Longfellow
Middle School
1900 Denton Street | La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601 | 608-789-7670 | Fax: 608-789-7975

RIVER CITY STRINGS FIDDLE CLUB

Fiddle music is traditionally taught by rote (by ear, without reading music). Students in River City Strings explore this style of learning and grow as musicians through playing alternative styles that include Celtic, Old-time, French Canadian, Swing, and more. We may also take time to explore other folk instruments and possibly have guest musician(s) visit! For some of our rehearsals and performances, we will be combining groups with the Logan Middle School fiddle club.

 

FIDDLE CLUB MEMBER REQUIREMENTS

River City Strings Fiddle Club members must…

…regularly practice their orchestra lesson assignments individually at home (at least 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week, every week.) in addition to regularly practicing and preparing their fiddle club repertoire.  This music is difficult to prepare in addition to our regular curriculum and assignments, and practicing is an absolute MUST!

…attend and actively contribute to ALL fiddle club rehearsals & performances.

♫ …be in excellent academic standing in ALL classes as well as our orchestra (actively contribute to rehearsals, bring materials, attend all lessons & concerts, display excellent practice habits and behavior, ect.).

…adhere to all policies in the Student Code of Conduct and Co-Curricular Activities Code.

 

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR FIDDLE CLUB

Materials are available at our local music retailers (Leithold Music ~ Old Towne Strings ~ SSE Music).  Each store features easy online or telephone ordering and free delivery to our school.  Please make sure that you have the following supplies for our first rehearsal:

  • Instrument, bow, & case: store rental, own, or school rental (see instrument info below).
  • Instrument support:  shoulder rest (violin/viola) or end pin rest/rockstop (cello/bass).
  • Rosin:  for violin/violacello, or bass.
  • Folding music stand:  EVERY student will need to supply and bring their own portable music stand for all fiddle club performances.
  • Cello chair:  cellists will need to supply and bring their own stool/chair for SOME performances.
  • Performance attire:  black shirt for performances (any plain black shirt, orchestra shirt, or fiddle club shirt).  Fiddle club shirts are usually ordered once per year in November and arrive in time for our first school year season performance in December.
  • Water bottle:  Students should bring their own resealable water bottle (some of our performances will be outdoors in warm weather, and also something to drink in our rehearsals to go with the snacks is nice!)
  • Snack:  bring one large, shareable snack to our first rehearsal (non-perishable packaged snacks, if possible please – crackers, popcorn, pretzels, cookies, fruit snacks, ect., something that would be enough for at least 20 students if possible).  We will share an after school snack at each of our rehearsals and save some to go with our pizza dinner nights.  🙂

 

REHEARSALS & PERFORMANCES

Please see our complete schedule below for this season’s rehearsal and performance information.  Our fiddle club will rehearse in the Longfellow orchestra room (room #110) on most Mondays from 3:00-4:00 pm during our school year season and on most Wednesdays from 2:00-3:00 during our summer season.  We typically perform 2-3 ‘gigs’ per season, at events such as the Cameron Park Farmer’s Market, community folk dances, nursing homes, Rotary Lights festival, and more!

 

ABSENCE POLICY

Rehearsals and performances are important, and without all of our fiddlers, we cannot be 100%!  We have a very short, accelerated season and only get about one hour of rehearsal time together each week (compared to 5-10 hours per week for most school sports), so it is very important that students attend ALL rehearsals.  In smaller performing groups like our fiddle club, it is especially important that everyone is present as players rely on hearing each other’s parts within the ensemble.  If those parts are missing/not covered due to an absence, the players who are present (and you) are not able to hear and practice how all parts fit together.

ANY and ALL absences should be very rare and must be communicated ahead of time (a maximum of one absence per season, usually only due to illness).  Please contact Ms. McDonald at least 24 hours in advance if you will be absent from any rehearsal or performance.  This includes arriving late or leaving early due to other activities, whether personal or school related.

 

ADVISOR CONTACT INFORMATION

Ms. Jessica McDonald ~ Longfellow ~ River City Strings Fiddle Club director ~ jmcdonal@lacrossesd.org

 

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RIVER CITY STRINGS FIDDLE CLUB SCHEDULE – 2019-2020 School Year Season

***SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

 

Printable registration form (due no later than our first rehearsal), info, & schedule here:

2020-2021 RCS Fiddle Club registration & handbook (.pdf file)

 

TBA, 2020  **REGISTRATION, SHIRT FORM/FEE, SHAREABLE SNACK DUE TODAY!!**
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #1 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2020
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #2 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2020
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #3 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2020
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #4 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2020
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #5 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2020
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #6 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2020 ~ PERFORMANCE AT ROTARY LIGHTS FESTIVAL *times listed are tentative estimates for now*
3:00-6:15 pm Rehearse at Longfellow room #110, pizza dinner, travel via bus, set up, tune, etc.
6:15-6:45 pm Performance at Rotary Lights Festival heated tent (near the bandshell)
6:45 pm Families pick up students from performance site
Address: Rotary Lights Festival, Riverside Park, 100 State Street, La Crosse
Materials: Music stand, instrument, RCS shirt, music ready in set list order, Santa hat (optional)

TBA, 2020
***No rehearsals on these dates. Have a great winter break!***

TBA, 2021
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #7 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

TBA, 2021 **Last rehearsal before folk dance performance day!**
3:00-4:00 pm Rehearsal #8 at Longfellow/LDI room #110

 

TBA, 2021 ~ PERFORMANCE AT VILLA ST. JOSEPH ASSISTED LIVING *times listed are tentative estimates for now*

3:00-6:00 pm Rehearsal at Longfellow room #110, pizza dinner, travel via bus, set up, tune, etc.
6:00-6:30 pm Performance at Villa St. Joseph Assisted Living Center
6:45 pm Families pick up students from performance site or at Longfellow at 7:15 pm
Address: Villa St. Joseph, W2658 State Highway 33 Trunk, La Crosse
Materials: Music stand, instrument, RCS shirt, music ready in set list order

 

TBA, 2021 ~ PERFORMANCE AT COMMUNITY FOLK DANCE *times listed are tentative estimates for now*
6:30 pm Families drop off students at Concordia Ballroom-use La Crosse Street entrance please
6:30-7:00 pm Students unpack to the left of the stage (on last table near wall), tune and set up
7:00-8:00 pm Performance at Community Folk Dance on the Concordia Ballroom stage
8:00 pm Families pick up students from performance site (or stay for remainder of dance)
Address: Concordia Ballroom, 1129 La Crosse Street, La Crosse
Materials: Music stand, instrument, RCS shirt, music ready in set list order

 

Please remember that a maximum of 1 absence is allowed during our season.   Please contact Ms. McDonald in advance if you will be absent or need to leave early for any reason:  jmcdonal@lacrossesd.org

 

LINKS

General Links:

 

Our fiddlers in the news:

 

Can’t get enough tunes?  Recommended fiddling books available through our local music stores:

 

Fiddling Resources:

 

Cool Fiddlers to Check Out: