Hope Hoffman''s Town Hall Theater Project

About the Artist

I''ve been self-employed since 1999 as a performing artist, dance teacher, writer, editor and musician. I present several original theater shows a year at the Bowdoinham Town Hall. Highlights of my work include leading dance activities for a literacy program, assistant teaching at a Montessori school 1998-1999, and directing a modern dance company 1999-2000.

I studied and performed dance continuously since 1980, and taught creative movement at Freeport High School and at Bowdoinham Community School since 2002. I performed in vocal and string ensembles since 1987, and now play the fiddle for the Bowdoinham String Band.

As a child I had private lessons in piano, clarinet and violin. I continued to play in the public school orchestra and have serious weekly private violin lessons through high school. I continued to pursue a career in the arts, through college and up to the present day. In the summer of 2002 I picked up the violin again and taught myself to play fiddle tunes by ear.

Now I perform regularly, at least twice a week, as the fiddler and sometimes rhythm guitarist in the Bowdoinham String Band. I attended Maine Fiddle Camp this past summer as well as some fiddle workshops. I also taught myself guitar accompaniment, and some basic tunes on cello and accordion.

Teaching

With all this experience as a teacher, and as a music student, I started ""putting the two together"" and teaching fiddle in February 2002, and am looking forward to assisting more students in their fiddling adventures!

The technical aspects of playing the violin/fiddle I learned as a child are important to pass on to students, and my recent experience as a performer and performing arts teacher have expanded my teaching methods.

My relaxed, encouraging teaching style incorporates ideas learned as a writer, dance teacher and theater director. I strongly encourage students to explore their own ideas and follow their own style of creative expression&#59; and I guide them in developing healthy technique, repertoire, and perpetual excitement about learning more on their instrument.

I can travel to students'' homes in the Bowdoinham area.. Fees are negotiable as I understand people have various financial situations.