Fiddle Scouts Give Drummer Wannabes Chance to Strike Up the Band

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Friday, September 13, 2019, 8:23 am
By: 
Christopher A. Wardell

Lori Fithian will lead the Fiddle Scouts music program at 10 a.m. Saturday at the MSU Community Music School.

With summer nearly behind us and school in full swing, it’s fair to say that area students are “hitting the books.”

If they have a love of music, they could be hitting something else and learning the fundamentals of playing an instrument — thanks to the Ten Pound Fiddle’s Fiddle Scouts music program.

Fiddle Scouts offers youngsters a chance to participate in the folk arts and folk music in a family friendly environment. Musicians who perform a regular Fiddle show often will stick around the next day to put on another show to entertain the kids.

The latest season of Fiddle Scouts kicks off Saturday with a “Drummunity Drum Circle,” a session for ages 3-13 to bang on drums and hand percussion instruments.

Fiddle Scouts organizer Tamiko Rothhorn, who became involved with the Scouts in 2012 when her children were 10 and 7, saw the value of introducing them to music at an early age. At the urging of the Fiddle’s concert manager Sally Potter (who wanted to start a family friendly program), Rothhorn agreed to be an organizer.

“We wanted to provide a venue where local or visiting talent would be invited to share music or folk arts and engage the children in a hands-on, interactive experience,” Rothhorn said. “By engaging kids at a young age, we hope to inspire the next generation of folk tradition lovers and eventual Ten Pound Fiddle members.”

The Drummunity Drum Circle, which begins at 10 a.m. at the MSU Community Music School (4930 S. Hagadorn Road), will be led by Ann Arbor Drum Circle facilitator Lori Fithian. There is a suggested donation of $3.

First concert of the season is October 12

Along with interactive music workshops, family friendly concerts are also a part of Fiddle Scouts. The first Fiddle Scouts concert will take place October 12 with a performance by singer-songwriter May Erlewine, who will also perform a record release show at the Ten Pound Fiddle the night before.

Other highlights of the Fiddle Scouts concert season include a “Sing, Play, Dance” show with ukulele extraordinaire John French on November 2; the always popular Holiday Sing-A-Long, featuring Carrie Quisenberry, will return on December 14. Local ukulele enthusiast Ben Hassenger will be on hand April 4 for a community strum and will give interactive lessons, always a Fiddle Scouts favorite.

Above all else, Rothhorn believes in the power of music and wants to see more kids getting involved with the scouts. In short, it’s just a good time for all.

“The kids, who range in age from babies to elementary school, really get involved with the music, and it is a lot of fun to see them sing and dance along,” Rothhorn said. “It's so important to expose kids to music at an early age and Fiddle Scouts is doing just that.”

For information, contact Tamiko Rothhorn at fiddlescouts@gmail.com or (517) 974-3751.

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