WHITE MOUNTAIN REEL COMPANIONS
Janet Farrar-Royce
Besides co-authoring the WMR Companions, Jan is author of Fiddling Fingers
Article by Janet Farrar-Royce about Dudley Laufman
that appeared in Fiddler Magazine 2002
or read it on this website
Testimonials of Janet's innovative work
Journal of the American String Teachers Association February 2005 Volume 55, Number 1
Janet Farrar-Royce is a leading authority on including fiddling in the mainstream string curriculum as a means to meet National Standards and create Rich Lessons. Her articles and reviews span both professional performing and educational concentrations. She gives frequent workshops for schools, colleges and conferences.
More Testimonials click here
Articles by Ms. Farrar-Royce:
Winter 2005/06 - Fiddler Magazine The Ride: A New Hampshire Fiddling Tradition
June 2005 - Mel Bay webzine New England Barn Dancing: A First Fiddling Experience
October 2004 - Mel Bay webzine Fiddling: The New String Curriculum
June 2003 - Mel Bay webzine How To Make Your Wrist Work for You
Winter 200/06 - Fiddler Magazine Dudley Laufman's "Calling" "Everybody Dance"
Fiddling
Fingers
Beginning Fiddling Lessons for String Classes or Individual Learners
Janet Farrar-Royce and Doris Gazda
With Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Fiddling
Fingers presents the ideal way to enrich string classes with fiddle music
in six simple lessons that teaches students the basic elements of fiddling. The
performances of the tunes on the CD helps them to learn tunes in true fiddling
style by listening and joining in, just as if they were sitting in a real
fiddling session with an authentic string band. Each tune is also performed at a
“Learning Speed” and then at a “Practice Speed” to encourage students to
learn by listening and playing by ear. Students will learn to play the basic
fiddling techniques of shuffles, “slides” and “drones”, which can be
applied to all fiddling tunes. They will learn how to “kick-off” a tune and
then end it with a tag. They will be encouraged to develop their own fiddling
style while applying the basics of good position, listening for good intonation
and playing rhythmically.
This book contains lyrics, historical backgrounds and suggestions for activities
that will expand and deepen an understanding of the fiddling style. It also
offers ways for students to monitor their fiddling progress. A glossary is
included at the end of the teacher’s score and each part that clearly defines
all of the fiddling terms used in the book. Fiddling Fingers is the
perfect way to add excitement and variety to your string classes, and to expand
and enrich the musical life of string players.
Available from Carl Fischer Music
Carl Fischer ASB17 –Teacher’s Score - $19.95
Carl Fischer ASB18 – Violin - $9.95
Carl Fischer ASB19 – Viola - $9.95
Carl Fischer ASB20 – Cello - $9.95
Carl Fischer ASB21 – Bass - $9.95
http://www.carlfischer.com/Fischer/nraugsept2006.html
For past presentations and workshops by Janet Farrar-Royce, click here.
Academic Degrees:
2002 Connecticut MENTOR Certification, CT; 1993 Masters of Education K-8/Math Concentration, Southern Connecticut State University; 1985 Master of Music Education, Bridgeport University, Bridgeport, CT; 1973 Bachelor of Music, Hartt College of Music, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT; 1968 High School Diploma, High School of Music and Art, NYC, NY.
Teaching Assignments:
’05 Fiddling Instructor at Dusquene University’s Fiddle & Jazz Camp; 05- ’04 Program creator and instructor of the "String Teachers’ Total Immersion Fiddling Experience" for the State University of New York at Potsdam @ Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Camp; ’04 Instructor Eastern String Educators Workshop at Villanova University,’’03 Hartt College of Music, Instructor; ’02-present Naugatuck Valley Community College, Instructor; ’02 Central CT State University, Instructor; ’96 – Present Cheshire, CT Board of Education Coordinator of String Instrumental Music Program, String Teacher, Conductor/Dodd Middle School; ’90-’96 Wallingford, CT Board of Education, Elementary General Music Teacher; ’84-’86 West Haven Board of Education, Creator & Coordinator String Instrumental Music Program, String Teacher grades 4 - 9; ’77-’82 Westport Board of Education, Elementary & Middle School String Teacher; ’74-’76 New Haven, CT Board of Education, Creator & Coordinator String Instrumental Music, String Teacher grades 4 –12.
