CANAAN ROAD JAMS -- Canaan Valley Music Jam Pages

CANAAN ROAD JAMS (at Mike and Ray's workshop) --- This web site is maintained by me - Michael Ludgate. I originally started this as a beginner fiddle player who was excited to share everything I learned about folk music with my friends. (more at MySpace.com take a look!) To keep myself and the rest of my musician friends organized I started a music email list and this web page. It has really evolved into more than that. It is a valuable networking resource for the musicians: both beginner and expert, amateur and professional. It really only works if you use the information and stay on the list. It also works better if you help: send me your gigs and other interesting music information and I'll get the word out to the rest of the list. For clarification: I maintain 3 email lists; one each for Customers of Ludgate Farms, another for mostly Folk Music [ Mikes-Music ] and a third for outdoor exercise (Cycle and XC-Ski)... if you want to be on any or all of these email lists just let me know at email Mike Hit reload or refresh every time you visit: this page changes often! [ SUBSCRIBE Mikes-Music ] The music email list generates about 1 email per day ... sometimes more ... sometimes less -:)

Support the venues that support live music! See the list of live music EVENTS in the right column here (better yet get on the email list). See also the list of VENUES below. With so many great musicians in the Ithaca area, there is no need to go to a club or bar that does not have live music! So, please patronize the bars and clubs that host live musicians! :-)

ABC Cafe
Bound for Glory [Map]
Common Ground
Carriage House Cafe [Map]
Castaways [Map]
Chapter House [Map]
Cornell Folk Song Society
Crossing Borders Radio
CMEMME

Cranberry Coffee BING
Craigslist Music Ithaca

Dryden Cafe
TCCDancers Contra
Felicia's Atomic Lounge
Folkstuff Events
Folkstuff Newsletter
Folkus Concerts - Syracuse
Freeville Music Open Mics
GigKeeper
Hands Four Dancers
Haunt
Ithaca Journal Music Listing
Ithaca Times Music Listing
Ithaca Swing Dance
Ithaca Underground
Judy Hyman's Calendar
Lost Dog - Ithaca [Map]
Maxie's [Map]
Nines [MapQuest]
Oasis Dance Club
O'Shanigans
Pourhouse [Map]
Red Newt Cellars [Map]
Rongo T-Burg [Map]
Scale House Brew Pub
The Shop Cafe
Soul Full Cup Corning NY
Smart Monkey Cafe
Sweetspot Lounge
State Theater [Map]
Tioga Trails Cafe [Map]

If you are a musician or dancer, however modest or well established, and you have gigs or other music related items of interest that you want posted here: please email me the info! Most of the info that you see on all these pages here gets to me from you all! Examples: open jams, your gigs, new local CDs, dances, music or dance workshops and so on. -m

Weekly Wednesday night jams at Canaan Rd ...

Every Wednesday 7:00 - 9:30 pm -- [ DIRECTIONS ] see new warning about SEASONAL USE ROADS

FACEBOOK GROUP for this jam session and affilated events! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=346116175882

Att musicians: The Wednesday Session: The Monday Nights on the

Commons are over for the summer. Now you have all winter to study those tunes and learn new ones! The Wednesday jam session focuses on contra dance tunes from the local YFN tuneset. (see this) Skill level of participants varies from beginner to expert ... the "experts" will often use this type of jam as an opportunity to learn a new instrument. For example; Tim Ball has been playing tenor banjo, John Wobus has been playing octave mandolin and so on. There is always a core crowd of enough experienced musicians to keep a tune going and enough skilled sight readers to take on almost anything new ... so: what are you waiting for?

Come join us! Every Wednesday 7-9:30 pm Directions: http://www.ludgatefarms.com/tocanaan.htm (please RSVP if you are new!).

