WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES

Shawn Craver is a seasoned performer whose family has been in the Appalachian Mountains for generations. His early love for traditional mountain music led him to take up music as a kid and he's performed on stages throughout the United States.

A recent main stage performer at the Kansas State Fiddling Championships Shawn says, "I know tunes you can't find on the internet." Shawn's bowing style is that of central to northern West Virginia which features free wheeling short and long strokes with plenty of variation. Shawn calls it, "A complex, but  playful style."

Shawn began learning rhymes and tunes from his family in the 1970s and absorbed mountain singing styles from his family and friends in the Potomac Highlands. He also hung out with regional fiddlers like Grover Broadwater, J.C. Hollis, Woody Simmons and others. Shawn will be teaching a workshop for intermediate to advanced players, focusing on regional tunes from West Virginia/Western Maryland.  


MASTER CLASS

Master Classes are a series of 1-5 sessions designed to explore technique and factors beyond technique for fiddlers looking to improve their playing. Breaking down tunes and songs into pieces that are analyzed and explored, emphasis is placed on phrasing, emotion, and context. Students learn to use these variables to create a more personal yet universal musical presentation or "story".

Just as he learned in the Appalachian Mountains, Craver believes that folk music is best learned "by ear."  He has also  studied music theory at Garrett College, holds a Masters degree, and draws from these formal experiences to offer students a structured, yet holistic approach to fiddling.

Contact: scmusicbookings@gmail.com