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Donna with Rushad Eggleston and Darol Anger at Summer Strings 2006 |
site © 2008 Donna Hébert, www.fiddlingdemystified.com POB 2632, Amherst MA 01004
Groovemama swings through the desert Groovemama - Donna Hébert, Jane Rothfield and Max Cohen - had a great trip out to New Mexico and Arizona in February and March. We found new friends and reconnected with long-time ones. Donna taught French-Canadian fiddling to string teachers at the American String Teachers' Association Conference in Albuquerque and the band played for the Albuquerque contra dance as well as a house concert and fiddle/guitar workshops at the home of Old-Tiime musicians Laurie and Jane Phillips. Grand Canyon photo © D. Hébert
Jane Rothfield and Donna Hébert attended the string conference and started jam sessions whenever possible, joining Darol Anger and Renata Bratt (who teaches at Donna's summer camp in July) for several jams at the conference. We made some instant fiddling buddies at the conference, including David Kaemmer of southern Arizona. He teaches fiddle and has a useful lesson service available online called "Tune of the Month." Check him out - he's a really good fiddler and and teacher and writes some nice tunes.
Groovemama also played for concerts, contradances and workshops in Phoenix and Tucson before flying home. Especially fun was visiting with and playing dances with Tucson caller Tod Whittemore. We hope to have more opportunities to play with him.
For us as easterners, the climate change from cold high desert to saguaro cactus desert in Tucson was staggering. We were surprised that you could drive 200 miles from winter to spring. Wow!
On the way to Phoenix from Albuquerque, we stopped in Flagstaff and visited the Grand Canyon. It was a bittersweet and beautiful day because Donna's father was dying in Florida and he passed away that afternoon as we sat at Hermit's Rest, watching the ravens wheel and soar at the canyon's edge. One bird even visited us and made raven noises, holding us enthralled.
In memory of her father, Rodger E. Hinds, Donna wrote a slow air with band-member Max Cohen, also at the canyon that day. In an uncanny twist of fate, Julie Beaudoin, 87-year old bandmember in Donna's French-Canadian group, The Beaudoin Legacy, passed away a month later while visiting the Grand Canyon's south rim with her family. Both Rodger and Julie are very much missed.
Donna has dedicated the air to both Rodger and Julie. Called "Raven's Wing" (click to listen), the tune describes what the raven sees as it soars over the canyon rim.
Our summer is busy, with Old Songs and Philly Folk Festival appearances with the Great Groove Band.
The groove continues for two more weeks this summer at Fiddle & Strings Camp at Old Songs Community Center in Voorheesville, NY. Week I - July 7-11 - is for ages 6-18, Week II - July 14-18 - is for adult novice and intermediate players.
Fiddling Demystified for Strings Camp is Week III, with Donna and Max joined by CA cellist Renata Bratt.
Coming up in the fall are tours to Florida in Oct-Nov, a Feb-Mar Atlanta to NYC tour and another possible Southwest tour. Our summer concert dates are below.
Groovemama is working on a new CD for the fall.
6/27-29 Altamont NY Old Songs Festival - Groovemama (Donna Hébert, Jane Rothfield, George Wilson, Stuart Kenney, Max Cohen) coaches the eighth year of the Old Songs Festival Great Groove Band
7/7-11 Voorheesville NY -Old Songs' Fiddle & Strings Summer Day Camp for ages 6-18. Classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, piano, coached by Groovemama members Donna Hébert, Jane Rothfield, George Wilson - DOWNLOAD CAMP PDF
7/14-18 Voorheesville NY - Old Songs' Fiddle & Strings Summer Day Camp for adult novice/intermediate players. Classes in fiddle, banjo, guitar, bass, piano, coached by Groovemama members Donna Hébert, Jane Rothfield, George Wilson, Max Cohen - DOWNLOAD CAMP PDF
7/28-8/1 Voorheesville NY - Fiddling Demystified Camp at OLD SONGS - limit 30 campers - fiddler Donna Hébert and Alternative Strings Committee cellist Renata Bratt teach Fiddling Demystified for String Players - fiddle, viola, cello, guitar. DOWNLOAD CAMP PDF
8/14-18 Schwenksville PA Philadelphia Folk Festival - Groovemama coaches Great Groove Band at Philly Folk Festival