An Online Academy
A proven method for fiddlers at every level.
Become a Fiddle School Member.
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL – CUSTOMIZE YOUR PROGRAM – LEARN AT YOUR OWN PACE
Hi, I’m Katie Glassman. So many people want to learn to fiddle, pick it up again, or improve their playing but don’t know where to start. That’s why I created Fiddle School: to give you a path to musical progress.
Fiddle School is built on supportive community, consistent feedback, and friendly accountability. It’s a place to advance your fiddling step-by-step at your own pace, wherever you are in the learning process. The beloved tunes you’ll learn here will help you feel at home on the fiddle, be confident in jam sessions, and experience the joy of musical growth. Welcome to the jam!
Katie Glassman
- Over 25 years of teaching experience
- 6-time National Fiddle Champion
- 7-time Colorado State Fiddle Champion
- U.S. and international touring musician
- Recording artist, singer, and songwriter
“Katie’s content is truly unique and valuable. No instructor I know compares.”
Succeed with 20
minutes per day
It’s never too late
to start
Join a supportive &
vibrant music community
Learn songs
from day one
THE FIDDLE SCHOOL APPROACH
LEARN, LISTEN, BUILD, PLAY
THE FIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Office Hours
Gather on Zoom every week with national champion instructors to play tunes, ask questions, and connect with fellow fiddlers.
Student Forum
A supportive group where students post videos, exchange feedback, and share tips on fiddle topics.
“Fiddle School, Katie, and her team manage to create a warm supportive community—using Zoom!”
-Margie G
CLICK BELOW TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER YOU:
Session 1: Texas Fiddle Foundations
One Year of Foundational Fiddle Studies (12 Sequential Month-Long Lessons)
Inside the Lessons:
- Practice Buddies: Over 100 skill-building videos
- Sequential Fiddle Tunes: Level up with each one
- Tune Tutors: Bite-sized learning videos
- Viewing Rooms: Teachers demonstrate each Fiddle School tune
- Guided Warm-Up Videos
- Downloadable Backup Tracks
- Downloadable Sheet Music
- Downloadable Lesson Notes
Memberships include weekly online Office Hours (Q & A plus community)
Webinar Package Add-On:
**Mastery 1: Certification Program – A One Year Coaching and Online Course (members only)
Session 2: How to Reach Your Next Level
One Year of Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle Studies (12 Sequential Month-Long Lessons)
- Practice Buddies: Over 100 skill-building videos
- Sequential Fiddle Tunes: Level up with each one
- Tune Tutors: Bite-sized learning videos
- Viewing Rooms: Teachers demonstrate each Fiddle School tune
- 12 Intermediate Guided Warm-Up Videos
- Downloadable Backup Tracks
- Downloadable Sheet Music
- Downloadable Lesson Notes
Memberships include weekly online Office Hours (Q & A plus community)
To review and strengthen skills, members have full access to Session 1: Texas Fiddle Foundations.
Webinar Package Add-Ons:
* Swing Improvisation Workouts – 1st & 3rd Thursdays
* Texas Style Tunes – 1st, 2nd, & 4th Thursdays
** Mastery 2: Certification Program – A One Year Coaching and Online Course (members only)
Session 3: The Advancing Fiddler
One Year of Advanced Fiddle Studies (12 Sequential Month-Long Lessons)
- Practice Buddies: Over 100 skill-building videos
- Sequential Fiddle Tunes: Level up with each one
- Tune Tutors: Bite-sized learning videos
- Viewing Rooms: Teachers demonstrate each Fiddle School tune
- 12 Advanced Guided Warm-Up Videos
- Downloadable Backup Tracks
- Downloadable Sheet Music
- Downloadable Lesson Notes
Memberships include weekly online Office Hours (Q & A plus community)
To review and strengthen skills, members have full access to Session 1: Texas Fiddle Foundations and Session 2: How to Reach Your Next Level.
