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 as an attendee (registration opens on January 1), here's how to set up a Whova account (at the end of January or later).

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. 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.

NEW: Whova now uses 2-factor authentication during your sign-in. For security, Whova may send you an email with a CODE to continue signing in. You've probably done this code thing with an online credit card account or bank account.

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

Questions?
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

First, you may find the answers you need at our Q&A page. Second, the Chrome browser is highly recommended for laptops and desktops.

During Fiddle Hell, our Fiddle Hell Online support staff will be reachable by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and by phone at (857)-209-4861. On Thursday, the hours are 8:30AM - 11PM ET. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the hours are 9AM-11PM ET.  Support staff can help with registration questions, Whova navigation and use, and Zoom use. It may take a little while to help you out; please be patient.

You can ask questions to the Whova support staff by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (although they don't always respond quickly on weekends).

Here's the general Zoom help center and a set of Zoom Q&A's from Zoom itself (select a Q&A category on the left and see questions on the right).

You can test out your connection and software from 8:30-10:30AM on Thursday, April 11 - a very good idea! In Whova, go to the DROP-IN HELP Session, which is first on the Agenda.

Sessions on the agenda are arranged by date and time, with 30 minute breaks (generally) between sessions. Session times on the schedule can be displayed in your local time zone or EDT. If you're not in EDT, you'll see this choice when looking at the Agenda.

At many time slots, you'll find a  CONCERT . At most time slots, you'll find a  JAM  and a number of  WORKSHOPs .

 WORKSHOPs   are listed in order of difficulty for a given time slot. 
 L1    L2    L3    L4  describe levels of difficulty and pace (more info on levels here).
 Styles  describe various traditional music styles; many sessions cover more than one style.  
 Instruments  are those targeted by the workshop or jam.

Artists are shown with the instruments they're using for this session.
Descriptions give you exciting details of workshops.
Use the date and track filters to focus on particular attributes, or use the very helpful search box.
Click on an artist's name to see bio and sessions.
The schedule is subject to changes in session days, times and details.

There are 28 concerts, 25 jams, and 170 workshops. During each of the four days April 11-14, we'll alternate one-hour sessions with 30-minute breaks, going from 10AM EDT to 11PM EDT. In almost every time slot, you'll find a concert, a jam, and a number of workshops.

Session times listed on the schedule can be displayed in your local time zone or EDT. If you're not in EDT, you'll see this choice when looking at the Agenda.

To decide which sessions to attend...

• Look at the session title and description
• Look at the style (such as Old-Time, Irish, Scottish, New England, Bluegrass, etc.)
• Look at the target Instruments (such as fiddle, cello, guitar, mandolin, old-time banjo, ...)
• Look at the teaching or performing artists. Click on their names to read their bios.
• Look at the level of the session (L1 Beginner, L2 Low Intermediate, L3 High Intermediate, L4 Advanced). The level affects both difficulty and pace. More info on levels here.

You won't miss out since you'll be able to replay sessions for 4 months afterwards (through Aug 10th), 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.

Signing up for a free Zoom account and installing the Zoom application on your laptop or desktop computer is strongly recommended for the best listening, viewing and participation experience for Fiddle Hell Online. You can also download the Zoom app for your smartphone or tablet, though you'll won't be able to see multiple instructors and other attendees in participatory workshops on these devices. Zoom does not knowingly allow children under 16 to sign up for their own accounts.

If you wish, you may disable your audio and video at any time in Zoom meetings so you will not be audible or visible to others during the live meeting or during future replays. The audio and video on-off controls, and access to audio and video settings (such as audio output to headphones) are in the lower left on laptops and desktops.

Please don't turn on a virtual background; some people have a sensory sensitivity to these.

You may wish to switch between "Speaker View" (just the instructor or performer) and "Gallery View" (everybody) by clicking on the "View" option in the upper right; this also lets you go to fullscreen view.

You can bring up the Zoom Chat window in workshops and jams, using the Chat command at the bottom of your screen on a laptop or desktop. Whova has its own chat, but we plan to just use the Zoom Chat. You can ask musical questions in the Chat to the instructor or technical questions in the Chat to the Zoom host of the session. A link to the Chat will be added to the session description when the replay is posted. 

