TomHeck.com

Adventure Tower appears in Make Magazine

Make Magazine is one of my favorite magazines.  A couple of months ago they contacted me to write an article about my Adventure Tower , the backyard play structure I built for my kids.  CLICK HERE to read the article.

John Herrmann and Tom Heck play fiddle and banjo

My daughter's first grade class is studying "sound" and the teacher invited all parents who play an instrument to come in and share.  I invited my friend John Herrmann in to join me for a couple of tunes and to talk about our instruments and the music.  The teacher captured the tunes only on a Flip video camera.

Ira Bernstein on a step-a-tune dancing near a jam session

This is a typical late night scene at a music festival.  A jam session with dancers.  Ira Bernstein is dancing on a step-a-tune (small, portable dance platform).  Ira is a also a fine musician which helps him understand how to step out the rhythms of the fiddle tune.  John Herrmann is playing banjo and Rayna Gellert is on the fiddle.  I wonder how long the tune was played - one tune might be played for a long time - it's a meditation.

Bruce Molsky plays Cotton Eyed Joe

Cotton Eyed Joe is a traditional fiddle tune from Southwest Virginia.  I love how Bruce plays this.

Nic Gareiss dances to fiddle music by Bruce Molsky

One of my  favorite old time fiddlers is Bruce Molsky.  He's a favorite because his music makes me want to dance.  Nic Gareiss is an awesome percussive dancer and in this clip Nic is right with Bruce's fiddling.