Mondays, 8:30-9:45 pm, beginning May 9th
$120.00 advance / $130.00 after May 2nd

*Class starts Monday, May 16th. No classes on Monday, May 30th or Monday, June 20th. Make-up dates TBD.

Register online

OK.  You've taken Beginning Fiddle, or you've had a couple lessons.  You sort of know how to hold the bow and where some of the notes are.  You more or less know how to get the beast in tune.  You Are Ready!  Ready to play some Tunes!  In this class you'll learn some tunes that are easy enough for beginners and still played by those of us who have been playing for years.  We'll lead written music.  And, of course, we will work to develop good fiddle habits by reviewing the nuts and bolts of the fiddle and bow.  Along the way, we will look at the construction of fiddle tunes, learn some ways to approach learning, and work on making a tune our own - by ornaments and style. 

Erik Hoffman spends his time calling Old-Time Country Dancing and playing music (fiddle, guitar, voice, mandolin, bodhran, and other odds and ends). Erik became interested in traditional music and dance when he returned to his home town of Santa Barbara in 1980. Friends dragged him to the contra dances, and he became addicted. In 1985 he called his first dance.

In 1987, Erik took up the fiddle. Three weeks later, on a dare, he competed in the Santa Barbara Old Time Fiddle Contest and won third place in beginning fiddle in a field of three. The following year he place first in intermediate fiddle. In 1990, Erik came in third in advanced traditional singing.

Traveling all over the state, Erik has become well known from Arcata to San Diego, and from Carson City, Nevada, to the Bay Area. He has also toured the United States extensively, on both coasts, and in between. He has been staff at a number of festivals, including the Bay Area Country Dance Society's American Week, Family Week, and Spring Weekend (Monte Toyon); CD*NY's Hudson Guild; Sacramento's Echo Summit; California Traditional Music Society's Solstice and New Year's festivals; San Luis Obispo radio KCBX's Live Oak Music Festival; New Mexico Folk Music & Dance's Memorial Day Weekend; and Seattle's Slugs at Sunrise Music and Dance Camp.

Erik loves the spirit and joy that is passed along with traditional music and dance, and loves to share his enthusiasm.

Visit Erik's website