Ten Pound Fiddle hosts ‘Fiddle Scouts’ fundraiser

Friday, Oct. 4 - Sat. Oct. 5 @ MSU Community Music School,

4930 Hagadorn Road, East Lansing. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m

If you think your little one has the potential to be the next Woody Guthrie or Odetta, the Fiddle Scouts interactive-music program might be just the ticket to elevate their interest in acoustic music. Hosted by the Ten Pound Fiddle, Fiddle Scouts meet one Saturday each month at the MSU Community Music School in East Lansing from 10 to 11 a.m. 

According to its website, the Fiddle Scouts “offers young people a chance to explore folk music and the folk arts in a relaxed community setting.” Of course, the parents are welcome to attend the family-friendly folk happening as well. 

“We don’t have badges,” said Sally Potter, the booking manager for Fiddle. “You just have to come and love music.”

The monthly music workshop is donation-based and ensures there are enough drums, harmonicas and ukuleles for everyone. 

In an effort to raise some dollars for the hands-on musical program, the Fiddle is hosting a two-day “CD & Vinyl Sale and Fundraiser.” The event, which runs Friday and Saturday, will be stacked with top-notch recordings generously donated by fixtures in the local Americana music community including, folk DJs Bob Blackman, Matt Watroba and Dave Siglin, the founder of Ann Arbor’s folk music club, The Ark. In all, there will be 3,500 used vinyl LPs and 1,000 used CDs to browse. All recordings are $1–$2 each. 

From the Carter Family, Pete Seeger and Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Josh White Jr., there will be many iconic names to dig through. Of course, the selection also spans a tad more current artists like Alison Krauss, Tracy Chapman and Gillian Welch.

As for the Fiddle Scouts, its next program, “A Children’s Show with May Erlewine,” happens Oct. 12. Then, on Nov. 2, the theme is “Sing, Play and Dance with John French and his Ukulele.”

For the full list of upcoming scout events, visit tenpoundfiddle.org/fiddlescouts. Suggested donation per child is $5 to $10 per event.