Other Work/Positions:
’98 Creator of the Cheshire Community Music School, a Co-Operative of private instrumental music teachers; ’95-’02Present Creator/Coordinator of Wallingford Board of Education’s Summer Arts, Computer & NASA Space Camps; ’90–’00 Wallingford Symphony Creator and Conductor of Wallingford Festival Strings, a collection of 3 Youth String Orchestras; ’86- ’91 Conductor of the CT Suzuki Conference; ’88-89 Southington, CT BOE, Artist-in-Residence; ’88-’89 Hartford Conservatory of Music, Hartford, CT, Orchestra Conductor;’88 & ’89 Guest Conductor Long Island Middle School Orchestra Festival; 77-’86 Norwalk Youth Symphony, Norwalk, CT Chamber Orchestra Conductor.
Some recent awards:
’02 First string teacher and first CT teacher to win an award from the National Education Foundation; ’01 Sunoco Grant for three years of a URL for Dodd Middle School Orchestra Web page Stringstudents.info; ’00 Winner of the first Excellence in Teaching Award created by the New Haven Symphony
Partial list of recent MENC services and workshops:
10/05 String Headliner VTMEA Conference; 04/05 Pennsylvania MEA Conference workshops; 05/05 String Headliner Maine MEA Conference; 01/05 Daylong workshop for Valley Forge, PA; 02/05 Two-Day Artist-in-Residence, Poughkeepsie, NY; 12/03-4 Presenter @ NYSSMA Winter Conference and in three area school systems; 04/03 National On-line Orchestra MENTOR; ’78 – Present Annual adjudicator of several Regional & All-State HS Orchestra auditions;’97- ‘01, Co-Chairman of Southern Regional Middle School Orchestra Festival;
Recent ASTA service:
‘05-’06 National Alternative Styles committee; Coordinator of Connecticut’s first 6-8 grade weekend resident string camp;’99-present: CT-ASTA Executive Board member; 11/05 & 11/04 presenter of three clinics for the ASTA-NJ Conference; 04/04 presenter of two workshops at the National Conference, presider over six more workshops; ’03: Creator and Co-Chair of CT Chamber Music Festival; Chairman, ’74 – ’84 Various Chair positions, Auditioner & Conductor for Fairfield County String Teachers’ Association String Ensemble Festival. National Alternative Styles Committee Member 2005-06.
Partial list of recent publications:
The Ride: A New Hampshire Fiddling Tradition Fiddler Magazine Winter 2005/06; Book reviews in most issues of ASTA Journal; "Teaching Tips" column for 2/05; ASTA Magazine. White Mountain Reel Companions for Violin, Viola & Cello/Bassline with CD (2004) published by Wind in the Timothy Press, NH. Feature article in the first two issues & 10/04 of Mel Bay’s new Italics: On-line Fiddle Magazine; ASTA Journal, Spring ’02 feature article on Fiddling, ’04, ’03 reviews of fiddle texts, videos and CDs; CMEA Magazine Fall ’00 –Present articles in each issue; Fiddler Magazine ’00 – Present several feature articles, reviews, etc.
Present Projects:
I originated and made the initial arrangements and proofs for the Viola Arrangement of Brian Wicklund’s Italics: The American Fiddling Method, Book I, being published in 2006. My first book of fiddling lessons for the heterogeneous class written with Doris Gazda with Jay Ungar and Molly Mason is due for publication by Carl Fisher, Inc. in early 2006. Working on Sweets of May Companions with caller and fiddlers, Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman.
Performing:
First chair or first stand violist of most of CT’s symphonies. Show pit work in NYC & CT. Radio commercial recording. Onstage fiddler for: The Irish and How They Got that Way. Contra Dance fiddler of:The Reel Thing, Sweetheart Strings Band, the Cheshire Cats and the PTA String Band. More extensive performing resume is available.
Email: jfroyce (at) cshore (dot) com
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