A HaoN

For students with NO experience to roughly 6 months of playing experience. A Haon (pronounced Ah Hayn), fiddlers learn the basics of holding the fiddle and bow, instrument care, learning note names, and playing simple melodies. In order to establish a solid foundation for students, A Haon is only available in person.

Fiddlesticks

For students with roughly 6 months-2 years of experience on their instrument. Fiddlesticks fiddlers begin the work of learning by ear, playing scales, strengthening technique, and distinguishing between different tune forms (how to “spot a jig in the wild”). Fiddlesticks classes are available both in person and online.

Tenpenny

For students with roughly 2-3 years of experience on their instrument, or by invitation. In Tenpenny, students will begin to play with basic ornamentation and variation, explore more complex fiddle tunes, and further expand their knowledge of music theory and tune history. Tenpenny classes are available both in person and online.

Fleadh

For students with 4-5 years of experience on their instrument, or by invitation. Students in Fleadh (pronounced “flah”) will spend their time learning more advanced ornamentation and variation, and will be able to identify and play several types of tunes (jigs, reels, hornpipes, slip jigs), and will begin to learn the basics of arranging and selecting tunes within a set. Fleadh classes are available both in person and online.

Harmonium

For students with 5+ years of experience on their instrument, or by invitation. In Harmonium, students will advance their knowledge of tune arrangement and style, and will also have the opportunity to begin to write their own tunes. A heavy emphasis will be placed on performance elements, including how to engage an audience and play in an ensemble. Due to the performance nature of this class, as well as the mixing of parts, Harmonium is only available in person.

Adults

A casual, mixed-experience class for students over the age of 18. The adult class is geared toward adults who are interested in learning to fiddle for the first time, are returning to it after years away, or would like to continue to play into adulthood. The focus of class is to prepare students for playing in an Irish “session” - an informal gathering of musicians playing Irish music! Tunes will be taken slowly, with plenty of time to ask questions. Adults meet primarily online, with the option to get together in person as schedules allow.