From Violin to Fiddle: A Roadmap for Classical Players
One of the questions I get asked most often is, "I'm a classical violinist. How do I learn to fiddle?" The answer is close to my heart, in a way that might surprise you...
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Irish Fiddle's Influence on Texas-Style Fiddle
Happy (almost) St. Patrick's Day! For many, St. Patrick’s Day is about celebrating Irish heritage, and the fiddle helps to carry that tradition forwar...
Western Swing Fiddle Listening: J.R. Chatwell and Gettin’ That Lowdown
Happy New Year from all of us here at Fiddle School! We’re kicking off the year with one of our favorite practices for improving musicianship: intenti...
Super September Practice Challenge Week 3: Mindset & Performance
Let’s face it: the word performance makes some of us cringe and some of us get giddy inside. Wherever you land, this week is about diminishing the bui...
Super September Practice Challenge Week 2: Tune Workout
If you know me, you know I’m not just obsessed with fiddle tunes—I’m a full-on tune miner. I love digging up old, quirky, nearly-forgotten gems. I jam...
Fiddle School Student Spotlight: Andrea Gerken
I first met Andrea Gerken in January when she joined the Mastery 1 Certification program. From the very beginning, she had a spark in her ...
Super September Practice Challenge Week 1: Skill Building
I always say that “every good fiddler is working on the same thing in all of their tunes.” Skill building is what sets you free. It makes playing tune...
Smile! If You Feel Good, They Will Come
When I was a kid, my mom would always say: “Sounds great, Katie... but can you smile?” So I’d smile–reluctantly–just to make her happy. But deep down,...
The Difference Between a Violin and a Fiddle
About every single day I get asked the question, “What’s the difference between a violin and a fiddle?” First off, can we please teach this in...
Fiddle School Student Spotlight: Lisa Verdon
I met Lisa Verdon in person at a jam session at Linnea Kenney’s house. She had been working through Fiddle School independently, and I had no...
Fiddle School Student Spotlight: Natalie Myers
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Natalie Myers through various stages of our lives. When Julian Oliver was a child, he fondly recounted playin...
Fiddle School Student Spotlight: Anne Aaboe
Last fall, my boyfriend Adam went to a music retreat in Northern California. He jammed his heart out and later told me about his friend Anne, ...
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