Artist in Residence transforms Long Creek students into fiddle performers
By Logan Bagett on Thursday, November 16th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories More Top Stories
LONG CREEK – KJDY’s Coffee Time on Thursday featured a handful of guests from Long Creek School District. Over the last two weeks, the school has hosted Arts East’s Artist in Residence Kelly Thibodeaux; a fiddle performer and instructor. Thibodeaux said he provides the fiddles and the fun:
“I carry all the fiddles, and in four days I can teach the entire elementary school, from Kindergarten on up, they can learn enough sound effects to where they can illustrate a short folk story. Then, they all learn enough skills that they can play a little three-chord two-step on the fiddle with guitar accompaniment.”
Long Creek School 2nd Grader Ben Keliikuli gave listeners a special treat, when he performed “Playing My Fiddle Just For You,” live over the radio waves and streaming platforms.
Kelly Thibodeaux is also the lead singer and fiddle player for the swamp rock band Etouffee.
Listen to the full podcast, including Ben Keliikuli’s performance, here:
