This year Sugar Maple is proud to offer a Suzuki to Roots Fiddle Workshop on the Roots & Reason Stage on Saturday, July 30 at 12:30 pm.

The workshop’s instructor is Madison’s own Chris Wagoner. An experience fiddle teacher and a founding member of Harmonious Wail, The Common Faces, The Bob Westfall Quartet, and The Moon Gypsies, Chris has had his foot in just about every musical circle in Madison. Classically trained as a violinist, Chris has been an in-demand performer and session musician in the region for almost two decades. He is the author of Hal Leonard’s Fiddle Method: Book 1 and is co-host of WORT’s Mad Toast Live. Chris and his band, the Stellanovas, will bring their swinging, original, and dynamic music to the Sugar Maple Festival’s Main Stage on Friday (July 29) night.

Open to Suzuki students, classical violinists who are interested in fiddling, or any other violinists, attendees should have 2-3 years of experience or be in the Suzuki Violin Book 2. The workshop will focus on one tune, Fire on the Mountain, which according to Chris is a quick and easy song to pick up by ear. “This will leave me some time to demonstrate different fiddle bowing techniques,” says Chris. “Bowing for fiddle is quite a bit different from classical bowing. It’s what gives this type of music its drive.”

Printed music will be available, although the ability to read music is not required. Students should bring their violin and a small music stand if using the printed music. Recording devises are also recommended.