Webinar Package Add-ons:
* Swing Improvisation Workouts – 1st & 3rd Thursdays
* Advanced Texas Style Tunes – 1st, 2nd, & 4th Thursdays
** Mastery 3: Certification Program: A One Year Coaching and Online Course (members only)
Fiddle School Mastery Certification Program
January – December 2022: A One Year Coaching and Online Course
10 students are accepted into each group
- Mastery 1 Certification: Session 1 – Texas Fiddle Foundations
- Mastery 2 Certification: Session 2 – How to Reach Your Next Level
- Mastery 3 Certification: Session 3 – The Advancing Fiddler
THE PROGRAM
- 1 Performance & Technique Masterclass per month
- 1 Repertoire Masterclass per month
- 1 Student Study Group per month
- 10 Live Coached Class Performances
- 2 Video Performances with Video Coaching
- 1 Final Certification Performance
- 2022 Mastery Class Video Library
BECOME A FIDDLE School MEMBER
CUSTOMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY ADDING ON:
Private Lessons
Swing Improv Workouts
- Mastery Certification Program
Texas Style Tunes Webinar
Fiddle SCHOOL Membership
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced (NEW!)
Skill-Building Videos
Track your progress,
learn efficiently, and
celebrate your wins!
Fiddle Tunes
Learn classic songs
by ear to
jam with friends!
Play-Along Tracks
Guitar, fiddle & harmony parts
at adjustable speeds.
Play with your at-home band!
Community
Connect with fellow fiddlers
at weekly office hours
and in the online community.
Testimonials
Michelle Oliver – Colorado
Fiddle School Parent
Fusing inspiration, knowledge, skill, fun and discipline, you will experience a refreshing blend of instruction that surpasses anything in this space. The launch of Fiddle School is a huge opportunity for fiddle music lovers at every level all over the globe. The quality of instruction is truly unprecedented and you will find a community that supports you in delightful and unexpected ways! Don't miss this chance to learn from a true fiddle master!
Lisa Penunuri – Arizona
Fiddle School Student
The Fiddle School community has been a blessing throughout COVID. I feel like I'm not alone on this journey anymore. Other people's weaknesses are my weaknesses and other people's strengths are my strengths. Thank you Katie for your gentleness and love in guiding our fiddle journeys.
Karen Truesdell – Colorado
Fiddle School Student
I’m recently coming into Fiddle School. I love all of the style, all of the technique, and all of these new songs. Many of the songs are songs I’ve heard but I’ve never played. Katie's guidance and leadership have just been outstanding. Her attention to detail, and her personal attention, just getting back to all my last-minute emails, it’s almost unheard of. Every lesson and webinar has been so informative. It's such a good feeling when something that’s been totally elusive to you is all of the sudden in your lap and it’s like, “Whoa. That’s how you do it."
Louise Terpstra – Colorado
Fiddle School Student
I have played for over 10 years and am an older adult (65). I began using bits and pieces of various teachers and artists that I was exposed to but was unhappy with the quality of my sound. Katie and Celeste are very approachable and helpful with any problem you may be having with your music. The Community Forum allows for a great sense of community and the weekly office hour is a great platform for answering questions that come up. Fiddle School is easy to navigate. What a great opportunity to study under such a talented performer and teacher.
Bob Davis – Costa Rica
Fiddle School Student
Fiddle School has expert instruction and it's a lot of fun to boot! Today, I'm much more confident in my ability to play, my intonation is better, my bowing is smoother, I've got a whole pile of songs I can play now, and my speed is coming up every day. So, if you're like me and you're tired of "fiddling around" and you want to get some help, check out Fiddle School.
Linnea Kenney – Colorado
Fiddle School Student
Eric Michieli – Denver, CO
Fiddle School Student
Christine King – Cleveland, OH
Fiddler, Student, Railsplitters
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Session 1: Texas Fiddle Foundations contains 12 month-long lessons that are the foundation of my fiddling philosophy. Whether you’re starting from scratch, picking up the fiddle after years away, bridging over to fiddling from classical, or just looking to improve, Session 1 contains all of the how-tos. From technique to musical style, you’ll learn tunes and gain the ability to bring them to any jam session or performance. Depending on your level, you can use the tunes as your core repertoire or as vehicles to learn new techniques. Each tune is carefully crafted to help you internalize good bowings and bowing techniques. After learning the Fiddle School tunes note for note and bow for bow, fiddlers will develop an instinct to bow correctly.
