Great Groove Band of young musicians

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The Great Groove Band of school-age musicians is a three day participatory program at Old Songs Festival of Music and Dance (June 25-27-NY) and the Philadelphia Folk Festival (Aug 20-22 -PA).

The Great Groove Bands at the Old Songs Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival were a huge success in 2009. The Old Songs band rolled into its 11th year and the Philly Folk Fest band had a great fourth year. 

 

What is the Great Groove Band? 

The Great Groove Band makes fiddle and folk music accessible to young people who sing or play a (mostly) stringed instrument. The 2008 bands included fiddlers, guitarists, bass players, drummers, pianists, flutists and more. At Old Songs in 2008, fiddler and stepdancer April Verch taught a tune and a simple stepdance combination.

Since 1999, the Great Groove Band has provided an opportunity for school-age players (ages 6-18) attending the festivals with their parents or friends. They use their playing skills and learn about fiddle and folk music. Founded and directed by Amherst, Massachusetts fiddler, performer and educator Donna Hébert, bands average 30-35 participants a year at each festival. Eager participants join the band for the weekend, rehearsing intensively for three days before a main-stage performance on Sunday.

These festivals rely on our great volunteer staff who skillfully shepherd the group, tuning instruments and helping kids get organized. 2010 volunteers include Judy Harvey, Mary Beth Boyle, Colleen Holroyd, Hope Greitzer, Pam Gonyer and saxophonist Julie Sorcek. 

Sectional rehearsals address the students’ differing skill levels and are used to teach arrangements. As well as the big band, the group breaks into smaller ensembles of more skilled musicians for the Sunday performance.

Who plays in the band?

Some Groove Band members are in their tenth year with the group, and it’s the high point of their summer. Albany area fiddler and Groove Band graduate Colleen Holroyd says,

“The Great Groove Band has shown me how to play, perform, and pass it on, opening windows and doors of opportunity.”

Says her mother, Nancy Holroyd,

“Not only is Colleen learning to make the kind of music that she loves, she’s learning to pass it on at her after-school traditional strings program. Particularly valuable is the Groove Band experience of turning a tune into a performance.”

Old Songs Festival director Andy Spence is an enthusiastic supporter of the Great Groove Band, observing that,

“Fiddle tunes provide an opportunity for the players to share the thrill of making music with friends, playing for dancing and just for fun! In the relaxed atmosphere of the Festival, Groove Band members keep the traditions alive, meet new friends from distant places, and begin the process of passing the music on.”

Who are the teachers?

The Great Groove Band depends on the efforts of Groovemama members Max Cohen, teaching guitar, rhythm, vocal and instrumental arranging; Stuart Kenney (Rodney Miller Band, Tidal Wave, Dance Flurry Big Band) teaching bass and banjo; fiddlers George Wilson (Whippersnappers, Fennig’s All-Stars, Beaudoin Legacy) and Donna Hébert (John Whelan/Donna Hébert band, Chanterelle, The Beaudoin Legacy, Fiddling Demystified) teaching teens and improvisation while fiddler Jane Rothfield (Jane’s Gang, Red Hen, Atlantic Bridge) takes on the youngest and newest players, aided by our skilled interns. Jane and crew transform the youngest from shy newbies to band members in three days! Parents and music teachers also volunteer their assistance in getting the large group in tune, moving throughout the group to help wherever necessary. 

What music do we play together?

The repertoire ranges from Amazing Grace to Norwegian waltzes to Irish jigs and Scottish marches and French-Canadian, New England and Appalachian reels and songs. Each group is assessed by the coaches, who teach tunes, chords, rhythms and lyrics on the spot, by ear. One year at Philly, we heard one girl tootling “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” on a recorder and turned that into one of our songs, with vocalists, lead, harmony and rhythm parts. It’s never the same program and it’s always fun!

Summer camp weeks at Old Songs Community Center

Those wanting to continue the Great Groove Band experience can come to the first of four Fiddle & Strings Day Camp Weeks. Week I (July 5-9) is for ages 6-18 at Old Songs in Voorheesville NY. Later weeks provide a similar experience for teens and adults at  Fiddling Demystified for Strings Camp Aug 9-13 with Donna Hébert, Liz Carroll and Jane Rothfield teaching fiddle and Max Cohen teaching rhythm and guitar.  In 2009 we added a fourth week of French-Canadian music and song, with teachers Donna Hébert, Pascal Gemme, Steve Normandin, Marc Maziade and Marie-Soleil Pilette. Check the 2010 camp website  or email Andy Spence (andy (at) oldsongs (dot) org) at Old Songs to inquire or register for any of the camp weeks. 2008 Week I campers are on YouTube – check it out!

REGISTER FOR THE GREAT GROOVE BAND

2010 is our 12th year at Old Songs Festival and we hope you can join us! Tickets are available at the Old Songs Festival website. For more information about our program, or to register any musician for the Great Groove Dance Band at the next Old Songs Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival, please contact Donna Hébert. Be sure to let us know:

• Your instrument
• Skill level/how long played
• Have you been in the band before?
• Parent e-mail address

See you at the 200 Old Songs and Philadelphia Folk Festivals – Groove on!

Contact Donna Hebert to register (info AT fiddlingdemystified DOT com) once you’ve got your festival tickets, ordered from:

OLD SONGS FESTIVAL June 25-27, 2010 www.oldsongs.org 

PHILADELPHIA FOLK FESTIVAL August 20-22, 2010  www.folkfest.org