Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Monday, July 16, 2007

FORT PROVIDENCE - This year's Kole Crook fiddle camp in Fort Providence was the biggest yet of its kind. This year's camp saw 15 more kids than the last, with 49 students in total.

Renee Ekendia, 11, from Behchoko plays with all of the others students during one of the orchestra classes at the Fort Providence fiddle camp. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The camp took place between July 3-8, and six fiddle instructors were brought to teach at the camp, an increase from the four last year.

"That's been a real boon," said Gerda Hazenberg, one of the event organizers.

The increase in teachers kept class numbers low so each fiddler received lots of attention.

When it comes to combining a camp setting and fiddles the end result is developing musicians.

"They're all about inspiration," Hazenberg said about the camps.

The camps inspire creativity by surrounding the young fiddlers with music, she said.

Fiddlers of all skill levels from rank beginners to advanced players spent time in four fiddle classes every day. The fiddlers also met together for an orchestra class where everyone got the chance to play.

The influx of music continued in the evening activities that included a jam session, talent show, community dance and final concert.Students even listened to music during their lunch hour as the instructors played concerts while they ate.

With so much fiddle playing the average student returns home with four new tunes, said Hazenberg.

Returning to their home communities which include Fort Simpson, Wrigley, Kakisa, Fort Providence, Behchoko, Fort Good Hope, Deline and Hay River, the students spend the rest of the year until the next camp maintaining and polishing what they learned, she said.

Although students also had time for recreational activities such as boat rides and swimming, most were focused on their instrument.

"There's a whole bunch of people who want to fiddle and learn," said Savannah Baton about why she likes the camps.

Baton, a 10-year-old from Wrigley, said she came to the camp to learn new tunes. Back in her community she teaches the songs she knows to others.

Fiddling was also Jessica Clillie's favourite part of the camp. Clillie, from Wrigley, said the camps help her with her fiddling. She learned a number of new songs at the camp including the Pelican Reel and Happy Birthday.

The new tunes were definitely the best part, said Lauren Corneille-Lafferty from Fort Simpson.

After playing for 1.5 years, Corneille-Lafferty said there are a number of benefits to playing the fiddle.

"You learn new stuff. I know how to tune my fiddle," she said.

Overall the camp was "very successful," said Hazenberg.

All of the students wanted to be at the camp and together they formed a community of fiddlers, she said.

"The team spirit has been great," said Hazenberg.