"Pick up your Axe and swing it!"  This "Gimble-ism" is what Johnny Gimble
lives by, and is exactly what we will be doing at Swing Week this year!

We will learn some licks, some bowing tricks, some behind the scenes theory to help put it all together, and some new tunes to which we can apply what we learn! We will also explore various swing styles and the fiddle players associated with them; for example: Johnny Gimble vs. Stuff Smith, or Stephane Grapelli vs. Joe Venuti.

In swing music, the fiddle has several functions. Our job is not only to play the melody and to improvise, but also to know harmonies, riffs, fills, and string lines. We will talk in depth about these functions, and we will apply them to tunes as we learn them.

This class is geared towards intermediate to advanced students. You'll know you're at the right level for this class if you're familiar with
a few swing tunes, and if you've ever improvised before! If you're in doubt as to whether you'd be in the right class, please feel free to email me at the address provided below. Swing Week coordinator, Wendi Bourne (swing@augustaheritage.com) has told me that if there are enough beginning or very advanced fiddle students, she will be pleased to add an additional level of Swing Fiddle, so let her know if this is something you would be interested in.

Things to bring to class:  Please bring a recording mechanism (cassette, mini-disc, etc.), and some staff paper for taking notes.

I'm looking forward to our time together at Swing Week 2008!! If you
have any questions/concerns/comments/good jokes, please feel free to
email me at gypsy.in.my.soul@gmail.com.