Using an iPad? Here are some iPad-Zoom suggestions. As on laptops, please don't turn on a virtual background; some people have a sensory sensitivity to these. BTW, a left to right screen swipe on an iPad will exit a video view if you're stuck. And a swipe will take you between Gallery and Speaker views on Zoom.

SEEING: Use a laptop or desktop computer to attend Fiddle Hell Online - you'll see more than on a tablet or phone. Make livestreams and videos full-screen if you want to see details more easily. And it's always helpful to update your Zoom app to the latest available version: 1. Sign in to Zoom desktop client at zoom.us . 2. Click your profile picture, then click Check for Updates.

BEING SEEN: This is for live Zoom meetings, not replays. Aim your camera straight on at you (not from below), using the built-in camera in your laptop, or a webcam. Get good lighting from lamps and natural light in front of you (not backlit or overhead lights only). Have a non-distracting real background if possible (please, no virtual backgrounds, since they sometimes cut instruments out and can cause problems for people with light sensitivity).

INTERNET: Your wifi may work just fine!  But if it’s slow or freezes, here are some ideas (these will help for more than just Fiddle Hell):

Connect to your network via an ethernet (preferably “cat6”) cable instead of using wifi. If you are unable to do that, locate your computer as close as possible to the router.  It’s also ideal if there are no walls between you and the router.  If that’s not possible, you might consider a wifi repeater or extender which will extend the coverage of your wifi network. If you’re on wifi, please take your phone off the wifi.

Certain times of day have a lot more wifi traffic than others, depending on where you live.  If you can concentrate on the less busy hours, that may help a surprising amount. Since FHO sessions are replayable, you have quite a bit of control over when you see some of them. Also, close other programs on your computer, and persuade other members of the household to stay away from online gaming or bandwidth-intensive downloads or viewing.

If these suggestions don’t help, try your smartphone for replays, if you have one. Even with fast Internet, people sometimes find that their phones work more smoothly.

HEARING: Use good quality headphones and plug them into your computer before joining each Zoom session (you may need to select your headphones as the output device in Zoom audio settings after joining a session). Alternatively, use good Bluetooth speakers, or wired speakers.

BEING HEARD: You don't need anything fancy to perform in an open mic concert, or ask a question in a workshop. However, if you're playing an instrument that others will hear, it is important to adjust your Zoom audio settings (lower left-hand corner of the screen, ^ to the right of the mic icon) for the best sound.
First: If needed, Select a Microphone [to make sure you have the correct one] or Select a Speaker
Second: Click on Audio Settings...
Third: Within Audio Settings:
    Uncheck the box Automatically adjust microphone volume. 
    Select "Original sound for musicians". 
    Uncheck the box "High-fidelity music mode". While HFMM may improve sound slightly for guitar and mandolin, it doesn't do much for fiddle in our testing. And HFMM uses extra processing resources and can cause video quality to drop on slower connections.
    Check the box "Echo cancellation" (unless your mic or other sound equipment already does cancellation (RARE), or you are wearing isolating headphones)
    Uncheck the box "Stereo audio"
    Do not select Live performance audio (this is a new feature for synchronization, but it causes problems for FHO!)
    Here's what these audio settings should look like:
           
Fourth: Close the settings window, go back to the meeting window. In the upper left, if it says "Original Sound for Musicians: On" then you're all set.  If it says, "Original Sound for Musicians: Off," click on that once so that it changes to "Original Sound for Musicians: On."

Fiddle Hell Online has additional guidelines for instructors about mics, audio interfaces, and settings, which we are happy to share with attendees on request.

These tips are for iPad and smartphone users, for live viewing of workshops and jams.  If you're using a laptop or desktop, you don't need to read further.

Here are the steps to view live workshops and jams on your device:

1. Open the Whova Mobile App
2. Click on the "Agenda" button at the bottom of the app
3. Find the session you want to attend and click on it
4. This will bring you to the more detailed session page
5. On that page of the app, there is a Virtual Access section part way down that has a green "Live Stream" button 
6. Click on the "Live Stream" button and the session will play right in the Whova app

Because of internal changes to the  Zoom interface, Whova on a mobile device is not able to launch the Zoom app, which is why the Zoom session plays in a Whova window.

You should be able to hear and see the session fine. You may have to allow Whova to "Call via device audio" on a phone. Once in a while there's an issue with a black screen, but if you go back to the Agenda and then to the session again, it seems to work.

