» Fiddlestickers 2008-2009 Performance & Rehearsal Schedule
» Fiddlesticker Graduates

Christy Hodder is a violin teacher in the Annapolis Valley. She has been teaching violinists now for a few years and has them out playing up a storm in the community.

Christy's Senior players and three children, go by the name "Fiddlestickers" and have played for the Acadian celebrations in Grand Pre, various Town of Wolfville events, The Roots Festival in Wolville Fezziwig’s Family Christmas Frolic and at the Fox Harbour resourt in Tatamagouche.

They fiddle French Reels and jigs joined by Clara Hodder with her beautiful "Evangeline" song and Acadian Step Dancing. They rip off Strathspeys and Reels, from Cape Breton, with beautiful highland dance and energetic Cape Breton step dancing and spoon playing. Their ages run from 9 up to 15 years and their show is energetic, impressive and lots of fun!

To book Christy Hodder's Fiddlestickers for an ACADIAN / CAPE BRETON show contact Christy Hodder

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Meet the Fiddlestickers

The Fiddlestickers have played for the Acadian celebrations in Grand Pre, various Town of Wolfville events, The Roots Festival in Wolville, Fezziwig’s Family Christmas Frolic and at the Fox Harbour resourt in Tatamagouche. They rip off Strathspeys and Reels, from CapeBreton, with beautiful highland dance and energetic Cape Breton step dancing and spoon playing. Their ages run from 9 up to 15 years and their show is energetic, impressive and lots of fun!


Above photo:  Kelsey Macleod, Alexander Moore, Alanna Davenport, Sarah Henri, Sara MacLeod, Benjamin Potvin

These 12 musicians of the Annapolis Valley have just recorded their Debut CD called “Pass it On”. This unique CD features many amazing fiddle guests who perform on the CD with the Fiddlestickers. Their inspirations playing with them include Stan Chapman, Gordon Stobbe, Christy Hodder, Kim Holmes, Troy MacGillivray, Jennifer Roland and Glenn Graham. Some of the original tunes on the disc are from their Gaelic College step teacher Jean MacNeil, mother of the Barra MacNeils and Glenn Graham’s Uncle, Kinnon Beaton, and there is even an original jig by one of the Fiddlestickers on the CD.

Made for Highland and Step dancers, as well as just for listening, this CD has so much variety. You will enjoy fast reels, snappy strathspeys, toe tapping jigs and a version of Lover’s waltz by Jay Unger that they learned at our local Roots festival last year that is one of the most beautiful versions of it to be recorded.

[click here for information and to buy the CD]
[click here for more CDs from Christy Hodder]


 Above photo: Clara Hodder, Elsa Hodder, Gregory hodder, Kristen MacPherson, Anja MacLeod and Katie Gordon

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2008 Performances & Rehearsal Schedule
 (Updated: September 8, 2008)
 

