Adult Fiddle Classes/ Groups Autumn 2025
The focus is on learning by ear, it doesn’t matter if you read music or not. The genre is mainly Scottish folk, with some European/ Americana / Scandinavian tunes thrown in too. Alongside learning new tunes and consolidating familiar ones, depending on your level, we will be recapping on the basics, delving into more technique, ornamentation, bowing style, tone, and musicality. Learning the fiddle is a never ending challenge which brings joy, frustration, and some good friends! If you’re new to Fun Fiddle, we welcome you on the journey!
Absolute Beginners
We are not currently running an Absolute Beginners class but please get in touch and we will keep you posted for future classes.
‘Play Together’
Improver Beginner Classes 4 Week Block (alternate weeks) from 11th September – 20th November 25
When : 11th, 25th September, 9th, 23rd October, 6th, 20th November. Stramash 4th December
Time: 7 – 8.30pm
Where: Portobello Baptist Church Hall, Portobello High St
Cost: £84 for 6 classes, payable before the start of the bloc. Please get in touch with us to book your place and we will send BACS payment info. (Some of you will have this info already) info@funfiddle.co.uk
Taught by Sarah Hoy, we welcome back improver beginners from last term, as well as new recruits. The group will continue to build on learning some simple tunes, looking at ornamentation and bowing technique, and getting a nice sound from your instrument. For more information or to book a place, please contact us.
Intermediate/ Advanced Weekly Drop In Group 11th September – 27th November, with monthly taught class
This group is self led and meets weekly, with intervening tutored classes once a month.
When: Self led group starts Thursday 11th September – 27th November with tutored class on the following dates: 11th September, 9th October, 6th November
Time: 7pm – 8.45pm
Where: The Wash House, Adelphi Grove, Portobello
Cost: Self led drop in group £8 payable weekly as a bloc by BACS. £14 tutored monthly class payable weekly or as a block by BACS . (Please ask for the bank details if you do not already have them).
Upcoming tutors – Gica Loening (11th September), and Aidan O’Rourke 9th October and 6th November. These classes will focus on a deeper dive into fiddle playing, harmonies, tone, style, ornamentation.
More dates for the diary ahead:
27th September Fiddle and Pipes Day of workshops, concerts, sessions. More info soon.
Learning Methods at Fun Fiddle
The Thursday groups will mainly play by ear, and sheet music is available if you want it on our Tunes page and in our Fun Fiddle tune books. Once you have come along on a Thursday, you will be kept in touch with what tunes are being played this term.
Here’s what Fun Fiddlers said about the recent lockdown times:
“Fun fiddle has been a very significant support and inspiration for me to remain positive during the past months. The fact we have all remained in touch gave me a focus for practising when we were staying at home. Towerbank gave us renewed focus and encouragement.”
“It is a sense of a ‘spiritual home’ in times when it is difficult to keep in close contact with family living far away.It has boosted my confidence to reach out to other fiddling opportunities on line as well as bringing a sense of ‘family’ enjoying good happy friendships, keeping us practising meaningfully, trying out new tunes, providing that bit of spontaneity when so much of your day has to be planned. We’ve found, with Fun Fiddle, ways to manage the difficulties that this crisis has thrown up.”</em
“Playing the fiddle has been keeping me sane and focussed on something positive, enriching and shared in this turbulent world of separation and lockdown.”
“It’s been an opportunity to share a musical experience with others when there is so little closeness with other people. It is an escape into a world of cheerful tunes which are uplifting and help us to live in the moment which is so important now. Expressing feelings through playing music is relaxing and so necessary at this time.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or to find out more about groups, classes or anything else.