Southside Elementary students experience weeklong fiddle residency

COCOLALLA — Students at Southside Elementary recently had the opportunity to explore a new style of music during a special weeklong fiddle residency led by traveling musician and teacher Kelly Thibodeaux.

Throughout the week, students in grades kindergarten through sixth participated in daily 45-minute fiddle lessons, learning the fundamentals of rhythm, tempo and dynamics before showcasing their new skills in a Friday performance for families and classmates.

The Fiddle Camp Program, funded through PIE (Partners in Education), brought dozens of violins to campus and gave students the opportunity to experience fiddle-style playing in an engaging, hands-on setting.

Southside Elementary Principal Jenny Smith said the residency created an unforgettable experience for students.

“Seeing our students’ faces light up the moment they picked up the violins was magical,” Smith said. “This program gave our kids the freedom to try something new, build incredible confidence, and discover the pure joy of making music together. We are so proud of them.”

Southside music teacher Sigi Ribeiro said Fiddle Camp has become a memorable and inspiring experience for students each time it’s hosted at the school.

“The kids absolutely love it,” Ribeiro said. “Kelly is lighthearted and fun, and he uses storytelling, creativity and imagery to connect with students. They jump right into it.”

Thibodeaux, a Louisiana-born musician and longtime touring performer, has spent more than 20 years bringing his fiddle program to schools across the Northwest. Based in Oregon, he travels with nearly 60 violins in a variety of sizes so students of all grade levels can participate. His residency condenses what he describes as a “six-week string program into four days,” giving students the chance to quickly build confidence while learning the basics of fiddle playing.

“I’m basically teaching the kids how to play like me,” Thibodeaux said. “My whole method is based on rhythm and groove, so it goes very quickly. The fiddle is an incredibly expressive instrument. It can laugh, sing, talk and tell stories.”

While the instrument itself is the same as a violin, the residency focuses specifically on fiddle-style music, which emphasizes rhythm, movement and storytelling. Students learned through imaginative activities and interactive instruction, with younger students using sound effects and stories to practice bowing techniques while older students expanded into more advanced rhythm patterns and musical coordination.

The residency also complemented Southside Elementary’s year-round music program. Ribeiro explained that students experience a variety of musical opportunities as they progress through each grade level. Kindergarten through second grade students focus on singing and musical games, third graders learn folk dance, fourth graders study recorders, fifth graders learn ukulele and all sixth-grade students participate in beginning band, choosing between trumpet, flute or clarinet.

In addition to regular classroom instruction, Southside students participate in performances throughout the year, including holiday programs, family folk dances, ukulele performances and collaborative band events with middle school students.

According to Ribeiro, programs like the fiddle residency help students discover new interests while building excitement around music education.

“It inspires the kids,” Ribeiro said. “They really connect with Kelly and the way he teaches.”

The fiddle residency has visited Southside Elementary several times over the years and has also been hosted at other schools throughout the district. The week concluded with lively student performances that highlighted not only what students learned in just a few days, but also the enthusiasm and confidence they developed along the way.

    A group of students at Southside Elementary practices learning the fiddle.