Pierce County
WOTFA District 8
A classic meeting point for Old Time Music lovers!
WELCOME
Welcome to District 8. We meet monthly on the 3rd Sunday 2:00 PM at the Mid County Community Center, 10205-44th Ave E., Tacoma. No meetings May-Aug. Contact: Barbara Peterson 253-926-8457
Doors open at 2:00 for a short business meeting at 2:30, and after that there is an open circle jam. Finger foods are welcome. Don’t forget that Old Time Music isn’t just for fiddles. All acoustic instruments that play Old Time music are welcome.
It’s easy to find! From 104th Street E, pass the school on the right, and turn right onto 44th Ave E. which runs along a fence. The community center is in the back. See the map below.
Please join us!
And hey! Don’t forget to renew your WOTFA membership in October!
Reasons to join WOTFA:
- Discover many resources
- Find out what’s happening state wide
- Meet other musicians
- Help support our various activities, camps, lessons, contests
- Support this genre of American music
- You don’t have to be a musician to support this American art form
- Price is reasonable too!
DISTRICT 8 EVENTS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Jun
15
Sat
2019
all-day
Sierra Fiddle Camp
@ near Nevada City, CA
Sierra Fiddle Camp
@ near Nevada City, CA
Jun 15 – Jun 23 all-day
In the 3rd week of June, 2019 will mark their 13th annual event. Located at the Shady Creek Family Camp about 80 miles east of Sacramento. There is a shuttle from the Sacramento AP. [...]
Jun
21
Fri
2019
all-day
Make Music Day
@ Various locations
Make Music Day
@ Various locations
Jun 21 all-day
Make Music is a free celebration of music around the world on June 21st, the summer solstice. There are several locations in Washington. Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, it [...]
Jun
30
Sun
2019
all-day
Fiddle Tunes Workshop
@ Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, WA
Fiddle Tunes Workshop
@ Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, WA
Jun 30 – Jul 7 all-day
Jun 30-6, 2019 Marks the 48th Annual Event. Festival of American Fiddle Tunes is in Port Townsend. Registration begins in November on-line. This is a large event. Check their web site. [...]
Jul
8
Mon
2019
all-day
Kootenay Fiddle, Guitar, Piano W...
@ Selkirk College in BC
Kootenay Fiddle, Guitar, Piano W...
@ Selkirk College in BC
Jul 8 – Jul 12 all-day
This takes place on the second week in July. 2019 will mark their 18th annual event. Castlegar, BC is located about 150 miles north of Spokane on highway 20. Bring your passport. [...]
Jul
15
Mon
2019
all-day
WOTFA Workshop/Fiddle Camp
@ Moses Lake Christian Acadamy
WOTFA Workshop/Fiddle Camp
@ Moses Lake Christian Acadamy
Jul 15 – Jul 19 all-day
WOTFA sponsors a week long workshop in Eastern Washington each year for members of WOTFA. When is the Fiddle Camp? July 15-19, 2019 How much is tuition? $75 for youth / $175 for adults (Half [...]
Aug
3
Sat
2019
all-day
Washington State Fiddle Champion...
@ Clark County Fair
Washington State Fiddle Champion...
@ Clark County Fair
Aug 3 all-day
2019 Washington State Fiddle Championships at the Clark County Fair! We have hired phenomenal judges and staff guitarists from across the country! Over $6,000 in prizes! All ages and skill levels welcome! Once pre-registration is [...]
Aug
4
Sun
2019
all-day
Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp
@ in Divide, CO
Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp
@ in Divide, CO
Aug 4 – Aug 11 all-day
In the first week of August, 2019 will mark their 20th annual event. Located 30 miles west of Colorado Springs. There are shuttles from the Denver Intl. AP. [...]
Aug
11
Sun
2019
all-day
Centralia Campout
@ Centralia Campout
Centralia Campout
@ Centralia Campout
Aug 11 – Aug 20 all-day
2019 with be the 11th Annual Event. Usually on the 2nd Sunday in August. Check their web page for directions and registration. [...]
Aug
23
Fri
2019
all-day
Valley of the Moon Scottish Fidd...
@ near San Jose, CA
Valley of the Moon Scottish Fidd...
