Artist in Residence Heidi Clare
Heidi Clare is widely acknowledged as the best old-time fiddler currently performing. Her style and the material that she chooses to perform keeps alive the hundreds-years-old traditions established by immigrant fiddlers (mostly European) who came to America starting in the 17th century and established the fiddle as a major American instrument for folk dancing, Appalachian ballads and hoedowns, and bluegrass breakdowns. She does it all and applies the muscle to her performances that has been indicative of the hard working pioneer farmers and stock men and women who carried the traditional sounds of the instrument into modern times.
She not only plays the music that drove the raucous dances of those pioneers, but the dances the steps as well. She has performed all over the US with her own band as well as with the Reeltime Travelers, which also recorded on the sound track of the movie, Cold Mountain. Unlike many of the other “folk-type” fiddlers that play traditionally-oriented fiddle tunes, Heidi Clare is formally trained and holds a master’s degree in music.
As part of her Artist-In-Residence performances and workshops, Heidi Clare will be accompanied by two other musicians who are also well respected in the milieu of authentic American traditional fiddle tunes.
Eric Pearson is a renowned multi-instrumentalist who is proficient on almost all acoustic stringed instruments. He is much sought after as an accompanist for performers of traditional music and as a band member for groups in the Bay Area and beyond. He also is formally schooled in music and brings flawlessly rhythmic support to Heidi Clare’s tunes whether with the banjo, guitar or mandolin.
Ron Thomason is the leader of the bluegrass group, Dry Branch Fire Squad, which has performed all over the world and records for Rounder Records. He is most closely associated with the mandolin, but will be playing the guitar with Heidi Clare.
2011-2012 Events
- Oct. 26, 2011: Kickoff concert, Millberry Union East (500 Parnassus Ave.), 6-9 p.m.
- Oct. 27, 2011: 3 Minds and 3 Instruments...What Makes Music Happen? workshops, Medical Sciences Building, Room S 18 (513 Parnassus Ave.), 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
Heidi and her band members, Ron Thomason and Eric Pearson, will illustrate through their instruments and voices how the intricate interaction of three minds creates music. - Nov. 10, 2011: The Fiddler's Brain workshops, Golden Gate Room in Millberry Union East (500 Parnassus Ave.), 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
The fiddle/violin has long been considered one of the most difficult instruments to learn. Join Heidi Clare to discuss learning to play the instrument and a fiddler's approach to music. Feel free to bring a fiddle or a fiddler... - Dec. 15, 2011: Singing & Songwriting: How to Coax the Sounds and Words workshops, Medical Sciences Building, Room S 118 (513 Parnassus Ave.), 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Legendary Texas singer and songwriter, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, will join Heidi Clare in discussing the elements that make a good singer and a good song. - Jan. 19, 2012: Dance: What Makes our Body Want to Move to the Music? workshop, Golden Gate Room in Millberry Union East (500 Parnassus Ave.), 4-6 p.m.
4-5 p.m.: Heidi Clare is a dancer as well as a fiddler. She dances in the traditional American style called clogging or flatfooting. Join her in discussing why our body "wants" to move to music. She will demonstrate her traditional dance style and talk about how she responds to the music. Please bring your questions and comments about this subject.
5-6 p.m.: We will have a casual square dance. Masha Goodman-Crawford, who has called dances all over, will call a traditional "Barn Dance – traditional squares, contras, big circle dances." No experience necessary; everyone welcome! You may dance or play for the dancers. Feel free to bring an instrument. Heidi will lead the dance band (unless she gets to sneak off and dance one...). - Feb. 16, 2012: Age and Learning Music workshop, Medical Sciences Building, Room S 118 (513 Parnassus Ave.), 4:30-6:30 p.m.
4:30-5:30: Join Heidi Clare for a discussion panel about "Age and Learning Music" with the Wronglers & Jimmie Dale Gilmore and a few surprises. 5:30-6:30: Let's play some music! Bring an instrument, a tune, a song, an ear, your feet...all are welcome. - March 22, 2012: The Logic of Music workshop, Medical Sciences Building, Room S 118 (513 Parnassus Ave.), 5-6:30 p.m.
- May 10, 2012: Does Music Always Use the Same Part of the Brain? workshop, Medical Sciences Building, Room S 118 (513 Parnassus Ave.), 5-6:30 p.m.
- June 21, 2012: Are You Tone Deaf? Do You Have Perfect Pitch? What Does This Mean? workshop, UCSF Neurosciences Building, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, 4-6 p.m.
- July 26, 2012: Do You Have Rhythm? Where Does it Come From? workshop, UCSF Neurosciences Building, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, 4-6 p.m.
- Sept. 20, 2012: Talent or Skill? Are You Born With it or Can You Learn it? workshop, UCSF Neurosciences Building, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, 4-6 p.m.
- Sept. 20, 2012: Final concert at UCSF Neurosciences Building, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, San Francisco, 6-9 p.m.
Workshop Information
The workshops are open to all who are interested. Free admission. Reserve your space at info@memory.ucsf.edu.
Directions and Parking
The parking at the Parnassus campus is challenging. There is limited 2-hour street parking. The Millberry Union Public Garage at 500 Parnassus Ave. is commonly used by our visitors.
