Donna Hébert
Franco-American fiddler, educator & publisher
Fiddling Demystified channel on YouTube. | Donna’s bio | New CD “Orange on Blue” from Donna and Max Cohen
Great Groove Band, 2011 Old Songs Festival
“Outstanding artistic achievement” MA Governor Deval Patrick - 2009 Commonwealth Awards
“Donna gets it all right!” String pioneer Darol Anger in his foreword to Donna’s “Fiddling Demystified”
“One of the most emotional moments in the 50th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival for me came when a crowd sat under their umbrellas in a driving rainstorm and sang along to the only real National Anthem this country ever deserved, Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” performed by a group of children [The Great Groove Band].” John Swenson: Music on My Mind blog, 8/24/11.
Donna is a Massachusetts Artist's Fellow in the Folk Arts for Franco-American fiddling and also a MA Cultural Council Creative Teaching Partner: certified for school residencies in fiddling, Massachusetts Cultural Council.
NEW! Southern Tour - Donna and guitarist Max Cohen visit the Southern U.S. Jan-Feb 2012 for a series of dances, concerts, festivals and workshops in GA, TN, NC, SC, MD, PA. They’ll be taking their new duet CD, “Orange on Blue/orange sur bleu” with them!>> Tours, performances, residencies
NEW! Online fiddle lessons are catching fire! Student playing levels range from very basic to highly skilled. Donna teaches fundamental skills, repertoire, theory and style. Students learn groove bowings in French-Canadian, Irish, Scots, Appalachian Old-Time and Contradance fiddle genres. “It all comes down to grooves, to mastering the rhythms,” says Donna. Lessons require a high-speed broadband internet connection and a Gmail account. Ten-lesson contract offers substantial discount. U.S. students send checks, those outside the U.S. use PayPal. (PayPal Verified) Please contact donna@fiddlingdemystified.com to discuss an online lesson plan. >> Lesson materials & Teaching programs
Students and parents on distance-learning with Donna:
“She has devoted a large part of her life to analysing and researching fiddle music, and is able to pass this knowledge on to her students in a very accessible, friendly way. Because of this dedication, her lessons are always something to look forward to. I recommend Donna’s teaching to anyone interested in improving their fiddle playing.” Judy Oleinikov, Melbourne, Australia, fiddler
“Donna teaches to our daughter’s level and then encourages her to progress with every lesson – I can’t even believe the improvement she has made in such a short time! We love Ms. Donna and wish she lived next door – but since she doesn’t – online is the next best thing.”Paula Hanes-Stetter, Aurora NY, parent
Freebies and fun fiddling pages . . .
NEW! CONCERT VIDEO - Donna & Max, 2010 Upper Potomac Fiddle Summit in Shepherdstown WV:
- Da Slockit Light – Air, Tom Anderson, Shetland fiddler
- Valse pour Carmelle Bégin – Accordion waltz, Philippe Bruneau, Québec
- Raven’s Wing – Air, Donna Hébert & Max Cohen
- Dad’s Reel/Circular Reel – Reels, first from Louis Beaudoin, second tune Daniel Boucher
- November – Air, Max Cohen
NEW! Donna’s fiddling tutor for strings is now available online in fiddle, viola, cello editions “Fiddling Demystified should be required reading for all string teachers hoping to branch out into fiddling.” Laura Risk, Strings Magazine. >> Donna’s other books
NEW! Mrs. McLeod’s Reel – from Scotland to Appalachia – six authentic settings for one extraordinary tune – sheet music pdfs, lesson and jam mp3s with fiddler Donna Hébert and guitarist Max Cohen.
NEW! Jamming Successfully - how to have a great time at a jam!
NEW! Donna’s music and contradance poetry, including “The Fiddler’s Eye,” now published here. Check it out!
NEW! Smith College, Amherst College fiddle instructor (fall 2011 semester information) >>Donna’s other teaching venues
