This is a drop in class. You don’t have to be attending a regular class to come, just tune up and turn up!

Learn folk tunes with Mairi at a speed we can all manage!

Mairi Campbell leads a fun and informative fiddle class and session every Monday at 7pm. Each week we go through a collection of well loved tunes, some old, some new. All participants have exclusive access to Mairi’s online tunes library (all the tunes covered in class) so you can continue at your own pace.

Who is the class/session for: All fiddlers or violinists interested in learning Scottish dance music and slow airs are welcome to join us, including

• Relatively new adult fiddle learners (at least two years of playing)
• Fluid players wanting to develop their technique
• Classical players wanting to try folk fiddling
• Players wanting to widen their repertoire and general playing. I offer support for tone, bowing, left hand, rhythm and reading music and anything else that arises
• Players wanting the convenience of staying at home while meeting other fiddlers from around the world

HOW DOES IT WORK?

After a warmup and Mairi’s choice of tune we go round the circle leading on our tune choices (optional). We play each tune three times. The written music is shared on screen so you can read and/or listen.

Second time around Mairi addresses some tricky bits and offers technical support specific to that tune. She then leads on that tune and everyone plays along (muted).

Third time around Mairi plays live piano accompaniment and you play along with that.

“Mairi’s slow sessions have been hugely inspiring and motivating! Taking tunes at a modest pace together with Mairi’s exercises and hints has made an enormous difference not only to my repertoire but also to my technique.”

WHAT’LL WE PLAY

We have time for 6 or 7 tunes each session. Bring your choices from either my site or any other. This is optional. If you just want to sit in and follow along that’s fine too.

LEARN THE TUNES IN YOUR OWN TIME!

Sign up to Mairi’s mailing list to get free lifetime access to Mairi’s online library of fiddle tunes to learn in your own time. Slow the music down and loop sections for highly effective learning.

Feel free to dive in and work at your own pace, then you can check out the live class any week. I look forward to hearing your choices and adding to our growing library.

All class participants will get lifetime access to the tunes library.

What folk say:

“I think of the written music like stabilisers it allows you to enjoy the pure feeling of the music without getting frazzled wondering where the tune has got to. It is just a small part of the slow sessions – learning to listen out for patterns, getting tips on technique – helping to feel the music.”

“I thoroughly enjoy the company. The gentle pace gives me time to read music and hear the detail in Mairi’s playing. It’s technical and practical, a great combination.”

“The loop and recorded tunes are brilliant for self learning.”

“I loved it when you said not to worry about the length of notes shown – it feels liberating to be able to take the tune as you hear it and try to respond intuitively.”

More about Mairi:

Mairi is an award winning musician and teacher. Alongside performance and writing over the past thirty years, Mairi has continuously taught adult learners in fiddle and choirs. From 2007 to 2017 Mairi initiated and led 6 weekend fiddle courses each year from her cottage on the island of Lismore. She loves teaching adult learners and brings skills and tools that enable her classes to become effective learning communities. www.mairicampbell.scot

Mairi’s Awards:
2019: Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame – Inductee
2018: Inspiration award – HandsupforTrad
2016: Instrumentalist of the year – overall winner
2012: Tutor of the year – overall winner Na Trads
2011: Neil Gow International composition award – overall winner
2008: Scots Singer of the year – overall winner Na Trads
2008: Female Musician of the year – LiveIreland

Practical Information

Tutor: Mairi Campbell
Length of session: 120 minutes
Number of sessions: Regular weekly drop in sessions
Dates and times: 7pm-9pm on Mondays, see dates below.
Cost: £12.50 per session

What you need to bring:
Just yourself and your instrument

List of forthcoming sessions in this series

Your tickets will arrive very quickly. If you can’t see them, please check your spam/junk folder.
On the day of the course Mairi Campbell will send you the Zoom link for the session.