John Krumm

Welcome!

I'm glad that you found your way here. I have been performing traditional and vintage music for 38 years. I am perhaps best known as a caller of square and contra dance, but I also have an international reputation as a composer of rounds. I see American traditional dance at its best as an expression of the individual in the context of a caring and creative community, and as a celebration of our ability to enter into such communities as we make our way through a fast-changing world.

I sing and play Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, Piano, and Mandolin. In my dance teaching I draw on my experience with the dances and chldren's games of the U.S.A., Quebec, and the British Isles to help contemporary communities express their "solidarity in diversity." I am also a highly requested musician for Contra, Square, Swing and English dancing. For 36 years I have been an elementary school music and dance specialist, and I bring all of this experience together in Artist Residency progrqams on a variety of topics. I perform around the country at shows, folk clubs and weddings, and other special events. I am regularly called on to serve as staff member for music and dance camps around the US.

Sat

16

Aug

2008

Back from camp part 3

August 16, 2008

I'm back home again after a great Southern week. Jay and Molly and the staff put on the most amazing fiddle and dance weeks. At all three they show that the deepest and highest quality musical experinces happen in the context of a caring and communicative community and not in the realms of competition and business.

This has been a week of tremdous healing for me, and I have had a sense of coming home to myself.

John

Back from Camp part 2

I'm back from Northern Week at Ashokan. What a wonderful place and event. So many fiddlers, pianists, guitar and mandolinists, even harpers, trombone players, singers, dancers, bass players and accordianists. Probably a third of the participants were under thirty. This gives great hope to me and validates my skip a generation theory of interest in traditional arts. I taught fiddle and mandolin from scratch as well as "Krumm's Khorale." My son, Tom came with me. He is 12 years old and was responsible, independent, and charming.

I am exploring both medication and physical therapy for my health problems. I will not give up, and I will be better every day.

John

Back from camp part 1

It's July 12, 08. I got back from Ashokan Western & Swing Week just 1 week ago. I am hoping that monumental change will have tired itself out by now. It makes it hard to work. June 30th was my last contractual day with the amazing Miquon School. I have spent 27 of my 33 teaching years there. Miquon allowed me to develop my own philosophies of music and dance education in the conetxt of a vibrant educational community. If you get the chance to consider Miquon for your children, Please think hard. It is the best thing you can do for them.

I am moving on into the exploration of my inner starving artist. It is my new weight loss plan. I intend to write a book soon.

To be serious, I imagine a lot of my friends have been concerned at my level of decrepitude in the last 6 months. The good news is that I ave two manageable diagnoses. I have Osteo Arthritis in the knees and incipiently in my left hip. I also have severe fibromyalgia. There are management strategies for both problems.

Remember,

We take care of ourselves.

We take care of each other.

We take care of the environment.

This is the progressive agenda in politics as well as in education. We need to live it, and to move all of our relationships towards this, whether in business, politics, or the home. I am desparing of our politicians to truely represent these values. The change must come from us. Don't count on Obama.

Sorry, John