Feb 19

Announcing a new Meetup for Fort Collins Traditional Music! Please send this on to anyone who you think would enjoy attending.

Topic: Twin Fiddling Fun — Learn to play harmony fiddle. Participation is encouraged, but not required.

When: Friday, March 18, 2010 7:00 PM

Where:
Magnolia Music Studio
210 W Magnolia Street (northwest corner of Magnolia and Mason)
Fort Collins, CO 80521
(970) 481-8661

Teacher: Vi Wickam – Champion Fiddler—970-430-6381 http://www.vithefiddler.com

Admission is $5 All proceeds after covering costs will go to the National Oldtime Fiddler’s Association.

Learn more here:
http://www.meetup.com/Fort-Collins-Traditional-Music/

Posted via email from Vi Wickam’s posterous

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Jan 19

$5 Fiddling Workshops are held Monthly at Magnolia Music

Topic: Practical Music Theory—Learn the magic behind the music.  Music theory basics and how to apply them. All musicians Welcome.

Date/Time:

Thursday February 18, 7:00PM

Location:

Magnolia Music
210 Magnolia St.
Fort Collins, CO

Teacher: Vi Wickam – Champion Fiddler—970-430-6381

Admission is $5 All proceeds after covering our costs will go to COTFA (Colorado Oldtime Fiddlers Association.)

http://www.ViTheFiddler.com

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Jan 08

I have just created a new meetup group called Fort Collins Traditional Music.

I started this group to foster a community of people interested in oldtime music in the Fort Collins area.

We will be scheduling monthly group fiddling, harp, and flute workshops, and may also schedule periodic jam sessions.

If you are a traditional musician, or are interested in learning to play, we would love to have you join this meetup group.

The original post for this announcement is on the Fort Collins Strings Website.

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Dec 23

This is my latest recording of Orange Blossom Special. The audio quality is much better than the previous one I posted.

I hope you enjoy this video of me (Vi Wickam) on Fiddle with Richard Kelley on Guitar.

Posted via email from Vi Wickam’s posterous

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Dec 14

http://www.fortcollinsstrings.com/fort-collins-fiddling-workshop/

 Announcing: 5 Dollar Fiddle Workshops

 Date/Time: Thursday January 14, 7:00PM

 Location:

Magnolia Music
210 Magnolia St.
Fort Collins, CO

 

Topic: Fiddling for Violinists – The basics of fiddling will be covered, including how to start playing by ear, how to start improvising, and how to use sheet music as the recipe for a fiddle tune.

Teacher: Vi Wickam – Champion Fiddler

Admission is $5, and all proceeds after covering our costs will go to the Larimer County Food Bank.

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Dec 03

This is Little Rhino, a fiddle hoedown that I wrote for my son, Ryan. I hope you enjoy it.

 

I have also posted sheet music for it at:
http://www.wickam.net/latest/little-rhino.html

 

Posted via email from Vi Wickam’s posterous

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Nov 22

Here is a clip of me playing the Orange Blossom Special:

Orange Blossom Special is possibly the most requested fiddle tune of all time. This is the most requested fiddle song that I play. (In fact, it gets requested so often that I usually refuse to play it until the end of the night.)

OBS as fiddlers sometimes call it was written by Ervin T. Rouse in 1938.

My version of the Orange Blossom Special contains snippets of a number of tunes that I think you will enjoy and recognize.

My personal favorite fiddler on this song is Vassar Clements. I heard him play it on his “Superbow” album, and Vassar blew me away. Mark O’Connor also has an amazing version on his “Nashville Cats” Album.

Also Featured:
Matthew McIntyre – Drums
Richard Bonnell – Guitar
Bill Watkins – Bass
I hope you love this fiddling favorite – Orange Blossom Special

If you do like it, check out my latest single – the Swine Flu Blues on CD Baby.

Here is a recording of Vassar Playing Orange Blossom Special as well:

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Nov 16

swine flu bluesSwine Flu Blues is now for sale on CD Baby.com.

Listen to the Swine Flu Blues, and let me know what you think with a comment below.

A little fiddle, a little blues, and a whole lot of silly swinging satire.

The Swine Flu Blues features Vi Wickam singing, fiddling, playing mandolin, and showing off his song-writing chops, too.

“Good music is good melody,” says Vi. “If you like it, it’s bitchin’. If you don’t, it sucks.” Vi said that too, but he liberated it from Frank (the original mother of invention) Zappa.

The song is catchy. It’s beat is upbeat and lively. And the satire is more fun than biting. After all, who wants biting when we’re talking about the flu bug?

As you’ll hear on this song, Vi plays fiddle pretty well; he’s a regular competitor and judge at fiddling contests around the US. He’s also pretty good on other stringed instruments, too. Even those with frets.

