Family fiddlers group

It’s Thursday evening at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley. Students fill the room, set up chairs and review notes while Ann Jacobson buzzes about, checking equipment.

“What shall we play tonight?” Jacobson asks. “Frosty the Snowman? Jingle Bells?”

Welcome to West Valley Kiwanis Family Fiddlers Program. A place where young and old can learn to fiddle and strum with the best of them without paying for lessons or instruments.

“We don’t ask anything about anything,” Deb Weiler, guitar instructor and co-organizer, said. “Our only criterion are that you’re playing the instrument either with us, at school or in private lessons, that’s the only criterion.”

The 10-year-old program is the brainchild of Red Weiler who “wanted to develop something for the Kiwanis Club to do that wasn’t dependent on income,” Deb Weiler said of her husband’s idea. “You don’t have to be poor to benefit. This is to benefit anybody who wants to participate. It’s to benefit the community.”

Red Weiler is a low-key kind of guy. “It just kind of evolved,” he said about the program’s success and the myriad of people who keep it running harmoniously. Currently the Kiwanis Family Fiddlers program has 25 students and its 90 violins are in use by promising violinists.

Those in the fiddlers program play for fun and fundraising. The recitals are eagerly anticipated at area nursing and assisted living homes, hospitals and even church dinners.

“Holy Trinity is really enthused about our participation. We’ve played at their carnival and they’ve asked us to play at their free dinners,” Deb Weiler said.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day luncheon at Longhorn Barbecue hauls in money for new instruments and repairs on the old ones. “We have a lot of other fiddlers come to this besides our kids,” Deb Weiler said.

In addition, the community, local musicians and music stores donate instruments. “We’ve had excellent support from the Violin Works on Garland. He’s donated seven or eight violins to us besides finding violins for us when we purchase them,” Red Weiler added.

The initial intent of the program was to open the musical doors to kids who wanted to play an instrument but other benefits were soon realized.

“Crime prevention,” Red Weiler said. “I can’t think of better crime prevention then keeping those kids busy. In this program, they’re busy all year-round.”

The Weilers also discovered family involvement is a key ingredient.

“I tell parents, the best thing you can do is play with your kid. Turn the TV off and just play. When the whole family plays, they really get into it,” Red Weiler said.

Don Roman enrolled his three daughters in the program 18 months ago and has been playing guitar ever since. “Red handed me a guitar and said, ‘Since you’re going to be here, you might as well play,’ ” he laughed. “It’s brought our family closer. We turn the TV off and play. It’s a great family builder.”

Daughter Jenny Roman parrots her dad’s enthusiasm. “I was taking violin lessons before I started here but I like this better because I’m able to play in a group,” she said. She also enjoys her family’s home concerts.

Being able to play in a group is a crucial factor for students. “We try to get them playing with us very quickly. It gets the enthusiasm going,” Deb Weiler said. “There are ways they can play with us without playing all the notes. Basically, we teach from music, we read music.”

Instructor Ann Jacobson plays violin, guitar and piano and has volunteered for several years. “The reward is watching people learn,” Jacobson said, “and when they’re good enough they can stand up to a microphone and play without hesitation, that’s the reward. It also keeps the kids busy and it keeps families together.”

Besides violinists, there are guitarists, a mandolin player and a pianist in the group.

Although no specific criteria or expectations are placed on the participants, there is a wish – that those who benefit from the program will one day play it forward.

“What we would like is that someday, down the road, they will carry it on. Help someone else,” Deb Weiler said.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to rosin up a bow or strum a guitar, this is your chance. “Just call and get involved,” Jacobson said. “We’re here and it’s a lot of fun. Come out and listen.”