Well I know that the California State Old Time Fiddle buttociation (CSOTFA) still attracts kids to partake in fiddling. We are in District 3, Kern County, held in Tehachapi CA for the past 5-6 years, and prior to that in Bakersfield for many years see more kids compete in the under 18 yr old division than all the other categories combined. That's real fun to watch!

The only thing that personally kind of disturbs me is that the kids seem to be taught the compebreastion tunes (very well I'll add) but I don't know if some of them have a sense of the real tunes, or how it is played in a group-jam setting. I sat in on a "jam" with some of the kids and they would play part A (once) part B (once) then a quick "shave and a haircut" (or whatever ya call the ending of a tune). We (adult players) praised the kids on their wonderful playing, and expressed the idea that we could go around on the tunes a few more times (two part A's, two part B's) and repeat it around the circle umpteen or so times. They didn't know what to make of that! Some sat back with mouth open, the little ones crawled into their parent's lap whimpering. (Yes, I am exaggerating, but ya get the picture?)

The jam setting was also a semi-circle, and the kids were asked to come up and play a tune for everyone (that's this group's idea of a jam). When us adults were asked to play we pretty much tried to set an example by just parking our butts where they were already, and just played, and used eye contact and big nods for the next kid to join in, but honestly they didn't get it. I was more or less an invited guest, in someone else's venue, so I knew better than to say anything. The fiddle jam host is an accomplished violinist, obviously a good teacher for the kids, and has won many fiddle compebreastions, but we sensed she probably hasn't sat in on too many real bluegrbutt, old time, or folk jams. Again, it wasn't my place to say a thing, especially in front of her young students.

I guess if it was these "mini performances" that got the kid's confidence level up then I suppose that is all that really matters at the time. I just hope they stick with it and can also get a feel for what the music is all about, not just compebreastion.

Terri

kateh

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