Old-time music workshop returns to Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — After a career as a musician with the Spokane and Edmonds symphonies, Nancy Rothwell, Seattle, said she was ready for something different. Classical music is “perfectly structured,” she said, and required close attention to a strict script. “I wanted to just have fun,” she said. Having some fun was the reason she attended the annual workshop sponsored by the Washington Old-Time Fiddlers Association.

Carson White had to make a decision when she started playing music a few years ago – violin or cello. “I chose violin because cello’s huge,” she said. But the classical music that makes up a lot of the violin repertoire was “very poised and refined,” said Carson, 17, Bainbridge Island. Not her style. She was at the workshop to learn more about fiddle music.

Fiddle – not violin, said Cassandra Jabbora, 17, Spokane. She’s in the Spokane Youth Symphony, and used to think the different designations of violin and fiddle were just different ways of describing the same musical techniques. But some experience with fiddle music has changed her mind. “They’re like weird cousins,” Cassandra said.

Carson and Cassandra said the fiddle music gives musicians more room to interpret what they’re playing. The interpretive freedom reminded Kyra McQueston, 17, Beaverton, Ore., of jazz. Otherwise, “it is different. It’s quite different,” Kyra said. She plays guitar in her high school’s jazz band; her great-aunt and great-uncle talked her into trying the old-time sound. It’s a whole new challenge. “I’m a little out of my comfort zone,” she said.

Winston Black gave up guitar for the violin, because “guitar got kind of boring.” Both Winston, who’s 10, and his little brother William play piano as well as violin. (William is 6 years old; he will “become 7 in two days after this week,” he said.) Winston doesn’t pay much attention to categories. William likes fiddle music because, at least so far, “it’s pretty easy.”

This is the third year the WOTFA has set up shop at Frontier Middle School for its week of workshops. They attract veteran musicians like Nancy Rothwell, and brand-new players like Bob Matthews, Tacoma. Matthews is a retired teacher, “but not of music,” he said. He’s a singer with the Puget Sound Revels arts organization, but he wanted to branch out. “About a year ago I decided to take it up myself.”

Cassandra was in a class focusing on Native American folk music, while Bob Matthews is interested in Celtic music – Irish, “Welsh, to the extent there is Welsh fiddle music,” he said. The week of workshops attracts fiddlers, of course, but also guitarists, banjo players and mandolin players.

Classes continue all week, and since many of the participants are camping behind FMS, there are jam sessions both inside and outside the building after classes end about 4 p.m. The workshop wraps up early Friday, and students and players get together for a concert as the workshop finale. That's open to the public.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.