Teaching Testimonials

FIDDLE

I started taking fiddle lessons in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Janie's virtual set-up was perfect both for the circumstances and just in general for convenience. Over the past several months, we've developed a great relationship and I have learned so much from her! I come from a classical violin background so I had a good foundation in already knowing how to play the violin, but Janie has helped coach me in bluegrass and old-time music rhythms, learning tunes without sheet music, and loosening up my bowing style. She does a great job breaking down a piece and even recording some really fun harmonies for me to play along with when I am practicing on my own. Learning fiddle music has completely changed my perspective on playing my violin - I actually look forward to practicing and learning new things with each lesson. I'm really happy to have found Janie and look forward to continuing lessons with her and hopefully playing together in person someday at one of her old time music retreats! Emily Joynton-Fiddle Philadelphia (PA)

Janie came highly recommended, so I had high expectations. They were met and exceeded. I’ve been playing fiddle for years, trying to learn from books and the internet. After Janie showed me the proper way to hold the fiddle and bow, and proper bowing technique, all those tunes I know became so much easier to play. Then she showed me the most important thing about playing any instrument; the difference between playing notes and making music. And the whole time I never feel like I’m taking lessons. I feel like I’m just hanging out playing music and learning new things. Most importantly, I’m excited about learning because it has become fun again. Jamie McCracken- Janie’s Fiddle student
​
'Jane is a wonderful fiddle teacher! She is very effective while being funny and caring. I really enjoy her unique teaching style where she uses her voice to introduce new tunes and emphasize the correct rhythm. Being new to Southern fiddling, I am amazed at how quickly I was able to learn some of her tunes!!' Anna Cavinato-Fiddle (La Grande, ORE)

I’ve taken in person and online workshops and lessons with Janie. I really wanted to work on old time rhythm and bowing on the fiddle - Janie’s teaching style really improved my playing. She also taught some great new tunes in her latest Bridge the Gap online workshop. Mark Hoffman-Fiddle Seattle (WA)

Jane conducts a logical and easy to understand bowing workshop. I believe my bowing is more fluid and lyrical after following her strategies. Marynell Young-Fiddle Austin (TX)

Jane is just fantastic to work with. I've worked with her on banjo and fiddle, though more on fiddle. She is really expressive and articulate and can find ways to explain complex bowings or banjo moves that make them easy. Jane is also relentlessly positive and really helps to motivate you and keep you playing. She's encouraging without seeming false about it, she just genuinely wants to share her love of the music with you and wants you to advance and enjoy/love the music too. It's a fun, low-stress, but productive experience working with her. - Ashleigh Smythe-Fiddle Lexington (VA)

Last January--just before the pandemic arrived--my wife and I enjoyed a wonderful week of hands-on instruction at the John C. Campbell Folk School in beautiful Brasstown, NC. Debbie studied painting, and I participated in the intermediate fiddle class. I was unsure of how well I'd do, as fiddle is an instrument in which I have rudimentary competence. I was afraid of embarrassing myself in a room full of more advanced students and perhaps frustrate a teacher who might be expecting a higher level of fiddle skills from me. As a lifetime professional musician and music teacher (not fiddle!) I have had too many uncomfortable experiences with "teachers" who can play beautifully, but leave the student feeling unworthy and incompetent. I could not have been more relieved by the way the things went, and that's because Jane Rothfield was teaching the class. From the first evening through the last hour of the week she was both a warm and welcoming instructor who made all of the students feel comfortable and competent. Not only was the class itself a life-changing experience, the time we spent chatting around the dining room--and after hours jamming and sharing music--was like finding a family member you didn't know you had. Debbie and I left the mountains convinced that we'd found a friendship that would long outlive the classes. And if it wasn't for the pandemic, I'm sure we'd have seen a lot more of Jane in 2020.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was that I learned something about the banjo that I'd never understood. Just watching Jane play both these instruments really opened my eyes and ears to a style of music that I hadn't really participated in since my early days of flat-picking guitar. The lights came on for me watching her play, and I knew I'd be adding clawhammer banjo to my life as soon as possible. Being at Campbell, meeting Jane (and so many other new friends) is among our happiest memories and we'll always treasure the time we spent there. Debbie and I are looking toward the day when we can welcome Jane into our home and community so we can share her with our friends and loved ones. Debbie's only "problem" is that now she has to hear me play both fiddle AND banjo. David Reitmeyer-Fiddle (NC)

