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Jink & Diddle Scottish Fiddling School

The Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling

32nd Annual Scottish Fiddling School
Week 1: July 26 - August 2, 2015
Weekend: July 31 - August 2
Week 2: Ye Auld Jink Aug 2 - August 7, 2015
Registrations and deposits for 2015 should be mailed by March 15, 2015 to assure space. Registrations will be accepted until June 30 if there is space remaining.
Registration and fee balancesmust be mailed in by June 30, 2015.
The school is held in an intimate and peaceful mountain setting. It is a unique opportunity to concentrate on Scottish fiddle music in general and strathspey playing in particular. Dr. John Turner, the school's director and primary instructor, is the third generation in a family of traditional fiddlers.

Week 1 will be one full week of classes Directed by John Turner, ten times National Scottish Fiddle Champion
with options for group classes at different levels led by other instructors, who may include:
David Gardner, regional champion. Scottish FIRE fiddle judge, and fiddler for The Virginia Company,
Sarah Brenzo - teaching for less experienced players
Jane Blair MacMorran– 1992 National Champion, and special sessions led by
Guest Instructors - Rachel Barton Pine (violinist) and Ralph Gordon (cello and bass)
Scottish dancing, and Scottish Dance orchestra.

Ye Auld Jink (Week 2) will be held Aug 3 - 8 is led b John Turner, with a more relaxed, less intense schedule and more free time Week 2 participants may also register for the optional weekend of August 1 - 3, which includes the Ball.

Although Jink & Diddle is primarily for fiddlers and violinists, anyone interested in performing Scottish fiddle tunes on viola, cello, flute, recorder, mandolin or other similar melody instrument is welcome to attend. Past years have included violists, players of flutes, cellos,cittern, guitar, cello, oboe, accordion, double bass viol,
harpsichord and other instruments. In 2010, we also welcomed a featured guest instructor, classical and rock violinist Rachel Barton Pine, who returned in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and will be returning again in 2015, along with cellist John Mark Rozendaal.
Participants usually devote themselves to a single instrument during classes and practice hours. The great Scottish fiddlers of the 18th century could read and write music, and you should be prepared to read music, too, although there is also some playing by ear and a daily class on learning by ear. Books by the Gows and William Marshall and others included bass lines for cello, and music will be available for viola and for cello and other bass clef instruments. Bring your own instrument and a music stand. Be prepared for a lot of sight reading. It is not unusual for the Jink & Diddle classes to cover 40 or more tunes in a week, not to mention often playing the same tune as a strathspey, as a reel and as a march, sometimes even as a slow air. Music is sent out by mail well in advance to those who request it. The Scottish dance music alone usually includes more than 40 tunes.
Past classes have included the music of Niel Gow and the Gow family, Dow, Mackintosh, William Marshall, Capt. Simon Fraser and Petrie, among others. For the 22nd Year the music featured a 1769 collection of Scottish dance music by Bremner. For the twenty third year (2006) the music featured a collection by Robert (Red Rob) Mackintosh. For 2007 the music was from a variety of 18th century Scottish sources collected by Sara Johnson. Music for 2008 collection of tunes by the late Hector MacAndrew. Music for 2009 featured a collection of Scottish tunes collected by Charlie Gore and a collection of compositions by John Turner and various Jink participants. For 2010 the music was an 18th century collection by John Bowie of Perth. The music for 2011 was an 18th century collection by Duncan Mcintyre, published in 1794 with a bass line for Violoncello or Harpsichord, available online from the Highland Music Trust. The music for 2012 was from two collections by William Shepherd published 1791 and 1800, available from the Highland Trust. Music for 2013 was from a 30th Anniversary collection of selections from the past ten years, plus compositions by John Turner, Jink staff members and and past Jink participants. There will also be other music, including music for the Jink & Diddle Scottish Fiddle Orchestra for the Lighted Ha' Ball at the end of Week 1. Participants may also bring their own music for individual lessons.