ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - In an effort to promote fiddling in the community the Hamlet of Fort Liard recently sponsored the first edition of what's expected to become an annual fiddle camp.

Between Aug. 9 and 12 a variety of fiddle tunes vibrated through the halls of Echo Dene School as 17 youths learned under the guidance of instructors Trish Clair-Peck and Rod Olstad. The goal of the first annual Fort Liard Fiddle Camp was to give youths the chance to continue learning how to play the instrument, said Roslyn Gardner Firth, the manager of wellness and recreation with the hamlet.

Fiddle instructor Rod Olstad, left, adjusts the way Meghan Yeo holds her bow and fiddle during the first annual Fort Liard Fiddle Camp. - photo courtesy of Roslyn Gardner Firth

The Kole Crook Fiddle Association initially introduced local youths to fiddling by bringing in instructors three times over the past two years. Fiddling really took off in the hamlet under the guidance of Liene Maurina.

"The kids had a taste of playing the fiddle but hadn't had regular daily instruction until Liene was here," said Gardner Firth.

Maurina, a Beaver volunteer, worked with 32 students on an almost daily basis during the last school year to improve their fiddling skills. The camp was designed to give the new fiddlers a refresher and encouragement during the summer, Gardner Firth said.

"We'll be aiming to make it a yearly event," she added.

During the four-day camp fiddlers were divided by their grade levels with the younger students receiving instruction in the morning and the older students coming in the afternoon. Time was spent focusing on good posture and proper bow and fiddle holding techniques as well as on learning new tunes, said Clair-Peck.

The Grade 6 fiddlers learned five new songs within the span of three days, which was quite an accomplishment. All of the students were "really enthusiastic," Clair-Peck said.

On Aug. 11, the fiddlers performed their new songs in front of an audience of between 20 and 25 family members.

The following night the fiddlers invited the whole community to hear their progress. Approximately 40 people attended the 40-minute concert followed by a fiddle dance.

"They were eager to try and were super excited about the final concert," said Clair-Peck.

"They were a joy to teach."

Taeresha Berreault, 11, said performing in the concerts was scary but holding a fiddle camp in Fort Liard was a good idea.

"It was awesome," Berreault said.

Berreault added a number of new fiddle tunes to her repertoire during the camp including Old Joe Clark and Cripple Creek.

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