I had never tried to learn-by-ear on any tune before taking Janie’s Bridge The Gap weeklong class. My nervousness melted away by the end of Monday’s class. Janie is a wonderful teacher and I had such a fun time. I will definitely be taking future classes taught by Janie. Fred Jasper-Fiddle

First of all, being with and learning from Jane Rothfield is just a ton of fun! She creates community and camaraderie wherever she goes. I’ve had the chance to do two Janie’s Jumpstart weekends, and both experiences propelled my fiddle playing forward with new techniques and approaches to learning and playing old time tunes. She has the knack of being able to support players at different levels while leading the whole group forward, and I highly recommend getting some time with her if you want to improve or rejuvenate your playing. Jenny Young Jones-Fiddle Austin (TX)

I wanted to thank you for the fiddle lessons that you have given me over the last several months. This is my third attempted at "getting over the hump" on playing fiddle, and the bowing tips and exercises that you gave me have made all the difference. I am starting to feel the rhythm and it's starting to feel natural. As someone who has played guitar, banjo, and mandolin all of my life, your teaching method has really resonated with me. Tom Marks-Fiddle

Jane is a pleasure to learn from! As we worked on my very first steps as a beginning fiddler, Jane was encouraging, patient, and knowledgeable. She has a way of working technique into her teaching that goes beyond the technicalities. Jane reaches into her own sense of rhythm and drive of the fiddle, and translates it to her students. Her teaching has helped me to harness that musicality in my own fiddling. Megan Reynolds-Fiddle MN

I met Janie at a music conference two years back and sat in one of her fiddle classes just to check it out and was immediately hooked! I loved it! I found her teaching style to be unique and fun. Since then I have taken several fiddle lessons from her and have thoroughly enjoyed them. She is not only an AMAZING artist but also a wonderful teacher. So glad I had the chance to learn from her! Suzanne Karrick-Fiddle (MI)

I had the pleasure of partnering up with Jane to put on a virtual music camp this past Covid- 19 summer.
In addition to working with Jane at an organizational level, and discovering how delightfully professional she is, I was invited to participate in her fiddle class instruction period. Wow! She is generous in spirit and top notch in her ability to teach. Very encouraging, breaks down concepts and pulls them back together. As a fiddle camp director and fiddle teacher, I was very aware of how she organizes her material in her instruction and was totally thrilled with her approach. Any time spent learning or hanging out with Jane is a wonderful time well spent! Carla Arnold-Fiddle La Grande (ORE)

BANJO

Janie has shown me how to pull the melody out of old time tunes on my banjo… to make them less busy and more musical. I had developed some poor habits throwing every banjo cliché I ever learned into each tune I played. Janie showed me how to strip out all of the unnecessary stuff… to concentrate on the melody and rhythm which ultimately “pops” the tunes and makes them more beautiful. Tim Wade-Clawhammer Banjo (Doylestown, PA)

As a new clawhammer player, I found that her teaching approach gave me useful strategies for breaking down and tackling new tunes, as well as tips for embellishing them. She builds your confidence in a fun, encouraging, and low pressure way -- just what I needed! Lisa Szymanski-Clawhammer Banjo  

Janie's teaching is unique and uniquely effective. With her help I finally divorced myself from over-reliance on tab and began to play more intuitively. Now I can begin to pick up new songs by ear, even during jams. Before I had a lot of technique but I couldn't make the music I wanted. Now I can make music, and the technique is taking care of itself. Stephen Powell-Clawhammer Banjo (Hanover, NH)

Just want to give a shout out to Jane Rothfield who is teaching me the clawhammer style banjo. I am a newbie and Jane is encouraging and patient. When I feel I messed up and didn't quite "get it", she explains it and shows me in different ways until I get the aha moment. Jane, thanks for making me feel special and I'm glad to be part of your community. Peg McGloughlin-Clawhammer Banjo (FLA)

I was in your clawhammer class yesterday at our house. I am thoroughly thrilled with what we learned in class. However, the coolest part is the attitude of "farting around" that you gave us encouragement to adopt! It is both a mystery and an invitation to have my ear work to make music that flows out of my head and heart. Thank you for your work! Sharon Porter La Grande (ORE)

GUITAR