Clara Constance Stickney is a musician and music teacher based in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. She offers typical and adaptive music lessons on the piano, fiddle, and lever harp and tours with the bands The Gaslight Tinkers, Wood Thrush, and Red Case Band. She plays music for events such as contra dances, festivals, markets, concerts, and weddings throughout New England and beyond.
ABOUT
Clara grew up in the woods near Portland, Maine in a family of classical musicians. She fell madly in love with fiddle music when she was 19 attending Maine Fiddle Camp for the first time. She minored in music and started playing the lever harp while earning her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern Maine. She moved to the Berkshires in 2021.
Clara and her partner are currently looking to purchase their first home to be able to stay in southern Berkshire County. Any leads for an affordable home are appreciated.
Use the contact form at the bottom of this page to sign up for Clara’s mailing list!
click HERE to Follow Clara on instagram @claraconstancemusic
LEARN
Clara offers music lessons in students’ homes around the Berkshires. She works with adults and children ages 7 and above. She loves helping people reach their individual musical goals in a way that works for their specific bodies and brains. Clara strives to create a learning atmosphere that is nurturing, productive, positive, and inspiring. In addition to her musical skills Clara brings knowledge from the field of occupational therapy such as motor skill acquisition, innate sensory preferences, learning styles, ergonomics, client-centeredness, human development through the lifespan, activity analysis, adaptation and compensation techniques, cultural competence, and therapeutic use of self—all of which enrich her teaching of music. She has been teaching for over 10 years.
ADAPTIVE LESSONS
Though all private music lessons involve some form of adaptation to be tailored to the individual student, “adaptive music lessons” are geared toward helping people with unique challenges or disabilities learn to play an instrument in a unique way. This could involve changes in positioning, presentation, or simply a change of pace. Clara’s knowledge activity adaptation from the field of occupational therapy makes her uniquely qualified to offer adaptive music lessons.
LOVE
Clara has chosen to be a music teacher and brings great care, love, and enthusiasm to her work.
events
jan 4 sat contra dance w/red case band mettabee farm hillsdale, ny
jan 18-19 contra carnivale w/gaslight tinkers san luis obispo, ca
jan 24 fri concert w/gaslight tinkers putney, vt
jan 25 sat snow ball w/red case band peterborough, nh
feb 1 sat private event w/gaslight tinkers northampton, ma
feb 8 sat contra dance w/red case band greenfield, ma
feb 22 sat contra dance w/alex cumming sheffield, ma
feb 27 thurs concert w/gaslight tinkers northampton, ma
march 8 sat contra dance w/red case band greenfield, ma
march 22 Sat contra dance w/wood thrush sheffield, ma
march 29 sat concert w/gaslight tinkers Brattleboro, vt
About the Bands
The Gaslight Tinkers
African, Caribbean, Funk, Reggae, and Latin grooves meet traditional fiddle music. It's the genre-bending future of the music of the past.
The Gaslight Tinkers' blend of global rhythms creates a joyously danceable sound around a core of traditional New England old time and celtic fiddle music, merging boundless positive energy with melody and song. Since its formation in 2012 the band has lit up the East Coast, the West Coast, and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. Playing what The Valley Advocate describes as “Music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns,” The Gaslight Tinkers’ shows are packed with delightful surprises, elated crowds, and exuberant musicianship. The sound and energy of I-Shea, Clara, Garrett, Elie, and Peter are universally irresistible.
See Clara’s Instagram @claraconstancemusic for more clips of the Gaslight Tinkers
Website: https://thegaslighttinkers.com/
Red Case Band
The Red Case Band is a project created by Stuart Kenney to explore his beautiful compositions written on the banjo, explored as a duo, trio, or 5-piece band. Their music is a rare combination of American fiddle music and haunting, trance-like soundscapes that ebb and flow with the deep groove of the banjo, sparkle with the texture of the lever harp, and rise and fall with the bellows of the accordion. This unique sound will take you on a musical journey and is not to be missed!
See Instagram @claraconstancemusic or @red_case_band for more clips of Red Case Band
Wood Thrush
Wood Thrush is the duo project of Aldo Lavaggi (fiddle and guitar) and Clara Stickney (fiddle and lever harp). Their sound presents traditional tunes with sweet winding harmonies and sparkling textures.
Other Media
Images by Robyn Nicole Photo. Video of The Gaslight Tinkers by Lenslight Media. Videos of Red Case Band by Clara. Photo of Wood Thrush by Nina Barry. Video of Joy Compass by Jamie Oshima