Fiddle Hell Online is Thursday-Sunday, April 13-16, 2023, with sessions replayable for the next 4 months. It's virtual, so FHO is wherever you are!

In normal times, the Fiddle Hell Massachusetts Festival is a yearly gathering of fiddlers, cellists, mandolin & guitar & old-time banjo players, and singers to meet, jam, learn, listen, and have fun. It's both friendly and diverse, and covers many traditional musical styles. This is still true now that we're ONLINE! As a registered attendee, you'll have an amazing choice of 160 workshops, 30 concerts, and 30 jam sessions. Not only can you attend these sessions when they are live, but you can replay videos of any sessions during Fiddle Hell Online and for 4 months afterwards. Teaching at FHO is primarily by ear although sheet music may occasionally be available.

Attendance and participation are from your laptop, desktop, tablet, phone, or other device. You'll be joining Zoom sessions conveniently reached (through our event software called "Whova") from a web browser or mobile app. At face-to-face Fiddle Hell, you had to make a difficult choice of where to go in each time slot; for FHO, you'll be able to replay videos of prior sessions for the next 4 months, so you won't miss your favorite instructors, workshop topics, jams, and performers. Optionally, you can access the online community once you register (it's live now right here), for discussions, messaging, exhibitors, and technical help if you need it.

Some instructors will be listed by the end of January, and most sessions by the end of February, 2023. Please look at https://fiddlehell.org/staff and https://fiddlehell.org/schedule. Once you have bought your Fiddle Hell Online ticket, and set up your Whova account (see the question on Whova setup), you can also peruse the sessions and instructors through the Whova Agenda > Sessions and Agenda > Instructr menus. If there are sessions you'd like to remember, add them to "My Agenda" in Whova. There is also a (downloadable) Whova Mobile App available as an alternative way to view the schedule, staff, and community topics.

You can attend any and all sessions (unless you have a "Concerts Only" ticket); there are no individual session signups.

Whova is the event system that helps you access Zoom sessions on the agenda, view and download handouts, see messages and announcements, visit the virtual exhibits, ask questions about sessions or in general, and (optionally) connect with other attendees.

If you've bought your Fiddle Hell Online ticket, here's how to set up a Whova account. Using your LAPTOP or DESKTOP computer, ideally with the Chrome browser, go to https://www.fiddlehellonline.org to set up your Whova account and sign in to Fiddle Hell Online once you've registered. At that website, where it says "Don't have an account?" click "Sign up here". Sign in with the same exact email address used for your registration as an attendee, and create a new password. On a laptop or desktop computer, you don't need to download any software - the Whova system is browser-based.

For iPads or other mobile devices, DO NOT follow that link! First, download the Whova Event & Conference App, then use the App to establish your Whova account, and only then look for the Fiddle Hell Online event in the App. Here's how to get apps on an iPad: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/get-apps-ipad9b4cea76/ipados 

For iPads and iPhones, here's the Whova app you're looking for in the App Store preview: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whova-event-conference-app/id716979741
 
For Android tablets and Android phones, here's the Whova app you're looking for in the Play Store preview: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whova.event 

Levels are discussed in detail at https://fiddlehell.org/info/session-levels. Our four levels are approximations that you can use as guidelines to help pick your workshops and jams.

Levels indicate two things: the difficulty of the material covered and the pace of the session. L1 (beginner) sessions will have the easiest material and will be at a slow pace. L4 (advanced) sessions will have the most difficult material and will be at a rapid pace. L2 (low intermediate) and L3 (high intermediate) levels are in between.

Of course, your level may vary by instrument, by style, by technical facility, by ability to learn by ear, and more. Feel free to attend any workshops and jams you'd like, expecting that they will be taught and led at the advertised level(s). Also, feel free to leave any Zoom session that doesn't feel right for you and join a different one. You can always return to the agenda to see what's happening live at the same time.

There are 30 concerts, 30 jams, and 160 workshops. During each of the four days April 13-16, we'll alternate one-hour sessions with 30-minute breaks, going from 10AM ET to 10PM ET. In almost every time slot, you'll find a concert, a jam, and 4 or 5 workshops (except during the Saturday Night Concert). To decide which sessions to attend, look at the style (such as Old-Time, Irish, Scottish, New England, Bluegrass, etc.), the target instruments (such as fiddle, cello, guitar, mandolin, old-time banjo, ...), the instructors or performers, the level of the session, and of course the session title and description. You won't miss out since you'll be able to replay sessions for 4 months afterwards, so it's fun to stretch out and try a new style or instrument - or just to relax and watch a fun concert. You don't need to sign up for individual sessions - just go where you like.

