Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association
acoustic jamming for all levels
Join acoustic musicians of all ages and levels at our First Sunday of the Month jam.
Sunday, May 2, 2021
As a step toward our regular first Sunday jam, we will hold two independent jams: one in person, one online
- Live In-Person Jam will take place at the Rose Garden Park in San Jose — the first one since the pandemic started.
- Our Online Zoom jam will continue to provide a place to come together to play music when in-person isn’t possible.
Live Jam in the Rose Garden
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Rose Garden Park, San Jose (at Naglee and Garden Drive in San Jose)
Two main jams will be organized, a bluegrass/county jam and an old-time fiddle tunes.
Santa Clara County restrictions for this event:
- 2 hours maximum gathering time – Jam time 3:00 – 5:00 PM
- Everyone must wear masks
- Maintain 6-foot distancing
- No wind instruments
- No shared food
- People who are singing are strongly encouraged to do so quietly (at or below the volume of a normal speaking voice).
- Don’t Attend This Gathering If You Feel Sick.
- Everyone MUST SIGN IN and provide contact information (email &/or phone).
- Anyone who develops COVID-19 within 48 hours after attending a gathering should notify me (president [at] fiddlers.org) and/or other attendees as soon as possible.
- The SCVFA banner will not be displayed.
Even though many of our members are fully vaccinated, all must still follow the above limitations and masks are a must!
Remember to bring chairs. The weather should be mild/warm, but we always recommend you bring a jacket or sweater.
Online Virtual Jam
This is a FREE event!
All traditional acoustic genres are welcome!
SLOW JAM: 1:00 – 2:00 PT
If you’re a beginner or learning a new instrument, join the slow jam. Then stay and play along with the up-tempo group.
If you want to learn some of the tunes frequently played at the slow jam, download the Slow Jam Tune List (sheet music). The tunes are also provided online at slow 60 BPM and a bit uptempo (90 BPM) so you can learn them and play along. These can be played directly from the website. Listen to slow jam tunes here.
UP TEMPO JAM: 2:00 – 4:00 PT
Experienced musicians join in for some old-time, bluegrass, rags and reels, or a Cajun two-step!
Contact SCVFA President: president |at| fiddlers.org for Zoom links
Learn a tune for an upcoming jam!
Want to learn a tune you’ve heard at a jam or on a recording? Over 200 tunes are provided in Pete’s Tune Collection with easy to use midi sound files, standard music notation, and ABC notation.
Early Beginners & Slow Jam Tunes
If you’re just starting to play an instrument or would prefer to play at a slower pace, we have a set of popular tunes for you to learn or play along with. These are tunes you’re probably going to hear in our monthly Slow Jams. They are the same tunes often played in uptempo old time and bluegrass jams. So learn them slow and then check them out in Pete’s Tune list when you’re ready to speed them up.
Midi recordings, standard and ABC notation are provided for most of the tunes. The list rotates from time to time, so be sure to check back to learn more tunes!
Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association
Celebrity Workshop Series
Stephen “Sammy” Lind Fiddle Workshop
Traditional fiddle tunes and styles
May 16, 2021
4:00-5:30 pm Pacific Time
Doors Open at 3:45
This is a Zoom event. Get your FREE Tickets on Eventbrite
Born in Minnesota, Stephen “Sammy” Lind has established himself as one of the most critically acclaimed old-time fiddle players in the country.
Co-founder of the Oregon-based Foghorn Stringband, Stephen has traveled the world playing and teaching a vast repertoire of tunes from Appalachia and the Midwest.
His playing reflects tremendous respect and passion for all the fiddle players and old recordings he spent countless hours learning from.
This is FREE online Zoom event. Get your free ticket on Eventbrite.
MEMBERS PERFORMING — COMMUNITY SUPPORTING
If you like to perform, join SCVFA. Numerous performance opportunities come our way throughout the year such at harvest festivals, school events, senior centers, private parties and celebrations.
Enjoy this and other benefits when you become a member of SCVFA. Join Today!
About SCVFA
The Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association (SCVFA) represents close to 200 members from the San Francisco Bay area — from Gilroy to Berkeley, San Francisco to Santa Cruz. And the big surprise: we’re not all fiddlers!
SCVFA celebrates the breadth of music traditions which are based on fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and guitar. “…traditional music constitutes the cultural heritage of our forefathers.”
We share a wide variety of styles including old-time, country music, bluegrass, western swing, Celtic, Scandinavian and other traditional styles.
Our music is played on acoustic instruments such as fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, upright basses, accordions, penny whistles, harmonicas, dulcimers, and more. Learn more about SCVFA.
Violins • Repairs • Bows • Supplies
Support Traditional Acoustic Music
Join the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association
As a member you will be part of a long tradition of supporting and sharing live music with friends, the local community and beyond.
The SCVFA is a California non-profit corporation, registered with the California Registry of Charitable Trusts. We are classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3). Donations to the SCVFA can generally be deducted from the donor’s Federal (and often state) income tax. Consult your tax advisor about your specific situation.
We are also supported by our members through dues, individual donations and participation in our public performances, as well as by monthly Jam attendees and newsletter advertisers — particularly Kamimoto String Instruments.