Here is the listing you see every week for this session: JAM -- Open Jam at Mike's workshop on Canaan Rd every Wednesday - Traditional Celtic, American and world fiddle dance tunes: Reels, Jigs, Hornpipes, Hambos and Waltzes in a friendly speed controlled atmosphere. Newcomers welcome. All instruments welcome: Fiddles, Guitars, Mandolins, Banjos etc ... welcome! Sheet music and MP3's available. EVERY Wednesday 7:00 - 9:30 pm interrupted by occasional special events.

UPDATED DIRECTIONS [ DIRECTIONS ] see new warning about SEASONAL USE

Donated by Sami - from ABC Cafe's auction

ROADS - the proliferation of mapping software and gadgets for your car that tell you where to go even when you shouldn't is causing a number of lost musicians. [ yes really! ] This is happening with more frequency. So please take the time to read our directions page! :-) Directions to the Wednesday JAM [ DIRECTIONS ]

What tunes do we play? Mostly from the "Your Friends and Neighbors" (YFN) Tuneset. I have copies at Canaan Rd and lot's more info here on the MP3s Sheet Music & Tune Books music web area.

Wednesday Carpooling There is a thread on the FORUM for carpooling to the Wednesday Jam http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=2320#2320

BLOG article About the Wednesday Jam
http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusicblog/?p=3

Occasional SATURDAY JAMS ... Much less formal than a Wednesday: bring a friend!! Next POTLUCK style Saturday Canaan Jam is TBA - Potluck Dinner at 6:30 Music at ~8:00 pm ... The next open house style jam: [ DIRECTIONS ][ RSVP ][ PHOTOS OF PREVIOUS BIG JAMS ][ CANAAN JAM PAGE ][ WHAT IS "POTLUCK"? ][ CAR POOL try Facebook ] tele 607.539.6153

Halloween Jam Facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197023968571
scroll down right column for more about the occasional Saturday jams ....

previous facebook event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118596129367
scroll down right column for more about the occasional Saturday jams ....

The slideshow below is taken from our photo gallery - mostly Canaan Jams and also occasional other folk events .......

This session started many years ago at my home near Hammond Hill with myself and a cello player learning duets. (Well ... I was learning). I discovered in the year or so to follow that I loved fiddle tunes and especially dance tunes. The melodies played for what we now-a-days call contra dancing integrate some of the greatest variety of traditional music from the USA, Canada, British Isles and parts of Northern Europe like Norway, Sweden and France along with "neo-traditional" tunes written in a traditional style. These are the tunes we play.

The jam originally started as a "slow jam" but now the speed of the tunes is often closer to dance speed (~115 steps or beats per minute) while maintaining a learning atmosphere: sheet music is available for all tunes played and mp3s are available for many - bring a recorder!

All instruments welcome - we have actually been short on guitars lately for example!

If you have attended a big Saturday jam or a Monday night on the Commons and felt that was too fast .. come try a Wednesday night jam ... We used to call them "slow jams". They are not so much slow as they are more orderly than a big Saturday jam. Usually there are 4-10 musicians ... we sit in a circle and take all turns choosing a tune to practice .. we announce the tune cleary out loud and say what key it is in etc ... we might discuss the difference between reels, and jigs, and hornpipes and perhaps even strathpeys (huh ? what is that?) we often play it slow at a learning speed, then fast at a dance speed to get the 'feel' of it. Sheet music is available .. so are mp3s on a disk (email me ahead for that). -m

I guess this is what the advanced musicians call a "slow

jam". Although they are not so slow nowadays! ... maybe "medium"? Beginners are definitely encouraged and always welcomed. A good night to learn new tunes or [for the advanced musicians] to try a different instrument. We are studying old time music and instrumental tunes suitable for contra or square dancing sometimes known as "northern" tunes. This is New England Contra and Southern Old Time and French Canadian. Typical Ithaca mix. We also will occasionally do songs (old time tunes with lyrics for example). I am game to try any acoustic folk music American or International. See this page for sheet music and MP3s from our jams.

