Dear Reader,
Hello from a road in Wyoming! Thank you for opening our newsletter. Carl and I are presently on a cross-country adventure – sharing music and spending time with people we cherish along the way. We drove to Victoria, BC to see family and friends through a southern route and then went up through California where the fires are today. Our hearts go to all the families affected. The news is really scary and it feels like we are entering into unchartered territory in 2025. When we focus on what’s positive, we are grateful for the time we have spent with many we care about and the new friends we we are meeting on this trip. This big ol’ country continues to awe us with beauty everywhere as we journey through 18 states. From the red/orange hues of the southwest, the green, mossy west-coast to the white, snowy mountains of Utah it’s been very inspiring. Carl even thinks he saw a Peregrine falcon today! Along the way we’ve seen folks worried about the world but also experiencing joy at music jams, shared meals, concerts and even ski-slopes in perfect conditions. Alas – we have little experience on slopes and have to travel on. If all goes well. we will be back in “Dittyville,” (our 1900 farmhouse in Hillsville, VA), in a week – ready to spend some time at home with our cats.
Despite whatever the New Year brings we hope that you and yours have a healthy, good year ahead that includes any of the following you wish for: learning something new, being creative, finding time for yourself and connecting with others, living healthfully, enjoying nature, travel and contributing in some small or big ways to making the world a better place.
One if things we always enjoy starting up again in January is our online music classes (zoom). Here’s the dates and info in case any of you are interested. Have a good start to 2025 everyone!
Erynn & Carl’s Online Music Classes – Winter session!
Int+ Mandolin (Carl Jones) Mondays: 7pm – 8pm ET Jan 20 – Mar 3, 2025 (no class Feb 17)
Int+ Guitar Back-Up (Carl Jones) Tuesdays: 6pm – 7pm ET Jan 21 – Mar 4, 2025 (no class Feb 18)
Intermediate+ Old-Time Fiddle (Erynn) Tuesdays 7:30pm – 8:30pm ET Jan 21st to March 4, 2025 (no class Feb 18)
Int+/Adv OT Fiddle (Erynn) Wednesdays 7pm – 8pm ET Jan 22 – Mar 5, 2025 (no class Feb 19)
Each group class meets online for 1hr a week for 6 weeks on Zoom.
You get:
6 live online classes including:
6 videos of each class
Fiddle music or Guitar/Mandolin TAB
Suggested guitar chords
Practice audio for play along
Field recordings and historical info on traditional musicians
Bowing markings/practice or guitar / mandolin technique exercises
Fun making music with others with no commute
This New Year – Improve your skills and play more Old-Time music! Videos of all classes will be recorded and archived so you can miss a class and watch later if you’d like to. Some people in far-flung time zones like to take the class entirely by video. Attend when you want or opt for the class video when you’re busy. Cost for entire 6-week class is $80-$125 (sliding scale: pay what you can). For those friends in other countries, we don’t mind you paying us $80-125 in your currency if this is to your advantage. For each tune we delve down the old-time music rabbit hole to learn from master traditional players. There is also a fun, community vibe in these group classes. That’s Carl and my favorite part! To register just tell us what class you’d like to join by emailing info@dittyville.com and make your payment via paypal, venmo, or check. paypal.me/dittyvillewww.venmo.com/dittyville If you have any questions feel free to drop us a line.
Cheers, Erynn & Carl
