Kate Lichtenstein loves old-time music and the community that creates and supports it. Over the last decade she has become a staple of the Pacific Northwest old-time scene as a fiddler, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Trained in classical piano, it wasn’t until her early thirties that she discovered old-time, but once found, she was totally hooked! Kate began with (and continues to love playing) old-time guitar, but quickly realized she was learning all the melodies by ear; fiddle came soon after. Kate has learned fiddle through a mixture of self-study, lessons, workshops and jamming, and her teaching style flows from this organic approach. She performs regularly with Seattle bands including the Barn Owls, $4 Shoe, Rattlesnail, Piney Gals, and Paradise Drifters, and is a sought-after jam leader and dance fiddler. As an adult-learner herself, Kate loves sharing tools, tricks, and tunes that can help people of all ages and abilities make music for their own joy and as part of a thriving old-time music community.
Class description:
This will be an intermediate old-time fiddle class that aims to put your growing fiddle chops to good use! We’ll work up some classic, driving fiddle tunes that will be welcome in any jam or square dance setting, and work in some rhythmic and melodic variations to keep things interesting. We’ll also build on those skills by fiddling with songs. Don’t worry if you’re not yet comfortable singing or playing fiddle “solos” — we’ll learn some very doable and fun ways to play along. Tunes and songs will primarily be taught by ear, with music provided as a (secondary) learning tool when needed.