You may initially see the Session Q&A and Whova Chat displayed.  We don't use the Whova Chat - only the Zoom Chat. You may occasionally use the Session Q&A to enter information that needs to persist beyond the end of a live session (such as a useful link).

Controls vary across iPhones, iPads, and Android phones.  Whova requires iOS 14.0 or later on an iPhone, and iPadOS 14.0 or later on an iPad. 

Turning your device to landscape mode (horizontal) may make controls more visible to see the Zoom Chat and Gallery View. Also, you can tap on the video itself to get to additional settings, or on the 3 dots ("More") at the bottom to get to the Zoom Chat.

Swiping left or right on an iPhone gets you to the Gallery to see participants.

On an Android phone, you can see some standard Zoom controls across the bottom, and may also see a row of many dots. Clicking on various dots will show you the safe driving mode, the instructor, and sections of the Gallery. 

We do recommend attending all Fiddle Hell Online sessions from a laptop or desktop computer (if you have one available) because you will be able to see the instructor better, more easily access the Zoom controls, more easily type questions into the Zoom Chat, etc.

Here's how to view and download PDF handouts from specific workshops and jams (or even all sessions).

Attend a mixture of concerts, jams, and workshops. 

Stay hydrated.

Stretch or walk around during breaks.

Give yourself and your eyes a break from screens and devices.

Don't worry if you miss a session. Concerts, jams, and workshops will be available for replay for 4 months (through Aug 10th), so if you miss them at the originally scheduled time, you can replay them later. 

Helpful videos! Of course, not everyone does it the same way. And, change your strings at your own risk.

Fiddle - Short Version from SHAR Music
Fiddle - Long Version from Kennedy Violins
Cello - Medium Version from Nan Kemberling
Mandolin - Short Version from Long & McQuade
Mandolin - Long Version from Nate Lee
Guitar - Short Version from Martin Guitars
Old-Time Banjo - Long Version from Deering Banjo Co
Old-Time Banjo - Quite Long Version from BanjoLemonade

Please help us make Fiddle Hell better by filling out our anonymous survey after the April event at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FiddleHellApril2024

We read all responses carefully!

Fiddle Hell is in person in November - but we use a helpful app called "Whova". 

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

Whova is optional at Fiddle Hell, but we highly recommend using it on your phone, tablet, or laptop during the Festival. The attendees at the last two IN-PERSON Fiddle Hells and six ONLINE Fiddle Hells have used Whova and been quite pleased with it. We'll assist you with Whova if needed when you're at Fiddle Hell.

Once you've bought your Fiddle Hell ticket, you'll need to set up your Whova account and sign in as described below. 

*** Helpful Links ***
For iPhones and iPads, 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 
Here's how to get apps on an iPad: https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/get-apps-ipad9b4cea76/ipados 
For Android phones and Android tablets, 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 
For laptops and desktops, no app is needed. The Whova Web portal for Fiddle Hell is at https://fiddlehellwestford.com 
*** End of Helpful Links ***

For smart phones, iPads, tablets or other mobile devices, download the Whova Event & Conference App.
If you already have a Whova account (likely from a previous Fiddle Hell), sign in with your email address and password, and look for the event "Fiddle Hell In-Person - Fall 2024". You might have to search events for "fiddle" to find the right one. If you don't have a Whova account, sign up with the same exact email address used for your registration as an attendee and a password you create, and then look for the event.

For a LAPTOP or DESKTOP computer, ideally with the Chrome browser, go to www.fiddlehellwestford.com (not fiddlehell.com).
If you already have a Whova account (likely from a previous Fiddle Hell), sign in with your email address and password. If you don't have a Whova account, 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 Web Portal is browser-based.

Troubleshooting:
NEW: Whova now uses 2-factor authentication during your sign-in. For security, Whova may send you an email (to your registered email address) with a CODE to continue signing in. You've probably done this code thing with an online credit card account or bank account.

If you are asked for an "invitation code" when you're using an iPad or other mobile device to set up your Whova account, make sure to download the Whova Event & Conference App first and use the App to set up your account. Then you should be able to see Fiddle Hell right away as one of "My Events" or you can seach for it in "Find My Event".

