
Workshops
March 2023 - Spring Fiddling Workshop for all levels
Saturday March 4th & Sunday, March 5th
Location: NJ MacPherson School
Instructors: Gordon Stobbe, JJ Guy & Andrea Bettger
Registration opens at 9 am for morning workshops and 1 pm for afternoon workshops.
Saturday:
9:30-11:30
First time kids
First time adults
Beginner kids
1:30-3:30
Intermediate (kids & adults)
Beginner adults
Advanced (kids & adults)
Sunday:
9:30-11:30
Intermediate (kids & adults)
Advanced (kids & adults)
Be sure to go see our instructors perform on Saturday night at the Snowcastle Royal Ball!
Class descriptions:
First-time kids and first-time adults:
This workshop is for those who have no previous fiddling experience or would like to start
playing again from the very beginning of learning.
Beginner kids and beginner adults:
This workshop is for those who have some experience playing the fiddle and can play a handful
of tunes.
Intermediate workshop:
This workshop is for those who can play many tunes and have played the fiddle for a few years.
Advanced workshop:
This workshop is for those who can play lots of tunes and have played the fiddle for more than
a few years.
Try before you buy! AFS has a small selection of fiddles for use during the workshops and/or to rent afterward (please email us in advance). Before you shell out for your own strings, see how easy it is to fall in love with the fiddle at an upcoming workshop. Check out our rental page for details.
Members Only! Luckily, it's incredibly easy to sign up. Complete our membership form, tack on $10 to our workshop fees, and you're in. You'll be first to know about upcoming programs and events, and you'll also be helping our small community flourish.
January 2023 - Fiddling Workshop for all levels
Saturday, January 21
Location: NJ Macpherson School
Instructors: Linda Duford, Stacey Read & Andrea Bettger
Registration: 9 am for morning workshops, 1 pm for afternoon workshops
9:30 - 11:30
First time kids
First time adults
Beginner kids
1:30 - 3:45
Intermediate (kids and adults)
Beginner adults
Advanced (kids and adults)
Join us for a free fiddle dance on Friday, January 20th from 7-9 pm at Northern United Place.
September 2022 - Start of the Fiddling Season Workshop
Saturday, September 24 & Sunday, September 25
Location: NJ Macpherson School
Instructors: Zavallennahh Young, Linda Duford, Andrea Bettger
Each day there will be the following workshops available. You can go to one day or both days - the content will be different for each session.
Registration: 9 am for morning workshops, 1 pm for afternoon workshops
9:30 - 11:45
First time kids
First time adults
Beginner kids
1:30 - 3:45
Intermediate (kids and adults)
Beginner adults
Advanced (kids and adults)
Class descriptions:
First-time kids and first-time adults:
This workshop is for those who have no previous fiddling experience or would like to start
playing again from the very beginning of learning.
Beginner kids and beginner adults:
This workshop is for those who have some experience playing the fiddle and can play a handful
of tunes.
Intermediate workshop:
This workshop is for those who can play many tunes and have played the fiddle for a few years.
Advanced workshop:
This workshop is for those who can play lots of tunes and have played the fiddle for more than
a few years.
Join us for a free fiddle dance on Saturday, September 24th from 7-9 pm at the Tree of Peace
(5011 51 St.)
June 2022 Fiddling Workshop with Daniel Gervais
Daniel Gervais has been playing the violin since the age of five. He completed a Master of Music degree in classical performance at the University of Alberta with Dr. Guillaume Tardif in 2014. In 2011 and 2016, Daniel won the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship, the first Albertan to win this title. He has had the opportunity to perform at many prestigious events including a fiddle solo performance with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra for Canada’s 150th, the 2012 London Olympics and the 100th Anniversary Grey Cup in Toronto, as well as tours in Canada, the United States, and Europe. He has nine albums to his name. His gypsy jazz group, Hot Club Edmonton, won Instrumental Album of the Year at the 2010 Western Canadian Music Awards. He lives in Edmonton with his wife and four young children. Visit www.danielgervais.ca for more information.
