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Fiddlin' fun: Musicians play it by ear - Statesman Journal

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Fiddlin' fun: Musicians play it by ear - Statesman Journal
Mar 24th 2012, 10:22

Playing it by ear is not just a figure of speech at this event.

Chemeketa Community College's auditorium this weekend is as good a place as any for listening to some down-home tunes and mingling with fiddlers from throughout the state.

Just don't ask any of the musicians about sheet music.

"That's a sin," said Lou Holt of Salem, organizer of the 47th annual Oregon State Fiddle Contest.

Holt said that about 55 musicians are taking part in this year's competition.

"A little more than half of them are 18 and younger, and I'm real pleased with that," he said.

The Oregon Old Time Fiddlers' group does have many seasoned veterans, and nothing pleases them more than seeing youngsters pick up the instrument and learn to play music as they hear it.

Fred Hardin, 84, of Dallas, who serves as an informal master of ceremonies for the contests, even stressed that point by dusting off the perennial OOTF slogan: "You don't have to be old to be an old-time fiddler."

Young or old, music appreciators enjoyed sitting back at the auditorium and taking in the stringed musicians as they seamlessly moved from tune to tune during the jam session. Early Friday afternoon, the stage included six to 15 musicians at a time, taking turns to name a tune and the key, then lead the melody.

Many musicians — along with one seemingly happy toy poodle — circulated on and off the stage throughout the jam. Peggy Hudson, 81, of Prineville was involved from start to finish, keeping the rhythm with a four-string guitar — not a bass. Hudson has been playing music for almost seven decades.

"My dad taught me to play the guitar when I was 12," she said, adding that her father was insistent that it always be played by ear.

Hudson and Jack Kerr, 84, of Prineville represented the state's third district at the event. The couple met at the event a number of years ago, and they foster the same complementary impromptu abilities with the ear guitar.

"We don't practice; we just get up there on stage and we just do it," Hudson said.

Kerr added: "Through the years you learn all these tunes, and you just have them in your head."

The music speaks for itself as the mixed collection of fiddlers, guitarists, a bass player and a banjo player sweetened occasionally with singing from Hardin, remained cohesive as they trekked form one tune to the next for almost two hours.

The bulk of the event is dedicated to the contests, in which each participant plays a hoedown, a waltz and a piece of their choice that is neither. The contests, which run through today with a 6 p.m. stage jam session, involve players from preschool age through their 90s.

This is one of the fiddlers' major events of the season. The other is the state convention, which takes place at the Polk County Fairgrounds on April 11-14.

"Those are the two events in Oregon that are very important for us this time of year," Hardin said. "Of course, every jam is a very important jam no matter what time of the year it is."

Hardin's words were illustrated on stage Friday as members clearly enjoyed playing by, and being pleasing to, the ear.

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