Beautiful Music for Special Occasions

 

Laura brings a gentle touch and an abiding respect for fiddling traditions to her 20 years of experience playing fiddle as a solo performer and in a variety of musical combos.   Laura is equally at home fiddling a wild Celtic jig, a classic English march or sweet old-time Appalachian tune celebrating the finer pleasures in life. As a solo fiddler, Laura can bring a simple elegance to your ceremony, playing music that is a perfect fit for the natural beauty of the Swannanoa Valley.  Laura enjoys learning and playing tunes by request.

 

If you wish for a slightly bigger sound than solo fiddle, Laura can invite Roger Gold on guitar to join her for your wedding as the duo Meadowlark.  Together, Roger and Laura can provide beautiful music for your wedding ceremony and then play music at your reception that will keep your guests happy dancing to a variety of social dances including squares, contras, swing and waltzes.  Add Paul Moore to Meadowlark and you have Land of Sky - one of the top contra dance bands in the southeast to play for your dancing pleasure. 

 

Laura is happy to arrange for a caller to lead the dancing at your reception.

 

 

Contra Dance Band Workshop

 

Laura is an experienced workshop leader and delivers engaging lessons on a variety of topics from general instruction on how to play for dancing, communicating with the caller and arranging tune medleys to more advanced techniques such as supporting the dance with appropriate tune choices, phrasing, adding groove and improvisation.  She is particularly adept at helping musicians find their own style while still remaining true to the contra dance tradition of playing close to the floor. 

 

Laura has published a primer for contra dance musicians and a workshop book of contra dance tunes. Click on the links below to view and download at no charge.  Laura would love to be invited to lead a dance musician workshop for your dance community!

 

So You Want to Play Dance Music?  A contra dance musician’s primer.

 

A Contra Dance Tunebook  Coming Soon!

 

 

Sustainable Agriculture at Warren Wilson College

 

When Laura is not busy fiddling, you can find her directing the Sustainable Agriculture Program at Warren Wilson College.  Laura holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science/Agronomy and has enjoyed a 25 year career working as a research scientist, a public policy expert and professing about sustainable and organic farming, sustainable decision-making and resilience thinking—though not all at the same time!  You can learn more about Laura’s day job at Warren Wilson College here.

 

 

 

Contact Laura at LauraATfiddledance.net