By Celeste Johnson People often ask me why I like fiddle contests. They seem like an odd thing to many people. “So you’re telling me that you get up on stage to be judged on purpose?!” And when it’s put that way, I see how contests can be off-putting. But when I go to...
We’re so excited to release our newest lesson on August 24th. This is one of the most jam-packed, content-rich lessons we’ve ever released in Fiddle School. It’s a goldmine of information to improve your musicianship and technical ability. Here are some FAQs and our...
What’s your favorite kind of jam session? Do you love playing in unison with other fiddlers or do you prefer to be the only one in the hot seat? Do you prefer taking improvised solos on the fly or playing crafted breakdowns? Do you like to sing or is that best left to...
I love my Papa! Growing up, my sister and I always looked forward to jumping in the car with our dad and going to do puppet shows all around the Rocky Mountain Range. He'd have me play fiddle in front of the stage before the shows, and I remember being thrilled to...
We have waited a long 15 months to reschedule our in-person Fiddle School Mountain Retreat -- and it's here! The retreat will take place in Allenspark, CO from August 26th (arrive between 4 and 5 PM) to August 30th (depart at 10:00 AM). So far we, have 14 sign-ups and...
In honor of Mothers’ Day, we reached out to one of our favorite jam buddies and dear friends, Sydney Green, to talk to her about what it’s like to be the mother of three kids who fiddle. She offered lots...
"When will I get good?" This is the question I dislike the most as a teacher, and yet all of us have asked it at one point or another. I’ve even had several students tell me that if they couldn’t “get good” soon, they would quit. And I get it: I often catch myself...
In honor of St Paddy’s Day, we want to give a nod to the Irish origins of the music we love so much. Texas-style fiddle has origins around the world and owes its heritage to immigrants and enslaved people who each contributed their own rich history to the nascent...
“What if I’m worse than when I was a kid?”“People will judge me!”“What’s the point of starting again if I can’t get good?” If you played an instrument in school as a child and then life got in the way of things, you may be coming back to music after years away. If you...
Do you think differently during practice and performance? You should! To explain why, here’s a conversation I had with a student recently. Preparing for an upcoming performance, she told me, “It’s so hard to keep everything I’m working on in my head while I play! I...
I think new year’s resolutions are kind of crap. I’m all for self-improvement and goal-setting, but tons of research has shown us that setting resolutions is a terrible way to do both of those things. 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the second...
Even in a normal year, the final months can bring some burnout in all areas of life, and that includes music. If you’re feeling that burnout, it can be tempting to wonder if it might be best to take a break from your instrument. To keep enjoying playing, many people...
