Fun Fiddle supports students in

• Learning and playing traditinal tunes by ear
• Playing together in a group
• Building up a shared repertoire of tunes
• Learning technique and traditional idiom
• Performing at informal stramash's (gatherings) once a term, as well as occasional community events

Adult classes are open to those aged 16 and over. You are welcome to join us whether you are an absolute beginner, or played as a child, or are a classical player wishing to learn traditional fiddle, or want to consolidate your skills. As the focus is on learning by ear, it doesn't matter if you read music or not.

We offer beginners, improvers, intermediate and advanced classes, depending on numbers enrolled

Absolute beginners For people who have never played fiddle or violin before (Same instrument!) You will learn basic technique and placing of fingers, bow hold and start learning some simple tunes by ear.

Improving Beginners For people who have been playing for around two years, or may not have played fiddle for a very long time. We will continue with bowing and technique exercises and progress to slightly more complex rhythms and tunes.

Intermediate For people who have been playing for around three years and are starting to build up speed of playing and ability to learn quickly by ear. The class will start to build up sets of tunes, learn different bowing patterns, play tunes in  harder keys and look at ornamentation and style.

Upper intermediate

• Beginning to arrange tunes
• Working towards playing with others
• Playing in a range of keys
• Learning quickly by ear
• Playing up to speed

Advanced For those who have been playing for a few years and are fluent in learning by ear and playing up to speed. The class will learn more technically demanding tunes, more about ornamentation and bowing patterns and play sets of tunes up to speed.

Learning by ear can seem daunting to some and easy to others. The important thing to know is that it gets easier the more you try it. In a Fun Fiddle class we will teach a tune very slowly in sections, with as much repetition as required. Near the beginning of term we provide you with a CD of all the tunes we will be learning. These are recorded both slowly and up to speed and are intended for listening or playing to at home for a learning aid. The written music is also available as a back - up. Once a tune has been learnt and played over several classes we will look at bowing and ornamentation, depending on the level of the class. Classes will also include warm - ups, focus on technique, and simple exercises.

Repertoire

The tunes we learn are mainly Scottish, but we're pretty cosmopolitan really, and will include English, Irish, European, Scandinavian and the odd Eastern European tune! We welcome contributions of tunes and the participation of the class in shaping our repertoire. We encourage sharing of tunes between classes, including the children's Saturday classes, so that we can play together on occasions as a large group.

See Repertoire page for this term's tunes (Under construction)

Performance

We believe in getting folk out there playing to others no matter what level you are at. Our termly stramash's (informal parties) are held at the end of each term and are a chance for the classes to play and socialise together. They always involve food and drink and are very relaxed and informal.