Fiddle classes are designed to teach students Irish fiddle tunes by ear. Students will learn the different tune types in Irish music as well as ornaments and bowings that make them distinctly Irish. Each class will consist of listening, reviewing previously learned tunes, and learning new tunes and technique. Students should be in mid-Book 2 (Two Grenadiers) or higher to participate. Fiddle classes meet on Thursdays in room 137 from 6:00pm to 6:45pm.
Fiddle Instructor
Kari Barton is a native of Flagstaff, Arizona. She graduated from Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy in 1999. She then received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2004 in Performing Arts Management from Columbia College in Chicago. During her undergraduate years, Ms. Barton completed a study abroad program at the University of Limerick in Ireland. She completed her Master of Music in Violin Performance/Suzuki Pedagogy at Northern Arizona University in 2006. She currently teaches Suzuki violin and Irish fiddle to a studio of 45 students, ranging in age from 3 years old to adults.
Ms. Barton began studying violin at age eight with Ruth Atkin Giauque through the Preparatory School’s Suzuki program at NAU. She has also studied violin with Dr. Louise Scott, Phyllis Sanders, Karin Hallberg, Victor Liva, and Dr. Susan Baer. She completed her Suzuki Pedagogy training with Karin Hallberg, Dr. Louise Scott, Dr. Susan Baer, and Dr. Julia Hardie. She currently plays with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and has also had the opportunity to play with the Verde Valley Sinfonietta and the San Juan Symphony.
Ms. Barton began playing Irish fiddle around age 14. She has studied with Ellery Klein, Liz Knowles, Liz Carroll, Colin Grant, Troy MacGillivray, Darol Anger, Martin Hayes, Oisin MacDiarmada, Randall Bays, Ciaran O Maonaigh, and Valerie Casey. She continues to attend workshops each year to improve her playing and is a member of the local Irish band, The Knockabouts, running a weekly Irish session.
Ms. Barton also runs two organizations: Living Traditions Presentations, which brings Celtic music concerts to Flagstaff; and Grand Canyon Celtic Arts Academy, which brings instructors in Celtic music to Flagstaff each summer for three days of workshops.