Session 2: How to Reach Your Next Level is designed for the intermediate and advanced intermediate fiddle player. With lessons in sequential order, Session 2 begins with three intermediate lessons covering The Integrated Bow Arm, Left Hand Essentials, and Music Theory. Session 2 moves into advanced intermediate territory with nine Texas-style contest tunes, then delves further into bowing and left-hand technique, practice methods, performance tips, variations, and how to progress at higher levels.
Session 3: The Advancing Fiddler is releasing one new lesson each month in 2022. Its 12 lessons include shifting, vibrato, trick fiddling, and so much more. Crafted to build your skills in sequential order, this Session will include Texas-style fiddle tunes with five to ten additional unique parts each for advanced fiddlers. We, the Fiddle School team, cannot wait to share these new tunes and techniques with you! Stay tuned.
Many of our students are very experienced and have played for years. They wanted to get to the next level. By going back to foundational techniques, even advanced players have improved significantly using Fiddle School Sessions 1 & 2.
- Texas Style Fiddle
- Western Swing
- Early Jazz Melodies
- Old-Time Texas Fiddle
Fiddle School’s sequential program is friendly to fiddlers of all genres. The Texas-style tunes are nearly all traditional and include Civil War songs, Celtic melodies (played in a Texas style), waltzes, and classic pop songs from the 1930s-50s. Session 2 includes many Western Swing twin and triple fiddle songs, as well as a couple of cowboy crooners. Session 3 will include a whole bunch of surprises within the above genres. What will be different? Staying true to my step-by-step program, I’ll teach lots of variations. Nearly all of the Fiddle School songs are suitable for either a square dance, country dance, or swing dance. All of these tunes are a breakdown, waltz, or tune of choice in the Texas fiddling repertoire.
Every lesson includes two fiddle tunes taught step-by-step and by ear. These tunes correlate to the techniques being presented within the lesson. Tunes are taught in sequential order with Tune Tutor videos and sheet music. The sheet music includes chords (the book includes lyrics), and many of the tunes have harmony parts.
Session 1: Boil the Cabbage, Liza Jane, Oh! Susanna, I Don’t Love Nobody, Cotton-Eyed Joe, Goodbye Liza Jane, Peek-A-Boo Waltz, The Girl I Left Behind Me, Arkansas Traveler, Arkansas Traveler Variation, Red River Valley, Eighth of January, Tennessee Waltz, Redwing, Soldier’s Joy, Corrina, Corrina, Bonaparte’s Retreat, Marie, Golden Slippers, Liberty, Tears on My Pillow, Wind That Shakes the Barley, East Texas Drag, Old Joe Clark, and Pig Ankle Rag.
Session 2: Dixie Hoedown, Streets of Laredo, Turkey in the Straw, Florida Blues, Texas Quick Step, Soppin’ the Gravy, Walk Along John, Red Fox Waltz, Missouri Waltz, I Don’t Love Nobody Variation, Me & My Fiddle, The Plainsman, A & E Waltz, Sally Ann, Lily Dale, Speed the Plow, Blackberry Rag, Milk Cow Blues, Home in San Antone, Kentucky Waltz, Rye Straw, Red Wing Variation, and Black & White Rag.
Session 3: Stay tuned!
Fiddle School is designed to get the inspired fiddler started. It’s never too late to start—and we can also help you get a great fiddle if you need one. Fiddle School is built to develop all of your foundational skills and get you started in the comfort of your own home. We also offer complete beginner webinars several times a year, as well as in person retreats 1-2 times a year. If you’ve never fiddled before, you’ll find a welcoming and safe learning environment in Fiddle School.
There is an additional cost for private lessons and progress reports. To sign up for a private lesson, click here. What is a progress report? You send us a video of you playing one fiddle tune and we send you video feedback. One-on-one feedback will help you reach your goals!