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Fiddlin Around Along the Mississippi gulf coast, from Biloxi to
Waveland, the devastation is massive and heartbreak-
ing still. At "ground zero" in Pass Christian, and for
long stretches east and west, the beachfront is wiped
clean; nothing remains but foundations and piles of
rubble.
This is what we found on a reconnaissance trip to
the region in March.
We also found that hundreds of volunteers from
all over the world have come to the area and are com-
ing to help rebuild. When the Fiddlers offered to lend
a hand, universally we were urged to contribute our
greatest strength: mu-
sic. And so we are.
Between June 20th
and June 25th, the Sa-
line Fiddlers will per-
form for volunteers
and residents and par-
ticipate in benefit con-
certs in Mississippi,
from Moss Point to
Bay St. Louis.
The
Hancock
County Emergency
Operations Center is
graciously providing
us with a base of op-
erations while there.
The group will be liv-
ing in a school that
has been converted
into barracks for vol-
unteers. We will
Saline Fiddlers 2006 Katrina Relief Benefit Tour
Summer Tour to hit heart of
Katrina damage
Volume 12, Number 3 www.salinefiddlers.com Spring 2006
Fiddlin Around

The Newsletter of the Saline Fiddlers
spend some mornings and afternoons joining work
crews from the camp.
In the evenings the group will sally forth to per-
form concerts all along the coast. Check our web
page for the schedule if youre going to be in the area
and would like to attend.
Saline Fiddlers Technical Director Dan Klos surveys the damage in
Biloxi,
Mississippi.

Even with the free room
and board in Mississippi,
and our bus drivers do-
nation of his time, this
effort will stretch our
budget as it is essentially
a second summer tour
for the group. We could
use your help in the
form of monetary dona-
tions. Please consider
making a tax deducible
contribution to Saline
Fiddlers, PO Box 315,
Saline MI, 48176, or
online at our website.
You will receive a re-
ceipt for tax purposes,
and I promise the money
will go to good use.


* Senior Edition *
Every Spring edition of our newsletter is dedicated to
our graduating Fiddlers and their parents. This exciting
issue features seven of the most marvelous, in both their
musicianship and character, people ever to come through
the Saline fiddling system. Look for stories about these
Fiddlers and the parents who contributed to their success
throughout this issue.
By Will Warner,
Executive Director,
Saline Fiddlers

* Senior Edition *
Page 2 Fiddlin Around Spring 2006

Artistically Speaking

An amazing story of sound
equipment
By Ben Culver,
Artistic Director

We were very fortunate in December to receive a
generous donation that has allowed us to significantly
upgrade our sound system to a level commensurate
with the performance level of our kids. Most fans
agree that our kids are terrific and put out an amazing
amount of energy and enthusiasm in performances.
But as we've started playing larger venues, we found
the limit of the speaker system we had relied on for six
years. Regardless of the efforts of our tech crew, it just
couldn't project sound out to all our audience members
in the larger halls; patrons instead heard sound re-
flected off of walls and ceilings which sounded more
like a bathtub than a fiddle band...
With this generous donation, we were able to up-
grade the amplifiers and speakers used for the audience
to a professional level. The JBL VRX900 system, sup-
plied by Thunder Audio from Taylor MI, is perfect for
our application because it sounds great, separates into
several pieces light enough for our kids to carry, and
we'll be able to add on as our needs expand. We pur-
chased four high-boxes (each has a 12" woofer and
three 1" compression drivers), two subwoofers (each
has an 18" woofer), three Crown XLS1200 amplifiers
(each supplies 1200 watts), a BSS speaker manage-
ment system, a 200' 40 channel audio snake, and cases
for everything.
As the system expanded, so did our transportation
needs. For years we've moved our sound system in a 5'
x 8' trailer towed behind a parent-driven van. This

Fiddlin Around
is the official newsletter of the
Saline Fiddlers.
We publish four times yearly, or as needed.
Jen Lahnala, Editor.
Stories by Jen Lahnala, Evi, Brenda Fuelle,
and Cindy OBrien
Photos courtesy of loving Fiddler families.
Will Warner, Executive Director

worked for a while, but in addition to the constant need
to find someone to tow (from a relatively small pool of
vehicles capable of towing 3500 lbs), the trailer itself
wasn't big enough to contain the gear we had before the
upgrade. We purchased a 16' box truck with a ramp and
things have never been better. Now we have a little ex-
tra space with the gear when we need it, everything
rides together, and it's a lot easier to find drivers.
This major need has loomed for a few years and
we're so thankful for donations! They have allowed us
to continue on our mission of perpetuating fiddle music
and the positive qualities of kids to audiences far and
wide. Many long time fans have approached us and
commented on how much better we sound now, and I'm
much happier that the musical efforts of our kids now
are heard at the level that they put out!

Soon we'll need to make more upgrades:
1. replace monitor speaker system (used for musi-
cians on stage to hear each other). ~ $15,000
2. upgrade microphones and stands. ~ $6,000
3. purchase risers for the drums. ~ $3,000
4. wireless transmitters for rhythm section. ~$8,000

If you'd like to help the Saline Fiddlers achieve one
of these or other goals, please visit our website at www.
salinefiddlers.com where you'll find it easy to contrib-
ute.


The Fiddlers will be entertaining and working alongside
volunteers like these in Mississippi.
* Senior Edition *

Spring 2006 Fiddlin Around Page 3

And what Fiddlers has taught us.
Match the baby picture with the
senior picture.
BABY GAMES

If youre loud
and in your face,
it comes out
sounding good.
I learned how
to survive
around Fiddlers
for over a
week.
I learned how to
balance many
different
activities.
I learned how
to perform on
stage.

I learned to
appreciate all
kinds of music.

Dont move too
fast. Make sure
you make time to
enjoy the ride.

When youre on
stage, be silly.
The crowd digs
that.
Dont date
other Fiddlers.
Ever.
The new guys
always work
the hardest.

Ive met many
great friends
through
Fiddlers.
I learned to have
fun doing mundane
tasks, like power
shopping.

Some people just
dont do well in
the morning.

I learned how to
sleep on a tour
bus.
Its OK to fail as
long as you learn
from it.
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Answers:
a-3,
b-
4, c-
7, d-
6, e-
2, f-
1, g-
5 Page 4 Fiddlin Around Spring 2006


* Senior Edition *

Our Graduates...


B
rad is the first ever Saline Fiddler drummer.
An amazing and gifted percussionist, he cred-
its his mom and his brother as the motivation
to first start playing. While in fifth grade Brad first felt the
call of the drums and began playing to copy his brother.
After four years in Saline Marching Band, Saline Jazz
Band, and Saline Pep Band, he added the Hornet Light and
Sound and the Fiddlers to his long list of musical associa-
tions.
Brad has helped to bring a new dimension to the
Hometown Show with his drum set-up on stage. Behind
his own Plexiglas booth, he delivers an entertaining show
complete with hat turning and drumstick flipping. No one
in the audience can resist the rhythm of his quick-paced
performance.
With all of his drumming talent, it may come as a sur-
prise that Brad doesnt intend to major in music at college.
He does plan to pursue a degree in the field