I call these "slow" jams because they are small and focused

on mostly learning new tunes or bringing favorites gradually up to dance speed. We take turns choosing tunes, so you can either pick a favorite that we all know and we'll play it fast or you can pick an odd one that no one ever heard of and we'll learn to play it with you... typical attendance on Wednesday nights is about 6 or 8 musicians.. and we need guitars! Someone told me about a jam they went to awhile back where there were 9 guitars and no fiddles.. that is unheard of at Canaan Rd .. we usually have a better balance.. but some nights there are zero guitars... so if you are a guitar player - don't be shy.. come on out .. we need you!

We mostly learn new tunes with sheet music -- see YFN collection; if you learn by ear I have recordings of most of our frequently played tunes available on mp3 - just ask! And we also can take a new tune through real slow a few times if you want to hear it to learn it...

So ... If you want just plain music practice in a quieter

southern jam on the porch - photo Kate D

atmosphere.. come to one of the Wed night practices. A couple of us started practicing on Wed nights the winter of (2002-2003) at Canaan Rd... it has been so helpful; I thought I'd open this up to the rest of the music gang. This is not the party atmosphere of the occasional weekend jams, this is a focused music practice from 7 - 9 pm, it is a great opportunity for the musicians to learn new songs and practice with a group. We also are lucky to usually have one or two 'senior' musicians drop in to answer guitar [/chord] questions, help carry the melody etc... The quitting time is 9 pm or so because of our kids - it is a week night :) (a little lax on quitting time if there is no school the next day) So ...... stop by if you like -- as usual I have extra copies of the music we play. Directions to Mike and Raylene's here

Occasional Waltz Jams ...
Now "live" at Bethel Grove on random Fridays ....

First ever Canaan Rd "waltz jam" 7:30 - 9:30 pm Monday Nov. 13th. This was a success! Next waltz jam TBA. Yes, we will play only waltzes. Ideally I would love to do it every Monday, but realistically this won't work especially during the holidays as we have other projects going at Canaan Rd ... so I will announce it spontaneously as permitted. The hope is to focus more on reels, jigs and the occasional song on Wednesdays and save up the waltzes for the Mondays that are available. I started a thread for this on the forum [ here ] feedback welcome.

By the way ... all three of Bill Matthiesen's Waltz books are available at Canaan Rd [ more info here ] -m

LOST & FOUND:

There is now a large cardboard box with the words "Lost & Found" on it. It is on the table under the bikes (near the climbing wall and the piano) .. If you lost something; CHECK THE "LOST AND FOUND" BOX, please :-)

March 31 2007:

Music Folder (Linda?)
Sing along book ... (Melanie?)
Scarf - green and yellow and blue yarn
Recorder

Previous examples ... some have been claimed:

Keys: with a musemoftheearth.org key sign and trinidad and tobago key dangle
Some sheet music in an orange folder found on the table saw.
A small light green bowl w/ animal print
Nissan Stainless travel mug.
Mountain Hardware water bottle 1 liter
A pocket comb "afro" style long teeth
Lavendar towel
Red sweater lace edge lambs wool and angora
Assorted tupperware
Assorted utensils
Assorted gloves and mittens

Some photos from Chad -- aka TexasYeeHaw -:)

"I put some photos of your big Gemini jam on my website

If people are interested, I can make prints of any size of

these - from normal size up to 2 feet by 3 feet or more. I am not yet set up for that though so I don't know costs or timing. If people want prints they can email me and I will get back to them, but it will be a few months before I can do anything - I have too much going on right now. I will get there eventually though." -Chad

Significance of the summer solstice:

In pre-historic times, summer was a joyous time of the year for those Aboriginal people who lived in the northern latitudes. The snow had disappeared; the ground had thawed out; warm temperatures had returned; flowers were blooming; leaves had returned to the deciduous trees. Some herbs could be harvested, for medicinal and other uses. Food was easier to find. The crops had already been planted and would be harvested in the months to come. Although many months of warm/hot weather remained before the fall, they noticed that the days were beginning to shorten, so that the return of the cold season was inevitable.