If you are asked for an "invitation code" when you're using a laptop or desktop to set up your Whova account, it's usually because you're using a different email address than the one you gave when you bought your Fiddle Hell ticket. Please try again, using the same email address you gave when you bought your FH ticket. Fiddle Hell staff can help if needed.

Questions?
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

During FH, at posted times (on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), a technical help person will be available in the Registration Room. You'll also find that quite a few attendees, instructors, and staff members are familiar with Whova from using it at the six Fiddle Hell Online Festivals we've had and also the in-person FHs in 2022 & 2023. 

Also, you may find the answers you need (how to sign in, how to use Whova) at our Q&A page. 

Before or during Fiddle Hell, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  It may take a little while to help you out; please be patient.

You can ask questions to the Whova support staff by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Sessions on the agenda are arranged by date and time, with 30 minute breaks (generally) between sessions. 

At many time slots, you'll find a  CONCERT . At most time slots, you'll find one or more  JAMs  and up to 16  WORKSHOPs .

 WORKSHOPs   are listed in order of difficulty for a given time slot. 
 L1    L2    L3    L4  describe levels of difficulty and pace (more info on levels here).
 Styles  describe various traditional music styles; many sessions cover more than one style.  
 Instruments  are those targeted by the workshop or jam.

Artists (not always in order) are shown with the instruments they're using for this session.
Descriptions give you exciting details of workshops.
Use the date and track filters to focus on particular attributes, or use the very helpful search box.
Click on an artist's name to see bio and sessions.
The schedule is subject to changes in session days, times and details.

There are 20 concerts, 35 jams, and 325 workshops. During each of the four days Nov 2-5, we'll alternate 60-minute sessions with 30-minute breaks. A few sessions will be 70 minutes instead, with a 20-minute break at the end. In many time slots, you'll find a concert. In most time slots, we'll have a jam, and up to 15 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, banjo, ...), the instructors or performers, the level of the session, and of course the session title and description. It's fun to stretch out and try a new style or instrument - or just to relax and watch a fun concert.

You can attend any sessions you want without the need to sign up for them. A few sessions may have capacity limits based on room size.

1. Laptop or Desktop: Sign in (using your email address and Whova password) to www.fiddlehellwestford.com .
   Phone or Tablet: Open the Whova Event & Conference App, and open the event Fiddle Hell In-Person - Fall 2024
   
   
2. You will see the Home page of Fiddle Hell on Whova, with a big banner, words of welcome, and a menu on the left. Here are the magical menu choices to help you navigate to different parts of Fiddle Hell:

3. Click on Agenda > Sessions on the menu to get a Full Agenda of all sessions. As you look at the sessions, you can make your own agenda by clicking on "Add to My Agenda" on the right of a session. Next to the words “Full Agenda” at the top, click on “My Agenda” to see only those sessions you have added to “My Agenda”. Click on “Full Agenda” to go back to seeing everything. 
   
   
4. You can filter sessions at the top left. Where it says “Filter by tracks” click on “Tracks” at the top to turn off all checkmarks, and then select the track you want (by type, style, level, instrument). Click “Tracks” at the top again to turn off filtering. You can also choose the day just below that – Thu, Fri, Sat, or Sun.  
   
   
5. You can search for sessions across all days at the top middle search box. This is very helpful - it finds titles, instructors, and descriptions. If search doesn’t show what you expect, turn off filtering (#4 above). If you want to see sessions for a particular instructor, enter all or part of their name.
   
   
6. When you see a session of interest, click on the View Session button to read more about it or to ask a question in the Session Q&A.  When you’re viewing a particular session, you can add it to or remove it from My Agenda or Like it. [Instructors can also see how many people have added their session to their agenda, and can moderate the Session Q&A for their sessions.] You can experiment to see what Show Agenda and Hide Agenda will do. At any time, you can click on Agenda in the menu column to restore the initial Full Agenda view.

Here's the new way to view and download handouts from specific workshops and jams (or even all sessions).

Attend a mixture of concerts, jams, and workshops. 

Take time off for friends, informal jams, food, and walking around (or stretching).

Stay hydrated.

Late night jams are fun, but you might want to sleep in a bit the next morning.

Helpful videos! Of course, not everyone does it the same way. And, change your strings at your own risk.