@ near San Jose, CA
Aug 23 – Aug 31 all-day
In the last week of August, 2019 will mark their 36th year. There is a shuttle from the San Jose International AP. Registration opens March 1 and was full by March 6. [...]
Feb
21
Fri
2020
all-day
Wintergrass Music Festival
@ Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bellevue
Wintergrass Music Festival
@ Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bellevue
Feb 21 – Feb 25 all-day
Registration opens Thursday at 8:30am for Youth education program and Intensive students ONLY. All others may start checking in after 10am. Be sure to look at their web page for schedules, programs, parking, etc. Tickets [...]
DANCE BAND
If you are interested in playing with the District 8 Dance Band, we meet on the 1st and 3rd Mondays 5:30-7:30PM at the Mid County Community Center above. We will play contradance, square dance, and swing style music. It’s a good time to urge your playing to another level, plus it’s fun! The more the merrier!
We have played at the NW Folklife Festival, Wilkeson Days, the Ballard Norwegian Independance Day Parade, as well as the local square dances. Again, this is open to all acoustic stringed instruments.
Contact: Karen Herzog 253-590-9046
There are several ongoing contra dances throughout Puget Sound. Contra dance is a folk dance made up of long lines of couples. The dance is led by a caller who teaches the steps in the dance before the music starts. Early evening dances are usually the easier forms. For more information, click on the links below.
Local Contra Dances
Square Dancing (mainstream)
BEGINNER'S JAM
Has it been too long since you played your violin? Never jammed before? Not sure if you’re ready? Need a coach, some lessons? Come and play with us in a “slow jam” tailored to help you rekindle your skills in a fun way. Still not sure?
Contact: Barbara 253-926-8457
For the Younger Musicians
We’ve started a junior jam/band. Please join us!
1st and 3rd Mondays 6-7:30PM at the MCCC above.
Play music with your pals, meet some new people.
Contact Barbara 253-926-8457
SOME INTERESTING LINKS
WHERE ARE WE?
OLD TIMEY MUSIC - WHAT IS IT?
Basically, it is North American folk music (excluding Native American) dating from the colonial period through the 1800s and even to the early 1900s, prior to the wide spread availability of radio music. In most communities, folks played their own music with input from their British, Scottish, Irish, European, African heritage. Music was played on acoustic stringed instruments (mostly fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass) for dances, clogging, singing, and evening get-togethers after a hard day’s work. Various styles are now associated with rural areas such as Appalachia, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee to name just a few, and “old timey” music may often be referred to as “mountain music.” Pioneers brought this music to the northwest as they migrated via the Oregon Trail. Our musicians do play other genres of music too. If it’s fun, we’ll play it!
Music of the Old Time Fiddlers of District 8
Featuring Musicians from District 8 1992
Andy Anderson
Marilyn Becker
Zella Chase
Harbetta Chihuly
Frank Christoph
Shelly Frankel
Carrol Gaskins
Marilyn Scott
Tom Stone
Lynn Wehmeyer
This publication is one example of ordinary people gathering to enjoy playing old-time music together. These were our friends. Cassette tapes were produced by Terry Shaw in 1992, and re-engineered for CD in 2011.
Old-Time Music stems from the American colonial period through the early 1900s. From Scotland, Ireland, Europe, and Africa came dances such as reels, squares, waltzes, clogs, hornpipes and jigs, plus folk songs, aires, and ballads. These traditional North American tunes are alive today in festivals, workshops, community organizations, shows, private homes, and through various recording efforts, including the Library of Congress, to preserve this history.
This publication is intended for practice purposes only, and it is hoped that future musicians will appreciate this effort to share some of our past.
If you believe copyright laws have been violated,
please contact Noel Thomas at Noelula@aol.com
Annual Fiddle and Variety Show
DATE: APRIL 13 “DISTRICT 8 PRESENTS”
TIME: 2PM PreShow at 1:30
PLACE: White River High School Theater
26928 120th St E
Buckley 98321
DIRECTIONS: Take Highway 410 toward the city of Buckley. At the stoplight at Mundy Loss Road, turn right. Continue down Mundy Loss Road until you reach 120th Street; turn right on 120th Street and continue until you enter the White River High School parking lot.