The first (or only) full moon in June is called the Honey Moon. Tradition holds that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives.

This time of year, between the planting and harvesting of the crops, was the traditional month for weddings. This is because many ancient peoples believed that the "grand [sexual] union" of the Goddess and God occurred in early May at Beltaine. Since it was unlucky to compete with the deities, many couples delayed their weddings until June. June remains a favorite month for marriage today. In some traditions, "newly wed couples were fed dishes and beverages that featured honey for the first month of their married life to encourage love and fertility. The surviving vestige of this tradition lives on in the name given to the holiday immediately after the ceremony: The Honeymoon." [ source article ]

The full Moon of June occurs June 21 2005, at 11:14 p.m. CDT. It is known as the Rose Moon, Strawberry Moon, and Flower Moon. Because it occurs on the same day as the summer solstice, the full Moon follows an unusually low path across the southern sky. [ source ]

Midsummer celebrations in ancient and modern times:

Most societies in the northern hemisphere, ancient and modern, have celebrated a festival on or close to Midsummer:

Ancient Celts: Druids, the priestly professional diplomatic corps in Celtic countries, celebrated Alban Heruin ("Light of the Shore"). It was midway between the spring Equinox (Alban Eiler; "Light of the Earth") and the fall Equinox (Alban Elfed; "Light of the Water"). "This midsummer festival celebrates the apex of Light, sometimes symbolized in the crowning of the Oak King, God of the waxing year. At his crowning, the Oak King falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King, God of the waning year..." The days following Alban Heruin form the waning part of the year because the days become shorter. [ source article ]

Sunday July 11th 2010 -- David Surette (guitar & mandolin) & Jeremiah McLane(accordion & piano) for a French & Breton music workshop on Sunday July 11th 2010 from 2:30-4:30 pm at Canaan Road music workshop. RSVP's are requested as number of participants is limited. Email Mike at michael@canaaninstitute.org to reserve a seat.
http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusic/viewtopic.php?p=3260#3260

Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike - House Concert!
They are coming back Monday June 14 2010!
http://www.valeriesmithonline.com/mainpage.cfm

Summer 2010 -- Tim Ball recent violin performance graduate and fiddler for Tunescape, Contrapasso and O'Shanigins (to mention only a couple) is putting together a workshop or two for the group! Sometime this coming semester! Also perhaps an instrumental hambo workshop taught by a Swedish fiddler who now lives in Ithaca! What do you think? Cool huh?

The next open house style jam: [ DIRECTIONS ][ RSVP ][ PHOTOS OF PREVIOUS BIG JAMS ][ CANAAN JAM PAGE ][ WHAT IS "POTLUCK"? ][ CANAAN CAR POOL B-BOARD ]

If you've never been to one of our jams, read on down in this

I've been to Canaan and I want to go back again

column and look at the photo album to get a feel for it ... These gatherings are an opportunity for the musicians to jam in a variety of folk styles and a chance for our exercise (biking running hiking skiing) friends to meet each other and meet our musicians and dancers! Please come -:)

Lots of listening, playing, talking, eating, a little dancing and more! In addition to a dish to share -- bring your own beverage and table setting if you can. Non musicians are welcome!

This is a great way to show your friends and family the music you've been working on, or check us out if you just want to come listen and meet some new people!

Bring something to share for dinner, please. We will

provide lot's of extra washable/reusable plates and utensils (if you bring your own set of re-usable dishes that is a big help for a back up plan). It's also helpful if you wash your own dishes we'll have a diish wash station set up.

This music event is held at Mike and Raylene's residence on Canaan Rd: Directions to Mike and Raylene's: [ directions ] - Beginners are welcome (I'm sure I've still got many of you beat on that beginner thing [uhh, well

fiddle is harder than I thought] but I'm having fun learning!). We usually like to play a song at a slow speed first... then try it fast to challenge the beginners and prevent boredom for the accomplished musicians :) Bring sheet music to share if you want us to try something new -- enough copies for the group (10?) [although this would be easier on a Wed night - see "Wednesday slow jams"] I have extra copies of the stuff we usually do... Irish/ Anglo/ and American Folk.... also called "old-time" suitable for contra and square dancing.

