“Friendly and supportive tutors who cover a wide variety of styles”
” Whatever your level of competence the tutors are extremely encouraging”
(From Fun Fiddle survey 2014)
Lori Watson grew up in the Scottish Borders before studying and living in Glasgow. She learned fiddle and traditional and folk song from her family, wonderful teachers and within various community groups. In Glasgow, Lori studied Scottish music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RSAMD at that time) and went on to teach and co-design the curriculum for the Traditional Music programme there. That was followed by a PhD combining artistic research and ethnomusicology, and a PGC in Higher Education. Her community/informal teaching experience includes running the first early years (0-5) traditional music programme for South Lanarkshire Council, developing the youth and advanced adult classes for Glasgow Fiddle Workshop (now Glasgow Folk music Workshop), and leading the flagship traditional music programme Tolbooth Trad for Stirling Council. In recent years she has been leading the annual Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin.
Now settled in Portobello, Lori lecturers on traditional arts in Celtic and Scottish Studies and the School of Scottish Studies Archives at the University of Edinburgh. Lori is well versed in a range of Scottish fiddle and song traditions plus selected tunes and style from related traditions (Irish, Breton, Norwegian, Swedish, etc.). She has a particular interest in stylistic detail supported by healthy technique and has taught players from complete beginner through to advanced professionals. Lori enjoys creating parts for musicians of different abilities to play together and, as one of only a few fiddle players familiar with the Borders fiddle tradition, she always tries to include a guid borders tune! Lori’s classes are relaxed and fun and she will make sure everyone can join in.
Sarah Hoy was born into a musical family in Edinburgh. She took up the fiddle aged eight, learning from her father, the late Derek Hoy fiddler with classic Scots band, Jock Tamson’s Bairns, and later with Mairi Campbell, well-known fiddler, singer and step dancer. Now an established and nationally recognised musician and teacher, Sarah enjoys playing with the Bella McNab’s Dance Band, teaches and performs at international festivals around the world along side her husband, piper and pipe maker, Fin Moore. She lives in Edinburgh and has a one year old daughter. Sarah is available for teaching both groups and individuals.
Gica Loening joined the Fun Fiddle team in 2003 (founded by Jenny Gardner), and led the project until 2026. She has been teaching fiddle since 1998 and was a longstanding fiddle tutor for Edinburgh’s Scots Music Group, as well as their development worker 1995 – 2003. She founded and performed with Edinburgh’s well established all women Belle Star Band and also Celter Schmelter klezmer Trio. She has gained a reputation as one of the few Scottish klezmer teachers and performers. Alongside fiddle teaching, Gica was until recently Youth Music Initiative Education Officer for East Lothian Council, and continues to work freelance as a community music practitioner, performer, and teacher. She holds an MSc in ‘Music in the Community’ and lives in Portobello with her partner and three sons who are also musicians.
PVG SCHEME RECORD. All Fun Fiddle tutors have full Disclosure through the Scottish PVG Scheme.
The above tutors can be contacted at info@funfiddle.co.uk
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