I offer Scottish folk fiddle* lessons for adult beginners and improving beginners in my lovely garden music room at my home in south-east Edinburgh EH16.
* A fiddle is exactly the same instrument as a violin. Calling it a fiddle denotes that the style of music played on it is folk, rather than classical, jazz etc.
Want to know more or book a lesson?
Just get in touch:
07780 001540
c.clarke01@btinternet.com
You’ll need your own fiddle and bow before your first lesson: there are places you can hire one from if you don’t want to buy just yet – see bottom of this page.
Some testimonials from students in my Scots Music Group class:
“Beth was excellent, creatively thinking of things
to do and ways to do it. Nice atmosphere in class.”“Beth was great at using different approaches to
help us improve learning by ear as well as
providing some content on the origin and styles of
Scottish Traditional Music. Beth created a relaxed
learning environment where we had fun.”“Beth understands learning by ear and I’ve learned
difficult tunes that Beth has broken down into
sections that makes learning comfortable.”“I’m really enjoying your classes and your approach
to teaching. Fresh and thoughtful and very
helpful for my learning.”
- “I’ve got a fiddle and a bow. Now what?!”
- “I want to get good enough to play in pub sessions.”
- “I want it to sound nicer when I play.”
- “Hm, bowing is tricky – how can I get better at it?”
- “I want to learn more folk tunes that I can play with other people.”
- “I’ve taught myself up till now, but I think I’ve reached the stage where I need a bit of help.”
- “I’ve learned at fiddle classes, but I’d really like a bit of individual guidance.”
- “I learned fiddle as a kid, and now I’d like to start up again.”
Fiddle lessons
I love accompanying my intrepid fiddle students on their musical journeys. Some folk who come want to reach a level where they can play in sessions. Lots want to get started so that they can join one of the classes at Scots Music Group or Fun Fiddle later, once they feel confident enough.
Once I’ve helped you get to grips with the basics – fiddle, bow hold, tuning your fiddle etc. – I tailor lessons to what you want to learn, and help you achieve your musical goals. So if you’ve got a tune you want to be able to play, that’s what we’ll work on. You’ll soon start getting some tunes in your repertoire. I usually aim to get you playing by ear. Reading music is useful too, of course, so I’ll help you read the tunes too if you’re unfamiliar with that.
I’ll keep an eye and ear on your technique as you progress, making sure you develop a comfortable, efficient fiddle and bow hold, and ensuring none of those pesky bad habits creep in. That’s what getting some one-to-one help is great for, right?
We’ll cover rhythm, intonation (playing in tune), the common scales we use in folk music, folk bowing techniques, the characteristics of folk tunes (jigs, reels, strathspeys, marches etc.) and how to make them sound authentic, grace notes (those cool wee twiddly bits that make it sound Scottish)… and anything else you want to learn!
A bit about me
I’ve been playing Scottish folk fiddle for nearly 30 years (which I can hardly believe!). Folk style is easier to learn than classical, so you can reach a level where you can join in with others, at a pub session for example, more quickly than you might think.
In recent years, alongside my private teaching, I have become very involved in community music teaching. I am currently the Slow Session tutor at the Scots Music Group. I still play regularly in sessions, and have been playing for ceilidhs with the very popular Da Hooley ceilidh band for some 15 years.
I am also the co-band leader, together with Sarah Northcott, of the Scots Music Group Big Folk Band. This is an exciting new performance band of around 50 advanced-level players of a wide variety of folk instruments. Together with Sarah, I compose musical arrangements for the group and co-lead band rehearsals and performances. Here’s a snippet on YouTube:
I’ve played in lots of local amateur bands, including Shindiggery, a 9-piece folk band which performed a sell-out Fringe show. I’ve also played with Breton musicians in France, and been the fiddler in a pop covers band. As well as fiddle playing, I love to sing, and I write and perform my own songs on the mandola.
I love playing in sessions and for dancing – in fact I love playing, full stop. Playing with other musicians is such a wonderful way to get to know people and enjoy spending time together, sharing an activity that you all get so much pleasure from.
As a session and dance band player and band leader, I see rhythm as very important, as well as developing a relaxed style that will enable you to play comfortably. I took up the fiddle in my twenties when I moved up to Edinburgh from London, so I know what it’s like to be an adult learner.
The garden music room
Here’s where the lessons happen. The garden music room is at the bottom of my garden. It is private and sound insulated. It is also thermally insulated and heated, which keeps it cosy and warm in the winter. It has a lovely view of the garden, and I like to watch the birds at the feeder while I practise.
What do the lessons cost?
Lessons are 3/4 hr and cost £30,
to be booked in blocks of 4 or 6.
I ask students to book and pay for a set of 4 or 6 lessons @ £30 per 3/4 hr lesson, i.e. £120 for 4, or £180 for 6. These pre-paid lessons MUST take place within 3 months if you book 4 lessons, or 4 months if you book 6 lessons. I will set aside some time after the end of your first lesson to book the rest of the dates in both our diaries. If you come for the first lesson and decide it’s not for you, I will refund you for the rest.
Places in Edinburgh for advice about buying a fiddle:
Places where you can hire a fiddle to get you started:
Edinburgh Central Music Library