  January 2008
  01-06 No Violin - Christmas Break
  06 Nova Scotia Youth orchestra Concert at Denton Hall (tickets $15/$12 and $10)
  10 Harmony 3 group lesson starts in Wolfville studio with Tony
  18 Anne Rapson private lessons with Fiddlestickers in Wolfville
  26 6PM- 7:30PM Suzuki Group AND parents (children are released to sit with parents after their numbers are done and will stay to the end so bring a coloring book etc..), location TBA
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  February 2008
  01 Troy MacGillivray with “Fiddlestickers” guests concert Al Whittle theater
  08 Anne Rapson private lessons with Fiddlestickers in Wolfville
  15-29 Kiwanis Festival
  16 6PM Suzuki Group
  24 RMT Concert (Feb 23rd piano rehearsals)
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  March 2008
  01 deadline for RCM Exam registrations
  01-02 Kiwanis Festival
  06 6:00 PM Suzuki Group CONCERT
  29 6:30 PM Suzuki Group
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  April 2008 
  13 RMT concert (piano rehearsal April 12th)
  14 Canadian Music Competition (Clara and Sara M) 
  15 Canadian Music Competition (Clara and Sara M) 
  16 Piano rehearsals with Jessica Hansen for festival
  19 Extra lesson morning with Christy....email me to book an extra class if you need one....(cost is $25 half hour session, $35 a fourty-five minute session)
  19 Piano rehearsals with Jessica Hansen for festival
  20 Piano rehearsals with Jessica Hansen for festival
  21 Festival Strings Classes
  22 Festival Strings Classes
  23 Festival Strings Classes
  27 Fiddle piano rehearsals with Kim Holmes  
  28 Fiddle classes at festival
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  May 2008
  11 1-3 / 3-5 Workshops and 7PM square set dance – Dara Smith, Lions Hall
  13 Deadline for changes to schedule
  14 Parents letter and first draft of 2008-09 schedule out
  14 Fiddlestickers play in Lobby Before Bruce Guthro Concert, Horton High School
  15 Registrations for 2008-09 out
  23 Last JAM WITH KIM Juniors (Suz Bk 1-4) 5:30-6:45PM / Seniors 7-9PM
  27 Last Day to Register for next year
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  June 2008
  06 JUNIOR SCALE PARTY
3:30-4:30 RCM Grade 1 and Grade 2 Scale party
4:30-6:15 MOVIE and PIZZA (RCM 1-3)
6:15-7:15 Grade 3 Scale Party
  14 SENIOR SCALE PARTY
3:00-4:00 Grade 4 Scale Party
4:00-5:00 Grade 6 Scale Party
5:00-7:00 MOVIE and PIZZA (RCM 4-8)
7:00 – 8:30 Scale Party Grade 8
  19 Last Teaching Day for Christy
  20 Clara Hodder in Concert at Denton Hall…Nationals fundraiser and send off.
  21-22 Exam Piano Rehearsals with Jessica Hansen
  23 Clara go to Quebec for National finals
  27-28 RCM EXAMS, Wolfville Baptist church
    Summer Camps:
Gaelic College, Cape Breton
Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Halifax
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  September 2008
  02 Suzuki Book 1 Coaches training day 9-5
  08 First day of Violin private, group and coaching lessons
  09 First day of violin lessons in Halifax, Maritime Conservatory
  16 Anne Rapson – Sara MacLeod
  20 4PM Wedding, Kentville (Christy, Katie, Kristen)
  27 All morning and afternoon Fiddlestickers perform in roots festival
  27 Fiddle workshop for intermediate and advanced players with Roots festival fiddle guest
  30 Anne Rapson – Sara Henri rotation
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  October 2008
  11 6PM NS Suzuki String Ensemble, Belcher Street, Kentville, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, 6PM (all levels)
  15 Anne Rapson – Anja MacLeod rotation
  24 Christy Presentation on group teaching to NS School board teachers, Halifax
  28 Anne Rapson – Donovan rotation
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  November 2008
  01 6PM NS Suzuki String Ensemble, Belcher Street, Kentville, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, 6PM (all levels)
  03 Deadline for Winter RCM exam registration
  07 Jam with Kim
5:30-6:00 Suzuki Book 1
6:00 – 7:00 Suzuki Book 2-4
7:00- 8:45 Suzuki Book 5 and Up
  11 Anne Rapson – Sara MacLeod rotation
  18 Anne Rapson – Sara Henri rotation
  21-22 Natalie MacMaster Concert in Halifax
  22 RMT Piano Rehearsals
  23 RMT Canadian Music Week Concert Nov 28th Fiddlestickers / Suzuki Book 2 and up concert with Special Guest Samantha Robichaud 7PM, tickets at Just Us Coffee
  29 Fiddle Workshops for Suzuki BOkk2 and up with Samantha Robichaud
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  December 2008
  02 Anne Rapson – Anja MacLeod rotation
  12-13 RCM theory exams
  16 Anne Rapson – Donovan rotation
  20 Christmas Concert/Carol sing 6PM, Belcher Street, Kentville,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (all levels)
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  2009 Schedule
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  January 2009
  10 (TBA…date still tentative) NS Suzuki String Ensemble
  19-31 inter RCM exams
  20 Anne Rapson – Sara MacLeod rotation
  27 Anne Rapson – Sarah Henri
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  February 2009
  07 (TBA…date still tentative) NS Suzuki String Ensemble
  13-19 NO VIOLIN (Christy at Suzuki Book 1-6 overview with Rhonda Cole, Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
  17 Anne Rapson – Anja MacLeod – rotation
  17 NO VIOLIN at Maritime Conservatory, Halifax
  21 RMT Piano rehearsals
  22 RMT Concert
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  March 2009
  01 RCM exam registration deadline
  03 Anne Rapson – Donovan rotation
  07 (TBA…date still tentative) NS Suzuki String Ensemble
  16-21 MARCH BREAK no lessons with Christy, Ben, Katie, Kristen or Clara
  17 Anne Rapson – Sara MacLeod rotation
  29 (TBA still to be confirmed date) SUNDAY NS Suzuki String Ensemble BIG CONCERT! This will be in the beautiful Lillian Piercey Hall in Halifax at the maritime Conservatory. Special guests. An exciting event with a reception to follow for players and their families.
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  April 2009
  04 RMT Piano rehearsals
  04 Symphony Nova Scotia, ATF
  05 RMT Concert
  15 Deadline for Fiddle NS Composition Contest
  17-19 Piano Rehearsals for Festival
  20-22 Violin (Classical) Music Festival
  26 Fiddle Rehearsal with Kim Holmes Piano
  27 Fiddle Festival
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  May 2009
  03 STARS of the FESTIVAL, Denton Hall
  12 Anne Rapson – TBA rotation
  26 Anne Rapson – TBA rotation


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Fiddlesticker Graduates:
(Click photo for larger versions. photos will open in a new window)

   
  Natasha Hope-Simpson

























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