Colorado Old Time Fiddlers Association Guitar Workshops: presented by Sydney Green & Katie Glassman-Salzberg

Workshop address:  5445 S. Hoyt St., Littleton, CO  80123

2012 Class schedule:

 February 12: time 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 March 11: time 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

 April 15: time 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Location: 5445 S. Hoyt St. , Littleton, CO 80123

Cost: $25 per person per session

 Pre-register by sending registration form and money to COTFA, 5082 E. Hampden Avenue, Suite 142, Denver, CO. 80222.

Attached is the COTFA guitarworkshop Registration Form.

When I first learned Black and White Rag, it was off of the 4 World Champion Fiddlers album that featured Jim “Texas Shorty” Chancellor, Mark O’Connor, Terry Morris, and Benny Thomas. Terry was the one that played Black and White, and I still think love the endings he put on the A Part (2 of the endings I play on this tune were more or less copied from his version.) I played this tune quite a bit in my contest rounds back when I was still in high school, and it usually served me well. I knew that it was a piano tune originally, but up until today I was under the impression that it was a Scott Joplin tune.

I have learned lots of cool things already doing the fiddle tune a day about the history of these tunes, and it turns out the Black and White Rag was written by George Botsford and made famous by a lady by the name of Winifred Atwell. And, at some point it became one of the most popular rags played by contest fiddlers.

The History of Black and White Rag according to Wikipedia

Black and White Rag is a 1908 ragtime composition by George Botsford.

The first known recording of this piece was by Albert Benzler, recorded on Lakeside/U.S.Everlasting Cylinder #380 in June 1911. This recording is somewhat rare (Lakeside/U.S.Everlasting cylinders, though molded celluloid on a wax/fiber core, were made in small batches), and significant. Edison featured the Black & White Rag on one of his Early Diamond Disc Records (50116)from 1913 played by a Brass Orchestra.

One of the best known versions of this piece of music was recorded in 1952 by pianist Winifred Atwell, and helped her to establish an international profile. Originally the B-side of another composition, Cross Hands Boogie, Black and White Rag was championed by the popular disc jockey Jack Jackson, and started a craze for Atwell’s honky-tonk style of playing. The recording became a million selling gold record, and in the UK was later used as the theme tune for the long-running BBC2 television snooker tournament, Pot Black.

Black and White Rag was also later arranged for use as the music in the original 1985 BBC Computer game, Repton, and some of its sequels.

The tune has also become a fiddle standard with recordings by musicians such as Johnny Gimble and Bennie Thomasson.

Dates: August 5-12, 2012
Location:  Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park, Colorado

Click to learn about the World Class Artists

Founded by Mark Luther, Director, and his kids, Christopher and Cosima, in 1999, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp is entering its 14th year in 2012

Set in the beautiful Colorado Rockies outside of Denver at Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp is staffed with world class musicians who are highly-regarded for their superb playing as well as excellent teaching.

Old and young, beginners through professionals, everyone with an interest in music or dancing enjoys the camp and finds plenty of fun and learning opportunities!

Spend some time in the Rocky Mountains with new friends, old songs, good food and great people!

In addition to classes during the day, there are evening contra & square dances, jam sessions, concerts, camper talent night, campfire, and opportunities to hike and swim.

For details about travel and housing accommodations, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.

More Information at http://www.rmfiddle.com

My CD Release, and one of my original tunes, Buttered Beans were featured in this issue of the Colorado Old-Time Fiddlers’ Association Newsletter.  It’s always nice to get some of my tunes out there in front of other fiddlers. And, I was named to the COTFA Board of Directors – pretty exciting stuff.

This is one of my all-time favorite tunes to play. I really love the minor bluesy feeling. I originally learned it from the 4 World Champion Fiddlers Album, as played by Texas Shorty (Jim Chancellor).

Date/Time:

Thursday July 22, 6:00PM

Location:

Magnolia Music
210 Magnolia St.
Fort Collins, CO

Topic: Contest Fiddling – Bring a song or three, and learn what it takes to be successful playing in fiddle contests, from two fiddlers who have been competing in and judging fiddle contests for years.

Teachers: Vi Wickam/Cody Stadelmaier – Champion Fiddlers—970-430-6381

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

RSVP on Meetup.com: http://www.meetup.com/Fort-Collins-Traditional-Music/calendar/14086296/

The May edition of the Colorado Old Time Fiddlers’ Association Newsletter features another arrangement by Fort Collins Strings Member, Vi Wickam.

The May newsletter features a Twin Fiddle arrangement of “Who’s Gonna Talk to Dinah” as arranged by Vi Wickam. Vi learned this piece by listening to Junior Marriott and Alita Stoneking play the tune in the Twin Fiddle division at the American Heritage Music Festival in Grand Lake, OK. This isn’t a transcription of what they played, but is an arrangement that Vi worked up when he got back home after the contest.

COTFA Newsletter May 2010

It is an honor to be featured in the April Newsletter for the Colorado Old Time Fiddlers’ Association.

The April COTFA Newsletter featured my arrangement of Arkansas Traveler, and talked about the $5 Fiddle Workshops that I am putting on monthly at Magnolia Music.

COTFA Newsletter April 2010