FOR THE KIDS : MUSIC : Little Fiddlers : Local youngsters, including at least one 6-year-old, are tuning up for Sunday’s hoedown and music contest.

Old-time fiddlers may worry that today’s kids, plugged into rap and rock, won’t carry on the tradition of the foot-stomping oldies.

They needn’t worry. Last year about 40 kids competed in the Old Time Amateur Fiddle Contest at the Oak View Community Center. This year’s contest on Sunday will probably get the same turnout.

The competition is sponsored by the California State Old Time Fiddlers Assn., District 8, whose members gather two Sundays a month at the center to perform. They also meet and do a little jamming on the side.

Half a dozen young competitors were at the center two weeks ago showing off their stuff in a sort of practice run before the contest.

Kevin Hoekendorf, 6, of Camarillo took the stage and fiddled his way through “Boil Them Cabbage Down,” “Midnight on the Water,” and “Cuckoo’s Nest.” Strumming softly beside him on the guitar was veteran guitarist Chester Willis.

Dressed in jeans and sneakers with iridescent-green laces, Kevin played intently, never even cracking a smile. At the end he bowed and walked off the stage to the applause of the 100 or so people, mostly elderly, who come twice a month for the music and maybe a little dancing.

“He’s taken violin lessons since last May,” said his mother, Cathy Hoekendorf. “It was something he wanted to do. When he was 4, he mentioned he’d like to do it. So when he turned 5, we decided to let him try.”

He plays on a violin so small it looks like a toy. It’s only 14 inches long--slightly more than half the size of a standard-size violin.

“I would have never thought the violin,” she said. “But he ended up liking it. He’s doing very well.”

Kevin and the other children gearing up for the contest are the students of Charlann Gastineau, who has taught violin for 22 years. About 10 years ago she took up fiddling and spent two years learning from local master fiddler Phil Salazar. She thought fiddle music would add some spark to her instruction.

“The pieces are fun to play,” she said. “It’s happy, spirited music. In classical music you play what is written. You have a lot more freedom in fiddle music. It offers them a little diversion, and it gives them new energy for classical music.”

So for five years her students have prepared for the fiddle contest, along with the old-timers. They work on three tunes--a hoedown, a waltz and a third song of choice--that must be played within four minutes.

Children aged 8 and younger compete in the peewee division. Those 9 to 12 are in the junior-junior division, and those under 18 are in the junior division. Winners go on to state and national competition.

Gastineau’s students have done well. One was the state peewee champ, another took second in national competition, and a third placed second at the state level.

Nineteen of her students are expected to compete in the upcoming contest. The District 8 association, which includes Santa Barbara County and parts of the Los Angeles area, has about 400 members, with 80 to 100 of those junior members.

Not all of Gastineau’s young students are veteran competitors. Michael Thompson, 8, of Camarillo is facing his first competition after about a year of instruction.

His mother, Pattis Thompson, is floored by his progress.

“I thought he would piddle along with this,” she said, watching him play at the center. “Now I say to him, ‘Look what you can do.’ ”

Michael showed no signs of shyness about playing to the crowd. But he hasn’t always been so self-assured.

“This has certainly improved his self-esteem 100%,” she said. “It’s given him something to be successful at.”

Even 9-year-old Dominic Rivera plans to compete, although he’s taken lessons only five months. Gastineau adjusted the tilt of his violin before he launched into “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

“That’s his first performance,” beamed his father, Jose Rivera of Camarillo. Dominic, notwithstanding his sweat shirt with “Slam Dunk” on the front, wants to be a professional baseball player some day.

“He’s just a normal kid,” his father said.

Nolan Jones, 9, has had three years of instruction, and last year he barely missed getting a prize in the contest. He likes rock music, but when asked for a favorite tune he mentioned a fondness for a certain concerto in D minor.

The old-timers who play regularly at the Oak View Community Center are glad to see the young performers, Gastineau said. They are eager to help the kids.

“They roll out the red carpet,” she said. “They want to see the tradition continued.”

The Comedy Team of Schwartz and Chung will put on a family show of mime, zany theater, gags and improvisation on Friday at 7 p.m. at Matilija Junior High School in Ojai. The duo have appeared on the Disney Channel, at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Comedy Club. Advance tickets, available at Topa Topa School and Serendipity Toys in Ojai, are $3.50 for kids and $5.50 for adults, $1 more at the door. For information call 646-6997.

Lois Young will entertain with song and puppets Thursday at the O.K. Club, The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Clowns named Sunshine and Carrot Top of Sunshine & Co. will present a variety show of skits, puppets and magic for the club on March 14.

Oxnard College is offering a series of dance classes to music videos for teen-agers ages 13 to 19 on four Saturdays beginning March 9 from 10 to 11 a.m. in Room PE-2 at the college. The fee is $18. For information call 986-5822.

* WHERE AND WHEN

The fifth annual Old Time Amateur Fiddle Contest will be Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oak View Community Center, 18 Valley Road, Oak View. The competition features all ages, including children, adults and seniors. Admission is free.