Relaxed and informal fiddle lessons for all from 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. 001330646281 issued 22nd. July 2011.

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.

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 it's music before you make a decision. Contact me and all new students can enjoy a free ½ hour 'taster' session. You’ll learn lots of interesting facts about the instrument and the different repertoires and you’ll get to play one too. I'll provide one for the occaision.

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 is ideal or perhaps your mobile phone has an integral voice recorder. Here's the chance to use it! 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.

If you would like to book some lessons for yourself or somone else for that matter as a birthday gift perhaps but aren't sure if you'll like it, then I also can provide instruments for hire so you can 'try before you buy' at a realistic rate and delay the cost instrumnet purchase.

Why not give fiddle lessons as a birthday present and take advantage of some quantity discount too?

At your home?

There is no difference here other than there is an additional fee to cover my expenses in travelling to you. This ensures the duration of the lesson is unaffected. Let me know where you are based and I'll be pleased to confirm a price.

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. I have a top of the range camera so it's just like I'm there in front of you and it cuts down on travel time and cost. It might also 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, BACS or via Paypal. Please contact me if you need more information or technical advice.

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 am degree qualified and specialise in traditional and folk music played on the fiddle but can also lead a folk band or mixed instrument 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

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 the safe return of the instrument and I have several sizes available. Combine this with a series of lessons and you have a great birthday gift?

Individual 1:1 Tuition

The following lessons fees are based on the guidelines agreed by the Musician's Union for teaching at my home with your payment made by cash or cheque. They are effective from September 2010.

Lesson	At my home
½ hour.	£13.50
1 hour.	£26.50

Please note:
Lessons cancelled within 1 week of the lesson time will be charged at half price.
Lessons cancelled within 3 days of the lesson time will be charged at full price.

Please contact me if you need more information.

Number of lessons	At my home cash or cheque	You Save		Paypal price	Click to buy
10 x ½ hour lessons	£128.00	£7.00		£135.00
5 x 1 hour. lessons	£126.00	£6.75		£132.75

Regrettably no discount is available on payments made via Paypal.

Fiddle lessons make a great gift – and take advantage of the new discounted prices?

Why not give lesson vouchers as a gift for a birthday or other occasion. You'll be able to choose a number of individual 1:1 lessons to be given either in person or online and you'll receive receive an attractive Gift Voucher made out to the lucky person. We accept payments by cash, cheque or online via Paypal.