Absolute Beginners - with Trish Strain

This class is for people who have never played the fiddle before. You will be taught how to hold the fiddle and the bow and learn to play some simple tunes by ear. Everything will be explained assuming no prior knowledge.

Tutors will keep you enthused and practising effectively to get you well on the way to playing the fiddle with confidence.

Due to the high number of students, and often varying degrees of skill, this class often splits in two to ensure a manageable number of students per class

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Beginners - with Grainne Brady

This class is for people who know how to hold a fiddle and play a few notes, and are ready to learn playing tunes. You will be taught correct technique and learn to play some simple tunes by ear. Everything will be explained assuming no prior knowledge.

Tutors will keep you enthused and practising effectively to get you well on the way to playing the fiddle with confidence.

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Improvers 1 - with Daniel Thorpe

For those who have already completed the Absolute Beginners class and/or those who have played a little before. You should know how to hold the fiddle and bow and be able to play a couple of simple tunes at a slow pace. This class will work on simple tunes with an emphasis on creating good tone, tuning and confident playing. There will be a good deal of revision every week and constant work on scales and fingering. NB Probably only about 3 tunes per term will be worked on.

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Improvers 2 - with Fiona Cuthill

For those who have already completed Improvers 1 level class. You should have a bit more confidence with fiddle and bow and be able to play a few simple tunes at a slow pace. You will be improving your ability to understand and remember tunes by ear and be building your confidence. This class will continue work on simple tunes emphasising tone, tuning, confident playing and building your repertoire. There will continue to be lots of revision every week and continual work on scales and fingering. NB Probably only about 3or 4 tunes per term will be worked on.

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Improvers 3 - with Finlay Allison

For those who have completed the two previous standards and have moved to being able to play a few tunes with reasonable confidence at a slow pace. This class will continue to work on simple tunes with an emphasis on creating good tone, tuning and fluency of playing. You may also be introduced to some basic bowing and simple ornamentation. There will be revision every week of scales and tunes already covered. NB Probably only 3 tunes or 4 per term will be worked on.

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 Intermediate 1 - with Sandie Forbes

This class is for those able to learn simple tunes comfortably by ear and play them fluently with simple bowing and good tuning. This class will work on tunes in a wider variety of tune types and keys. You will look at bowing and ornamentation in more depth. There will be lots of revision and repetition each week.

NB About 4 or 5 tunes per term will be worked on.

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Intermediate 2 - with Graham McKenzie

This class is for those who feel comfortable with the previous classes and can play a wide range of tunes with confidence, in tune and with fluent bowing style. The class will assist in developing a traditional style of playing, increasing knowledge of ornamentation and repertoire. You will learn a variety of tune types and may look at some of the less familiar, more difficult key signatures. Probably one new tune each week but all work will be continually revised.

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Intermediate 3 - with Emma Tomlinson

This class is for those who feel comfortable with the previous classes and can play a wide range of tunes with confidence, in tune and with fluent bowing style. The class will assist in developing a traditional style of playing, increasing knowledge of ornamentation and repertoire. You will learn a variety of tune types and may look at some of the less familiar, more difficult key signatures. At least one new tune each week but all work will be continually revised.

 tutor info coming soon

Advanced - with Jamie Smith

This level is for students who have a wide knowledge of techniques and repertoire specific to Scottish traditional style. You should be able to learn easily by ear and have some reading ability. This class will focus on advanced tunes from the solo fiddling repertoire and will assume good technical knowledge. You will learn a variety of tune types and look at some of the more difficult key signatures.

 tutor info coming soon

Technique 1 - with Douglas Lawrence

Depending on student numbers the Technique class will split to maintain a reasonable student to tutor ratio 

For those of standard Intermediate 2 and above. Students should ensure they have a good basic knowledge of Scottish fiddling techniques and a little music reading ability before joining this class. Work is based around tunes but with emphasis on different techniques within tunes rather than building a repertoire.

Teaching points will be technical and the class aim will not necessarily be on acquiring lots of new tunes.

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Technique 2 - with Rua Macmillan

Depending on student numbers the Technique class will split to maintain a reasonable student to tutor ratio 

For those of standard Intermediate 2 and above. Students should ensure they have a good basic knowledge of Scottish fiddling techniques and a little music reading ability before joining this class. Work is based around tunes but with emphasis on different techniques within tunes rather than building a repertoire.

Teaching points will be technical and the class aim will not necessarily be on acquiring lots of new tunes.

Click on image for tutor info