Non musicians are welcome! - bring your roommate and/or spouse and/or family - we need an audience for these big jams! This gives the musicians a chance to play in a group for their friends and family - it sounds so great - much different than practicing solo at home. Please come on out!! -- We really want our non music playing friends to be there to hear some of our tunes!

We are planning on have at least 2 jam rooms available for future big jams: The Canaan Rd traditional venue is the

workshop, but we will also move the dining room table and set up a space for a group inside our old farmhouse, and if that's not enough, the front porch or anywhere outdoors that you like (weather permitting) New for May 13: a screened in tent! ... -m -:)

These jams draw a pretty good crowd, which is wonderful - that is what we want -:) ... but a of couple notes:

1) Car pool if possible to ease the parking situation, which is basically on the street ... [ and drive slowly on Canaan Rd! -:) ] Oh and umm watch the neighbor's mailbox's ....

2) We are setting up 2 indoor jam spaces -- one in each building! More if the weather is nice outdoors! -:) neat - huh? [request from the beginners ... please clearly announce the name of the tune and what key it's in ... ]

5) You can primitively camp on the "back forty" if you like so you can drive home fresh the next day .. -:) Do PLEASE RSVP for camping permission [ RSVP ]

6) No horses or mules allowed on the wooden bridges -:)

Finnish humor?? Sauna Rules - Paivaa! God Dag!

See ya next big jam! -m&r

Thanks much to all the volunteers who have washed dishes and generally helped in many other ways at the past big jams!

Spring Mud Alert (March and April only) -- This is a rural property and is not all paved with nice little walkways (sorry.. it's on the list!) Just so you are not surprised by this.. it is mostly a problem in the early spring (March and April only) when the ground is mostly frozen and the surface of the lawn begins to thaw and the snow to melt .. it smells wonderfully like spring, but can ruin a nice pair of shoes. So don't wear your best shoes, maybe even wear slip on boots and bring slippers or mocs or something to change into to jam in comfortably. Please take your shoes off before you go into the house. Shoes/boots in shop are ok but try not to track mud onto the "jam rug" in the center of the shop. Thanks!

Redheaded Stepchild -- July 11th 2007 (WED)

Coming to Canaan Rd Wednesday July 11th 2007 for a weeknight house concert. Music starts at 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30) hor d'oeuvres will be served at intermission and an open instrumental jam will start around 9 pm or as soon as the the concert is over. Suggested donation of $8-

http://www.redheaded-stepchild.com/index.htm
http://www.myspace.com/redheadedstepchildband

Born in 1996 amidst the fertile folk music scene of Buffalo NY, Redheaded Stepchild is the creative vehicle for the combined talents of

singer/songwriter Kathryn Koch and guitarist/songwriter David Nanni. Throughout the late 90’s the band worked relentlessly across their region, building a strong reputation as a live act and selling thousands of live recordings. By 2000 Kathryn and David decided to take their show on the road. With the release of their first studio recording, “Time Will Tell”, the group began a schedule of non-stop touring that would last for five years. By 2005 Redheaded Stepchild had played well over twelve hundred shows across 22 states, sold over six thousand recordings and built a solid fan base of true believers. Today Redheaded Stepchild is making its presence felt in the songwriting community in their new home of Nashville TN. Settling in just long enough to feel at home, the band will take their show on the road again in early ’07 hitting festivals and touring through the end of the year.