24 June 2022 - 2:00 - 3:30 - Private Fiddle Cats Performance Group workshop
25 June 2022 - 10:00 - 11:30 - Intermediate/Advanced workshop
Please click here to register for this workshop.
April 2022 Fiddling Workshop
EXCITING NEWS!
Long time fiddlers and fiddle instructors, Gordon Stobbe and JJ Guy are going to be in Yellowknife! They will be leading a variety of fiddle workshops on April 30, 2022 alongside Andrea Bettger.
28 April 2022 - 6:00 - 8:00 - Fiddling Jam with Gordon Stobbe & JJ Guy
29 April 2022 - 6:00 - 8:00 - Fiddling workshop for the youth fiddling programs
30 April 2022 - 9:00 - 11:30 - Beginners workshop
12:30 - 3:00 - Advanced workshop
3:30 - 5:00 - First time fiddlers (Adults Only)
Please click this link to register. Fiddle rentals are available if required.
Past Workshops
APRIL 28-30, 2022
with JJ Guy and Gordon Stobbe.
APRIL 17-24, 2021
with Andrea Bettger
MARCH 14-15, 2020
with Miranda Currie, Zavallennahh Young, Sarah Hamilton, Wesley Hardisty and Alice Twa.
JANUARY 25-26, 2020
with Stacey Read, Calvin Cairns, Wesley Hardisty, and Alice Twa.
OCTOBER 5-6, 2019
with Calvin Cairns, Donna Turk, Alice Twa and Wesley Hardisty.
MARCH 9-10, 2019
with Cam Neufeld, Nellie Quinn, Sarah Hamilton and Wesley Hardisty.
JANUARY 19-20, 2019
with Stacey Read, Calvin Cairns, Wesley Hardisty, and James Ross.
NOVEMBER 24-25, 2018
with Cam Neufeld, JJ Guy and Miranda Currie.
SEPTEMBER 22-23, 2018
with Calvin Cairns, Nellie Quinn, Donna Turk and Andrea Bettger.
MAY 26-27, 2018
with Trish & Geoff Horrocks, and Nellie Quinn
MARCH 10-11, 2018
with Gordon Stobbe, JJ Guy, Cathy Sproule & Nellie Quinn.
JANUARY 20-21, 2018
with Calvin Cairns, Nellie Quinn, and Alice Twa.
DECEMBER 2-3, 2017
with Calvin Cairns, Nellie Quinn, and Alice Twa.
OCTOBER 21-22, 2017
with Miranda Currie, Alice Twa and James Ross.
SEP 30 - OCT 1, 2017
With Gordon Stobbe, JJ Guy and Andrea Bettger.
JANUARY 14-15, 2017
With Calvin Cairns, Cam Neufeld, Anika Spruyt, Nellie Quinn, and Andrea Bettger.
JANUARY 24-25, 2015
With Andrea Bettger (Yellowknife), Calvin Cairns (Victoria), Donna Turk (Calgary) and Kyle MacDonald (Cape Breton).
SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2014
With Donna Turk (Calgary), Andrea Bettger (Yellowknife), Claire Marchildon (Yellowknife), Calvin Cairns (Victoria), and Rod Olestadt (Calgary). [The Fiddle Cats learned Gap Tooth Jig and Put Your Shoes On.]
TRADITIONAL MUSIC WORKSHOP
MAY 17-18, 2014
The Brian Pickell Band (Ontario), including Brian Pickell, Shane Cook, James Stephens, Pat O'Gorman and Julie Schryer, joined Linda Duford (Hay River) for an all-out workshop with fiddle, guitar, piano and tin whistle. The Band also played an evening show for all of Yellowknife to enjoy. Some tunes from this workshop: Egan's Polka, The Old Favourite Jig, Steve and Michele's, Pretty Mary, Muriel's Waltz.