Here’s what you’ll do in this module

In the video above, I explain what you’ll be learning on the fiddle and how to navigate this page. To learn more, take the Fiddlehed Site Tour.

  • How to hold the fiddle and bow
  • Right-hand plucking
  • Using the bow
  • Left-hand fingering
  • Ear-training with call-and-response
  • Learning tunes in small steps
  • Combining bowing and fingering

I’m excited for you! ✨ You’re about to learn the essential skills of playing the fiddle. This is where you start if you’re an absolute beginner. 🐣

You’ll learn FUNdamentals like posture, bowing, fingering, and more. Whew! And you’ll practice these new found skills with four tunes that present you with the perfect challenge. 💪🏽


Need help?

If you’re unsure how to use the course, don’t hesitate to send us a message.


Do you currently have a fiddle?

If not, read this: How to get a fiddle


Module 1.1 progress

As you take different core lessons you can click the “Mark as complete” button. Then you’ll see your progress in the course.

Lessons started in Module 1.1:

You can also see your progress in the “Practice Toolkit” further down the page, and on the Home Page.


 

Core Lessons

If you’re an absolute beginner, then I suggest you work through the lessons in the order below. You’ll be led through a step-by-step progression of skills. ✅

I’ve listed the lessons and exercises that you should learn each week. This is just a suggestion because the course is self-paced. Don’t feel like you have to rush through the material.


Week 1

Posture, Plucking, Beginner Duets (days 1-2)

Bowing (days 3-7)


Week 2

Learning Left-hand Fingering (days 1-3)

Continuing With Left-hand Fingering (days 4-7)


Week 3

In addition to lessons on specific techniques and tunes, I’ll be giving you lessons on how to practice in a fun and productive way. In my humble opinion, this is the most important thing to learn as a musician.

How the course is structured

This is the home page for Module 1.1. For all the module home pages, you’ll see a few categories of lessons.

Core Lessons

  • These are essential tunes and techniques for you to learn. The tunes are carefully picked to match the techniques you’re learning.
  • The core lessons are returned to throughout the course. We’ll take the core tunes you’re learning now and add more complex variations later. In the same way, you’ll learn basic techniques now (like bowing) that will be fine-tuned in each step of the course.

Bonus Lessons 

  • These lessons are made up of extra tunes, practice articles, note-reading skills and lessons from other courses I offer.
  • They are a good way to supplement your learning, but not as crucial as the core lessons. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the quantity of lessons in each module, then feel free to skip the bonus lessons and focus more on the core lessons.
  • On the other hand, if you want to more deeply learn the techniques and concepts, then you can enrich the practice with bonus lessons.

Note-reading lessons

  • Starting in Module 1.2, there are lessons on note-reading which match the tunes and techniques you’ll be learning. These are also optional. You don’t need to learn to read in order to take the course.
  • A lot of students decide to first learn to play using tabs, audio and video lessons. This is a good strategy because they can focus on getting a good sound and learning fun tunes. Then later on (when you have some momentum), they add note-reading to their skill set.

Review

  • At the end of each module you’ll review the core tunes you’ve learned 🧠
  • By reviewing what you’ve learned, you earn compound interest on the time spent learning them 📈
  • When you review these tunes, you’ll gain new insight into things that were difficult 👁️
  • Plus, you’ll gain the satisfaction of being able to pick up the fiddle, remember and play the tunes you’ve learned 😍

Bonus Lessons

Here are bonus lessons to supplement your learning journey. A lot of these will be emailed to after you sign up. I say they are “bonus lessons” because I don’t want you to feel obligated and overwhelmed. Most of these lessons are coaching and practice strategy.

FAQ

Fiddle & Practice Questions 🎻

How do I create a consistent practice habit?

Is it harder to bow on certain strings?

How Can I Improve My Bow Hold?

How do you keep the bow parallel to bridge?

How can I do a clean string crossing?

How can I improve the tone on the fiddle?

Got more questions? For the fastest answer, see the Support Tab. Or just email us.


Questions on using the site 💻

What will I learn in the “Start Fiddling Now!” module?

You’ll learn fundamental skills like holding the fiddle and bow, right-hand plucking, using the bow, left-hand fingering, ear-training with call-and-response, learning tunes in small steps, and combining bowing and fingering​​.

Do I need to have a fiddle before starting the course?

If you don’t have a fiddle, you can find guidance on acquiring one at FiddleHed​​.

How can I track my progress in the course?

Progress can be tracked by clicking the “Mark as complete” button after each lesson, and you can also see your progress in the “Practice Toolkit” and on the home page​​.

What is the structure of the course?

The course includes core lessons on essential tunes and techniques, bonus lessons for additional learning, and optional note-reading lessons starting from Module 1.2​​.

Is there a review process in the course?

Yes, at the end of each module, you’ll review the core tunes learned to reinforce and deepen understanding​​.

 

Student Story

Student story: Katrina

This was taken while my husband and I were traveling and camping around New Zealand in February. I take my fiddle everywhere because I want to play every day. As Fiddlehed is online, it doesn’t matter where I am, I have access to the music lessons.

I only started playing fiddle last year. The FiddleHed method of teaching and online resources have helped me develop my ear and attitude to learning. It got me through the excruciating beginner sound.

I’m able to play all the songs from memory, which is so much better than relying on sheet music. I truly didn’t realize that this was possible. I still have a long way to go, but you make that journey fun, and attainable. I couldn’t believe it the other day when I was playing the G scale along to the G drone, then suddenly found myself transposing songs from other keys into G.


Start here: How To Hold The Violin >>