Yes, kids can attend FHO! There is a 10% discount for kids, and an additional 10% discount for early bird tickets (and it's even less if they qualify as an additional household member). Kids are welcome at all sessions; the session description should be useful in making decisions about what will interest them. There are no sessions specifically for kids in the Online version of Fiddle Hell, due to online privacy restrictions. Please read on for details, which are different for different ages of kids.

A parent or legal guardian can purchase a ticket for an older kid (13-17). The parent or guardian will need to supervise and monitor their child's participation in FHO, and take full responsibility for their child's safe and appropriate participation in FHO. During the registration process, the parent or guardian purchasing the child's ticket will need to accept these additional terms.

A parent or legal guardian can purchase a ticket for a younger kid (12 or under). The parent or guardian must also purchase their own ticket (possibly as an additional household member). To comply with the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA), there are important, required procedures to avoid sharing personal information about the kid, which includes name, display name, audio, video, chat posting, and more. While the kid can hear and see any sessions, during live sessions the kid should not be identified, nor audible, nor visible, since these sessions are recorded for later replay. During the registration process, the parent or guardian purchasing the ticket will need to accept these additional terms. It is not an option to consent to share personal information about a younger kid, since such permission could later be withdrawn, and the actions required of Fiddle Hell Massachusetts LLC (such as removing videos) in association with a revoked consent could be burdensome and challenging to comply with.

The price for an Adult (26-64) is $184, for access to all sessions (concerts, jams, workshops) during FHO and for 4 months afterwards. 

We offer 10% discounts to $166 for Seniors (65 or over), Young Adults (18-25), Kids (13-17), Kids (12 or under), and American String Teacher Association (ASTA) members.. 

We offer additional 10% early bird discounts by March 31st to $166 for Adults (26-64), and to $149 for Seniors (65 or over), Young Adults (18-25), Kids (13-17), Kids (12 or under) and ASTA members. The earlier you sign up, the more giveaway drawings you'll be entered for (including the amazing "head" violin giveaway), and the more free workshops you'll be able to attend before FHO starts.

Tickets for CONCERTS ONLY are $100, with an early bird discount of 10%, for any age.

Any additional household member wishing to attend ANY concerts, workshops, or jams also needs to register (for the reduced price of $100, or $90 with early bird discount). And all registered attendees are welcome to the Saturday Night Concert; there are no separate tickets for it.

Sure, you could wait until the last moment ... But if you register right away for Fiddle Hell Online, you'll get free workshops online before FHO, and you'll be entered in various giveaways of books, CDs, online lessons from instructors, and even a great fiddle!  You'll also gain early access to the event.

Register now to plan your own agenda (with the My Agenda feature), ask questions about sessions, see announcements about new sessions, post to community discussion topics (like instruments for sale), test out your connections and software, and look through our online exhibitors.

You'll need to be registered to apply for a performance spot on the open mic concert or the original tunes concert. 

We have scholarship funds available now; these may run out as FHO gets nearer.

Of course, if you register now, you'll also help Fiddle Hell to plan for a smooth and exciting event! 

That being said, you can actually register any time you like, even if Fiddle Hell Online has already started.

Register as an early bird for Fiddle Hell Online (which saves 10%), and you will also be entered to win a beautiful and unique violin! The earlier you register, the more chances you'll have to win.

It's a lovely vintage "Gaspard Duiffopruggar" violin made in Germany c. 1890. This is known as the "Mirecourt School Brescian Model," which means that there are some French influences in the design and construction.  The violin features a lovely spruce top and flamed maple sides and back. On the back is a decorative wood inlay of a small village with houses, steeple and trees.  The scroll is hand carved in the form of an older man with beard (hence the description "head fiddle"). This instrument is set up well and is in fine playing condition with just a few very small repaired top cracks that are close to invisible.  You'll need to use your own bow, but it comes with a top quality Deluxe Copeland case. 

Worth about $2500 -- but its cool factor is off the charts! The winner will be announced at the FHO Saturday Night Concert on April 15. You do not have to be present to win.

If you register at the early bird rates in February, this qualifies you for two giveaway drawings (including TWO chances for this beautiful violin, as well as CDs, books, & lessons). Register in March for ONE chance at the violin. Why wait? And please tell your musical friends!  

