About Us.   Well . . .

. . . we grew up in the NY Capital District area, in music and dance-influenced families, and live on the remains of a small apple orchard in upstate, NY.

Like most musicians, we haven't quit our day jobs, but play whenever we can. Whether it's playing for community events, wedding receptions, back yard parties or just busking at a market, it brings us joy to see others enjoy what we do.

How did we get into all this, when we didn't even know what traditional fiddle music was?

Jim grew up in a family that danced (his mom was a tap instructor), and he was given guitar lessons in his teens, as well as learned to play drums. I grew up in a home with country music and a dad who played guitar, an figured out how to play guitar by ear. Music brought us together via a church we both attended, and coffeehouses started our music life, which led to our married life.

Jim inherited his grandmother's violin along the way, but it wasn't until our daughter began taking violin lessons in school that I picked up the old violin, and took a few old-time fiddle lessons, which ended with we had to move, due to a job change. We sang and played guitar in various churches, but the fiddle, and traditional music, were still more of an unknown to us.

We ended up back in the Albany, NY area in '96. Within a few months, we were led to a weekly jam session called Fiddlers Tour, which played traditional fiddle dance tunes. We felt right at home with the 20 or so other musicians. From that jam session, and some 15 years of attending, we learned the bulk of the music we now play. Those sessions were invaluable.

On to the dance. Within the first few jam sessions, Paul Rosenberg (jam leader and local dance caller), noticed Jim's solid "book-chuck" rhythm guitar playing (did I mention he was also a drummer?), and asked if he'd play for an upcoming family dance, using tunes from the jam. After that gig, Jim became the permanent guitarist for Paul's community dance band, "Tame Rutabaga." I sat on the side during gigs, noodling with the tunes they played. As I became a better player, I was allowed to sit in, and was eventually added to the band as a full member.

A dozen years and hundreds of dances later. We still play for Paul for family, contra, community dances and other events. We owe him a much for taking us on and drawing us into this music and dance journey. Through the years, we've ended up in several different bands (some have come and gone), formed with fellow jam members, and are currently playing with the Tamarack Band, The FireFlies, Tame Rutabaga, and as our own duo, TuneFolk, and have had the pleasure of working with a few other local dance callers.

We're still learning, and we couldn't be happier -- well, except for the fact that we became grandparents. Our kids have followed their own music interests, and our grandkids are beginning to show their musical sides. We hope our kids, and their kids, find their own musical journey to be as much fun.

Can't say enough about jamming with other musicians, especially with those who are more advanced in ability. Years of jamming is how we developed the list of hundreds of tunes we play, as well as increased our abilities on our own instruments.

 It's a great way to boost your tune knowledge, pick up different styles or versions of tunes, learn new playing techniques (by listening/watching others around you), and meet good folks.

 Local jams and traditional music information can sometimes be found by doing a web search for "fiddle jam" and the city or town closest to you (check our links page).

And if you find a jam session, ask the musicians about other sessions. Many attend more than one jam, and many jams are open to new members.

Traditional music is all about learning and passing on what you've learned. Music has been handed down through generations, from back porches and kitchens, to pubs and taverns around the world.

All we can say is -- find your instrument, follow your musical dream, and pass it on.