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Teaching Artist Review
About the Artist
Squirrel Butter, the married duo of Charlie Beck & Charmaine Slaven, started performing together after meeting at a music festival in 2005.
Sharing a deep love of traditional music, they explore the genres of old-time, bluegrass, blues, country, & cajun while adding their unique perspective to these traditions and threading these influences into their original compositions.
As Multi-instrumentalists, they collectively play banjo, guitar, fiddle, steel guitar, step-dance, and sing in harmony.
They recently moved their family from the Pacific Northwest to Western North Carolina, and now to Rocky Ripple. They are anchors of the old-time music & dance communities around the country.
Charmaine works as the Director of Development for the Country Dance & Song Society.
Charlie was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. He got a guitar at age 16 and soon became deeply inspired to play music and share it with others.
Over the next 30+ years, he became highly proficient at guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, lap steel, singing, and songwriting. He became an avid performer and teacher centered on traditional American music: folk, old-time, bluegrass, blues, and jazz.
Charlie gives attention to the music's history with awareness and respect for the cultures, communities, and individuals that created it, including songs from the Hoosier State! He shows how fun, fulfilling, and pertinent this music remains.
Charlie has decades of experience teaching all ages at school showcases, after-school programs, festivals, and workshops. He strives to connect, educate, and inspire.
Sharing a deep love of traditional music, they explore the genres of old-time, bluegrass, blues, country, & cajun while adding their unique perspective to these traditions and threading these influences into their original compositions.
As Multi-instrumentalists, they collectively play banjo, guitar, fiddle, steel guitar, step-dance, and sing in harmony.
They recently moved their family from the Pacific Northwest to Western North Carolina, and now to Rocky Ripple. They are anchors of the old-time music & dance communities around the country.
Charmaine works as the Director of Development for the Country Dance & Song Society.
Charlie was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. He got a guitar at age 16 and soon became deeply inspired to play music and share it with others.
Over the next 30+ years, he became highly proficient at guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, lap steel, singing, and songwriting. He became an avid performer and teacher centered on traditional American music: folk, old-time, bluegrass, blues, and jazz.
Charlie gives attention to the music's history with awareness and respect for the cultures, communities, and individuals that created it, including songs from the Hoosier State! He shows how fun, fulfilling, and pertinent this music remains.
Charlie has decades of experience teaching all ages at school showcases, after-school programs, festivals, and workshops. He strives to connect, educate, and inspire.
