7084 Boston Cross Rd.
Boston NY 14025
USA
1-877-326-3489
Email:
Website:
www.fanaticalfitzhugh.com
www.fiddlejam.com
Travels to: Anywhere, especially the Southwestern US
Biography:
Classically and Jazz trained, Rock n Roll schooled. Primary instruments: violin and instrument of his own design dubbed “Quatar” (a fretless bass strung with guitar-gauge strings, often played with slide). Also plays, bass (primary inst. for most of his 1st professional decade), guitar, keyboards, percussion, Tuba, and is a vocalist, having fronted his own band, “Fitzhugh and the Fanatics” releasing two recordings (HotWings Entertainment). Member of Instrumental Rock group “Gamalon” for 8 years (group highlights: MCA/Amherst Records, #8 Billboard Jazz Chart showing, record and tour with sax-great Ernie Watts). Has taught privately and/or in schools for 25+ years. Has performed and/or recorded with diverse musicians including: punk/folker Ani DiFranco, violinist Roy Acuff, drummer Gary Mallaber (Bruce Springstein, Van Morisson, Steve Miller, others), new age and country guitarist Paul Carrol Binkley (Alabama), drummer Sandy Konikoff (Bob Dylan, the Band, Taj Mahal), guitarist Jack Sherman (Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers), punk rocker/visual artist Mark Freeland (Our Daughter’s Wedding, Electroman), vintage synth guru Vincent Michaels, Buffalo’s “hardest working man in show business” Lance Diamond (recorded with The GooGoo Dolls), accordionist LeeRon Zydeco, and blues harmonica master Shakin Smith (Hohner endorser). Currently a D’Addario String endorsing artist and Hal Leonard author of “Fiddle Jam, a way-cool easy way to learn how to improvise.” Does Fiddle Jam Clinics, Arts Ed. shows as a member of “The Stringmen” (with 2001 North American Rock Guitar competition winner, Doug Yeomans) and various programs for Young Audiences and NY State educational powerhouse, McClure Productions. Regularly performs and records with groups “LeeRon Zydeco and the Hot Tamales” and original folk-fusion group “Emery Nash.”Fiddle Jam
Introduction to improvisation and the “wild side” of the violin/fiddle worlds for first year students and up. Jazz, Blues, Rock, Funk, Cajun/Zydeco, traditional Fiddling, RnB, and all their many hybrids covered. Students, regardless of experience, are encouraged into the “non-thinking” mental state so important to a satisfying improv experience through the use of “EZ-Zones” (symmetrical boxed finger patterns on adjacent strings) in select keys. Exact content of each Fiddle Jam Clinic depends on participants of course, but usually starts with a simple call and answer session on the Blues and goes from there. Overall approach is a light-hearted “low-impact” one of fun, and keeping it “real” as students learn not only how to improvise, but why it is so important as well. Single clinic appearances in stores, camps, and schools, or flexible residencies including: Fiddle Jam for teachers, and Fiddle Jam for parents, arts integration including: science, math, and physics of music, as well as visual arts, (see Geoff’s famed painted violins at www.fanaticalfitzhugh.com), electronic equipment and effects demos, introduction to real-life/gig situations, music career-talk, “Musical Math” (simple music theory): the note number system and awareness of the I-IV-V chord progression. Geoff can appear alone or with back-up jam session band depending on budget.
The Stringmen
General audience with 2001 North American Rock Guitar Competition winner, Doug Yeomans. Demonstration of stringed instruments, the music played on them, and how they work, in a sing-along interactive show. Elementary ages.
Blues to Bluegrass
General audience school program featuring the historical and social interconnection of these two types of music with each other, and most of today’s popular styles.
Self described “renegade rule breaker.” A dynamic performer with the heart of a true educator. Inventor of the double-sided violin.