Built around Kathryn’s fiery vocals and the lyrical and melodic sensibilities that both artists share, the songs are steeped in tradition yet intensely original. With a wide palette of acoustic sounds including Koch’s stellar harmonica and saxophone playing, Nanni’s driving guitar style and the often-featured guests on banjo, fiddle or piano, the bands CD’s are a treasure trove of the familiar and the new. But it is the live show that they live for and the live show where they shine! With amazing presence and diversity, Koch never fails to deliver soulful, heartfelt and inspiring performances. Often belting out her lines from five feet behind her microphone, Kathryn can leave audience members feeling more like witnesses!

Been To Canaan - Carole King

Green fields and rolling hills
Room enough to do what we will
Sweet dreams of yestertime are running though my mind
Of a place I left behind, been so long, I can't remember when
I've been to Canaan and I want to go back again

Been so long, I'm living till then
Cause I've been to Canaan and I won't rest until
I go back again. Though I'm content with myself
Sometimes I long to be somewhere else
I try to do what I can, but with our day to day demands
We all need a promised land.

Been so long,I can't remember when
I've been to Canaan and I want to go back again
Been so long, I'm living till then
'cause I've been to Canaan and I won't rest until
I go back again. Oh I want to be there in the wintertime
With a fireplace burning to warm me
And you to hold me when it's stormy

Been so long, I can't remember when
I've been to Canaan and I want to go back again
Been so long,I'm living till then.

-contributed by Tom Fredericks

Musicology Documentary ...
Tuesday, May 23rd 2006 at 9:30 pm
Thursday, May 25th 2006 at 9:00 pm
Ithaca public access cable TV channel 13

The documentary (which is about 30 minutes long) will air on Ithaca public access cable TV channel 13 at 9:30 pm on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006 and at 9:00 pm on Thursday, May 25th 2006. It will play a third time this coming fall, details TBA. -Emily

From earlier this year: Hello Friends! I'm a second-year Cornell student doing an Musicology Student - Emily

independent study on folk music communities, and I'm interested in making a short documentary film about the Ludgates' jams. Besides carting around a video camera at a couple of jams this month, I'd also like to interview some of you about your involvement in these jams. I'd like to do a few impromptu interviews at the Slow Jam on March 15th 2006 and the Big Jam on the 25th of March 2006, and I'd also like to interview some jammers in a more formal setting before (and maybe even after!) those dates. Interviews conducted during the jams will be short -- I don't want to interrupt the energy too much! -- and more formal interviews will likely take 30min - 1 hour.

If you're interested in being interviewed (either at one of the jams or before-hand), please let me know! It's best to reach me by e-mail: esh26 at cornell dot edu.

Thanks!
Emily

This type of academic enthusiasm about folk music is what helps capture snapshots of folk music and folk musicians and preserve this grass roots

click for photo album -- Smokin'fiddle photo by Michael Ludgate

kind of music making for future generations and also for the public at large. A century or two ago, musicologists used to travel the back woods and the mountains of the USA searching for new melodies and tracing the origins of the old ones. Many of the old time tunes we listen to today were captured by enthusiastic song collectors. Some of these dance tunes and songs are available today from the Smithsonian [ here for examples ]. Emily's research is not song collecting, but is more about the social networks that evolve around folk music which is equally important - with out those social folk networks, the music would not spread and evolve and be shared (which comes first the chicken or the egg?). So, please help her out if you can spare a few moments of your time. Who knows what her research might lead to? -Mike

What is "Potluck"?

For folks new to this country or region and new to this peculiar American custom: A "potluck" dinner is also called "dish-to-pass". It means you bring something you like to cook and eat to share for dinner at the dinner party. Everyone else does the same thing and we all take a little of whatever we want to try. It can be a main course, a side dish, a dessert or a snack. If you can afford it, it is also nice to bring some sort of beverage to share. If you do not cook or do not have time to cook, bringing something from a food market is fine too :) Bring a large enough batch so everyone gets to try a little. It is also common to put a little sign explaining the food ... is it vegetarian? ... does it contain meat or cheese?

At our parties we try not to use any throw away dishes or cups ... we have piles of plates and silverware and that is usually enough, but it might also be nice to bring your own place setting as backup in case we run out! -:)

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