Relaxed and informal fiddle lessons for beginners to advanced players, individually and in groups or workshops. I'm based in East Lancashire and cater for ages from 6 to 96!
CRB Enhanced Disclosure No. 001201959972 issued 4th.July 2008
Individual 1:1 Tuition.
At my home.
Playing traditional fiddle music is great fun. The more you learn about the instrument and its capabilities and the enormous repertoire available to everyone, the more you’ll want to know. It’s instantly accessible even in your first lesson as a complete beginner.
If you are new to the instrument that’s fantastic, there are few things better than seeing someone's delight in playing their first tune on the fiddle. I would recommend a half-hour lesson per week initially for beginners. Contact me to book your free 1/2hr. 'taster' session. For those of you who don’t yet have an instrument, or those wishing to ‘try before you buy’, I also have instruments for hire. Why not give fiddle lessons as a Birthday present and at reduced prices?
As a beginner I'll take you through the best ways to warm up and how to hold the fiddle and bow. I'll introduce you to the notes and keys commonly used in first position for simple dance tunes and give you a background into folk and traditional music too. You'll learn some simple dance rhythms and tunes like jigs, polkas or a waltz and I'll use the phrasing and rhythms as a basis for exercises to practice at home.
Remember:- Practice makes permanent!
Lessons with me can also be a great introduction to traditional fiddle music for those who already play the violin but who have a desire to explore some of our fun repertoire or gain a greater understanding of why traditional music is growing fast in popularity. Or if you used to play, perhaps as a child at school, here’s the opportunity to re-kindle that experience but with a refreshing, indigenous and infectious repertoire.
Sharing lessons with a friend or partner with similar interests and abilitiy is an ideal way to reduce your tution costs.
I teach by ear, using notation as an aide-memoire, music from the rich repertoire of Lancashire and from the North of England generally but I’m equally at home teaching the various fiddle styles found around Britain and Ireland and well as from Scandinavia, France, Canada and the USA. You will learn ornamentation skills and finger and bowing techniques for a variety of tune of tune forms such as: jigs, polkas, waltzes, marches, hornpipes, slow airs, reels, and slip jigs. Once the basics of rhythm, phrasing, bowing and ornamentation have been understood, we will be able to explore, expand and experiment with the repertoire using variation and improvisation as you prepare pieces for solo or ensemble performance or just playing for fun, perhaps in a pub session. I will demonstrate and give advice and assistance in interpreting the 'dots' into a particular style or dance form and I can tailor lessons to suit your specific needs or desires. Please contact me if you have something specific in mind.
Once you have gained some experience you could join the Palatine Fiddlers to increase your repertoire in a friendly and social environment whilst continuing your private lessons as you learn more advanced technique.
For the lessons you'll need to bring your instrument, a pencil and notebook and a recording device. An Mp3 or min-disc recorder is ideal. Don't just take my word for it come along and try for yourself.
I am also an advanced user of Sibelius notation software and would be pleased to give tutorials for this as required.
At your home.
There is no difference other than there is an additional fee to cover my expenses in travelling to you. This ensures the duration of the lesson is unaffected. The travelling fee is £3.75 and would apply to all lessons at homes within East Lancashire.
Online tuition - How big is your carbon footprint?
If you can't travel and don't want to pay me to, then if you have a broadband connection and a good quality web-camera and microphone, and have the latest version of Skype VOIP software installed and running on your PC, I can teach you online. It's just like being in front of me and it does get around the difficulties and time spent in travelling and might contribute in a small way to helping the environment too. The prices for online tuition are the same as for lessons at my home. I accept payment by cash, cheque, credit card or by Paypal. Please contact me if you need more information.
Groups and Workshops
I will be pleased to quote for teaching your group or leading a workshop whether as a one-off or a series. I specialise in traditional fiddle music but can also lead a folk band or ensemble. Just let me know the number of people in the group and their experience, the duration and your location and I’ll be pleased to submit my quotation.
Tuition Fees
Individual 1:1 Tuition
If you are set on playing an instrument but aren’t quite sure which one or perhaps you are interested to know a little more about the fiddle
and its music before you make a decision. All new students can enjoy a free ½ hour 'taster' session to the wicked world of fiddle music.
You’ll learn lots of interesting facts about the fiddle and the different repertoires and you’ll get to play one too.
| At my home | At your home | |||
| ½ hr. | £11.50 | £15.25 | ||
| 1hr. | £22.50 | £26.25 |
Instrument Hire
If you haven't already invested in an instrument you can hire one for only £2.50 per week plus a small deposit which will be refunded on return of the instrument and I have several sizes available. Combine this with a series of lessons and you have a great birthday gift perhaps?
Why not give Fiddle Lessons as a Birthday present – and at reduced prices!
Why not give lesson vouchers as a Birthday present and you’ll save money too. You get individual 1:1 lessons with a qualified and competent tutor, an attractive Gift Voucher made out to the lucky person and a cash saving on my normal prices. I accept payment by cash, cheque, credit card or by Paypal. See below for details
Please contact me if you need more information.
| At my home | You Save | At your home | You Save | |||
| 6 x ½ hr. lessons | £65.50 | £3.50 | £88.00 | £3.50 | ||
| 10 x ½ hr. lessons | £106.50 | £8.50 | £144.00 | £8.50 | ||
| 3 x 1 hr. lessons | £64.25 | £3.25 | £75.50 | £3.25 | ||
| 5 x 1 hr. lessons | £104.00 | £8.50 | £123.00 | £8.25 |