         


               

Yes! Thanks to generous contributors to our scholarship fund (including many of the instructors and attendees), a limited number of partial (and even full) scholarships are available to those who can't afford the fees. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to describe your request and circumstances.

Go to the Registration Page. During the registration process, you'll be able to register just one person or several. You'll be asked some questions about each person being registered (unique email, state, time zone, instruments, ...), and will read and agree to an Attendee Agreement (as we do at the in-person Fiddle Hell) as well as Agreements related to children, if applicable.

Credit and debit card payments are accepted (see next answer for paying by check).

Please send a check in the mail by March 25th (mail can be slow these days) to Fiddle Hell Massachusetts LLC, P. O. Box 316, Lexington, MA 02420-0316, and let us know who it's for, their age categories, and their email addresses. We'll then send you a 100% discount code (specific to you) to use for online registration at https://fiddlehell.org/register. Each attendee needs a unique email address to register, and will be asked to agree to the Attendee Agreement when registering, as well as Agreements related to children, if applicable.

You'll need to accept this Attendee Agreement when you buy a ticket for yourself or for another person, as well as Agreements related to children, if applicable.

No, it's not. As at in-person Fiddle Hell, each registration is valid for only one attendee at Fiddle Hell Online. Any additional household member wishing to watch or participate in any concerts, workshops, or jams also needs to register (each additional household member can register at a reduced price).

At a time when all musicians' gigs have partially disappeared, and are only slowly returning Fiddle Hell Online pays all instructors, performers, and technical staff, and we rely on your registration fees to do this. Please respect the artists who are at the heart of Fiddle Hell Online by asking your friends and family to register.

1. You'll get a confirmation email from Whova with ticket purchase details.

2. Using a laptop or desktop computer, go to www.fiddlehellonline.com to set up your account (easy!). If you already have an account (from last November or before), sign in with your email and password. If not, where it says "Don't have an account?" click "Sign up here". Sign in with the same exact email address used for your registration as an attendee, and create a new password. The Whova website will be how you access Zoom sessions on the agenda, view or download handouts, see messages and announcements, visit the virtual exhibits, ask questions about sessions or in general, and (optionally) connect with other attendees. You don't need to download any software - the Whova Web App is browser-based.  

3. From your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone, you might want to download the Whova mobile app to conveniently browse the FHO agenda and talk to the community. This is required only if you want to view FHO from these devices (including setting up a Whova account). Otherwise this is optional, and you can ignore any emails from Whova telling you it's critical :-).

4. Please help spread the word about Fiddle Hell Online to your musical friends - fiddlers, mando players, cellists, guitarists, banjo players, singers, and more. You can direct them to our Fiddle Hell website, our Facebook group, our YouTube channel (for jam videos), or our Instagram channel.  

5. What happens at Fiddle Hell Online is different from an in-person Fiddle Hell, of course. But you'll likely try out new tunes and styles, pick up techniques and nuances, enjoy hearing others play, participate in guided jams, hear concerts, connect online with old friends and make new ones. Whatever your level and musical preferences, you'll find a supportive community and kindred spirits. There will be 13 year olds and 83 year olds, local musicians and attendees from far away, players who perform regularly and those who rarely play for anyone.

Speaking for the Fiddle Hell organizers - and all the instructors, performers, and technical staff - I hope you'll enjoy the event as it unrolls, and have fun throughout and for the 4 months afterwards when you can replay sessions. Relax and experience the unique gathering that is Fiddle Hell Online!
- Dave Reiner

Order here by April 20th to have your shirt delivered to you after FHO! It's a great new design from Autumn Rose Lester on the front & our amazing instructor list on the back. Softstyle, 50/50, woman's, and long sleeve options; each style in a different color.

The Fiddle Hell Common Tune list consists of 104 tunes that were suggested by the Reiner Family Band (the original 52) and by Fiddle Hell attendees (the new 52). It's a list of exciting tunes in various styles; most are traditional and a few are by known composers. These are suggested for your repertoire, and often show up in jams or workshops. Of course, many tunes not on the list are also played regularly at Fiddle Hell. The Reiner Family Band has recorded the common tunes (played both fast and slow) on two 2-CD sets, available for $15/set postpaid to US addresses at the Fiddle Hell Store.

Please help us make Fiddle Hell better by filling out our anonymous survey after the April event at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FiddleHellApril2023

We read all responses carefully!