But what you’re really asking yourself is; “What’s with the name?“

Vi is short for Vivan – NOT Vivian. It’s not quite as bad as a boy named Sue, but it’s close. The big problem is that whenever people read Vivan, they throw an extra “I” in there for good measure, so he just goes by Vi. He was named after his Dad, and Grandpa Vi Wickam, who also handed down the family fiddle, a great love of music, and more than a little talent. (Thanks, Grandpa.)

“Swine Flu Blues is a timely satirical acoustic lament. It features Vi Wickam on Vocals, Mandolin, and Fiddle. If you enjoy acoustic blues, you will love the Swine Flu Blues.

I’m glad somebody was well enough to get off the couch and write this! It’s a little topical time capsule of funky fiddling, tasteful mandolin playing, and heartfelt singing.”

Megan Lynch
http://www.fiddlestar.com

http://www.beml.info

Special Thanks to:
Tyler Andal – for help with mixing the audio
Lani Nielsen – for help with writing the lyrics

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Nov 16

swine flu bluesSwine Flu Blues

Copyright © 2009 Vi Wickam

Music by Vi Wickam

Lyrics by Vi Wickam and Lani Nielsen

I’ve got the Swine Flu Blues,

Oh, it’s bad news.

I’ve got the Swine Flu Blues,

Now you’ve got it too.

I’m coughin’ and I’m sneezin’ and I’m blowin’ my nose.

It keeps runnin’ like a garden hose.

They told us when it happens that we’re all gonna die,

But that turned out to be a big fat lie.

I’ve got the Swine Flu Blues,

The rumor is true.

I’ve got the Swine Flu Blues.

Now I take Tamiflu.

I’m drinkin’ lots of fluids and I’m washin’ my hands.

I’m takin’ antivirals all the popular brands.

I’m feelin’ kinda sickly, but I prob’ly won’t die.

Swine Flu’s better than a poke in the eye.

I’ve got the Swine Flu Blues …

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Oct 02

I know that this post is coming a little late, but we had a great time at the 2009 Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Championships. We had record numbers with 144 entries (up from 91 last year). Thank you to all of the Contestants, to the Labor Day Association, our Awesome Judges, Insulators Local 37, and all of the people who cam and enjoyed the event.

Our winners are posted at the Indiana State Picking and Fiddling Championship Website:

2009 Indiana State Winners

We had a great audience, and the weather couldn’t be better.

Some outstanding contestants from the contest were:

 

Maddie Denton, 2009 National Junior Fiddling Champion - First Place Grand Champion, First Place Hot Fiddle, First Place Twin Fiddle (With Marcia)

Maddie Denton, 2009 National Junior Fiddling Champion - First Place Grand Champion, First Place Hot Fiddle, First Place Twin Fiddle (With Marcia)

Tony Rothrock - First Place Senior Fiddle, First Place Flatpick Guitar, First Place Thumbpick Guitar, First Place Dobro, Second Place Banjo Second Place Harmonica, Third Place Mandolin

Tony Rothrock - First Place Senior Fiddle, First Place Flatpick Guitar, First Place Thumbpick Guitar, First Place Dobro, Second Place Banjo Second Place Harmonica, Third Place Mandolin

 

Doug Fleener, 2008 National Junior Fiddling Champion - Second Place Grand Champion

Doug Fleener, 2008 National Junior Fiddling Champion - Second Place Grand Champion | Kerry Varble - 4th Place Grand Champion Fiddle, 2nd Place Hot Fiddle (Playing Tenor Guitar)

 

The Pendleton's - Emma 5th Place Grand Champion Fiddle, 3rd Place Hot Fiddle - Marina 3rd Place Junior Fiddle - Both 2nd Place Twin Fiddle

The Pendleton's - Emma 5th Place Grand Champion Fiddle, 3rd Place Hot Fiddle - Marina 3rd Place Junior Fiddle - Both 2nd Place Twin Fiddle

Cole McCracken - First Place Junior Fiddle, Third Place Twin Fiddle (with Connor)

Cole McCracken - First Place Junior Fiddle, Third Place Twin Fiddle (with Connor)

 

Our Awesome Judges (Jeff Guernsey, Ed Carnes, and Megan Lynch) Look on as Cara DiGiovanni dances to a 1st Place Finish in Freestyle Clogging. Cara also placed 3rd in Jr. Fiddle.

Our Awesome Judges (Jeff Guernsey, Ed Carnes, and Megan Lynch) Look on as Cara DiGiovanni dances to a 1st Place Finish in Freestyle Clogging. Cara also placed 3rd in Jr. Jr. Fiddle.

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