Fiddle - Short Version from SHAR Music
Fiddle - Long Version from Kennedy Violins
Cello - Medium Version from Nan Kemberling
Mandolin - Short Version from Long & McQuade
Mandolin - Long Version from Nate Lee
Guitar - Short Version from Martin Guitars
Old-Time Banjo - Long Version from Deering Banjo Co
Old-Time Banjo - Quite Long Version from BanjoLemonade

After the 4 days of FHO, please help us make Fiddle Hell better by filling out our anonymous survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FiddleHellNov2024

We read all responses carefully!

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 as an attendee (registration opens on January 1), here's how to set up a Whova account (at the end of January or later).

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. 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.

NEW: Whova now uses 2-factor authentication during your sign-in. For security, Whova may send you an email with a CODE to continue signing in. You've probably done this code thing with an online credit card account or bank account.

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

Questions?
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

First, you may find the answers you need at our Q&A page. Second, the Chrome browser is highly recommended for laptops and desktops.

During Fiddle Hell, our Fiddle Hell Online support staff will be reachable by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and by phone at (857)-209-4861. On Thursday, the hours are 8:30AM - 11PM ET. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the hours are 9AM-11PM ET.  Support staff can help with registration questions, Whova navigation and use, and Zoom use. It may take a little while to help you out; please be patient.

You can ask questions to the Whova support staff by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (although they don't always respond quickly on weekends).

Here's the general Zoom help center and a set of Zoom Q&A's from Zoom itself (select a Q&A category on the left and see questions on the right).

You can test out your connection and software from 8:30-10:30AM on Thursday, April 11 - a very good idea! In Whova, go to the DROP-IN HELP Session, which is first on the Agenda.

Sessions on the agenda are arranged by date and time, with 30 minute breaks (generally) between sessions. Session times on the schedule can be displayed in your local time zone or EDT. If you're not in EDT, you'll see this choice when looking at the Agenda.

At many time slots, you'll find a  CONCERT . At most time slots, you'll find a  JAM  and a number of  WORKSHOPs .

 WORKSHOPs   are listed in order of difficulty for a given time slot. 
 L1    L2    L3    L4  describe levels of difficulty and pace (more info on levels here).
 Styles  describe various traditional music styles; many sessions cover more than one style.  
 Instruments  are those targeted by the workshop or jam.

Artists are shown with the instruments they're using for this session.
Descriptions give you exciting details of workshops.
Use the date and track filters to focus on particular attributes, or use the very helpful search box.
Click on an artist's name to see bio and sessions.
The schedule is subject to changes in session days, times and details.

There are 28 concerts, 25 jams, and 170 workshops. During each of the four days April 11-14, we'll alternate one-hour sessions with 30-minute breaks, going from 10AM EDT to 11PM EDT. In almost every time slot, you'll find a concert, a jam, and a number of workshops.

Session times listed on the schedule can be displayed in your local time zone or EDT. If you're not in EDT, you'll see this choice when looking at the Agenda.

To decide which sessions to attend...

• Look at the session title and description
• Look at the style (such as Old-Time, Irish, Scottish, New England, Bluegrass, etc.)
• Look at the target Instruments (such as fiddle, cello, guitar, mandolin, old-time banjo, ...)
• Look at the teaching or performing artists. Click on their names to read their bios.
• Look at the level of the session (L1 Beginner, L2 Low Intermediate, L3 High Intermediate, L4 Advanced). The level affects both difficulty and pace. More info on levels here.

You won't miss out since you'll be able to replay sessions for 4 months afterwards (through Aug 10th), 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.

Signing up for a free Zoom account and installing the Zoom application on your laptop or desktop computer is strongly recommended for the best listening, viewing and participation experience for Fiddle Hell Online. You can also download the Zoom app for your smartphone or tablet, though you'll won't be able to see multiple instructors and other attendees in participatory workshops on these devices. Zoom does not knowingly allow children under 16 to sign up for their own accounts.

If you wish, you may disable your audio and video at any time in Zoom meetings so you will not be audible or visible to others during the live meeting or during future replays. The audio and video on-off controls, and access to audio and video settings (such as audio output to headphones) are in the lower left on laptops and desktops.

Please don't turn on a virtual background; some people have a sensory sensitivity to these.

You may wish to switch between "Speaker View" (just the instructor or performer) and "Gallery View" (everybody) by clicking on the "View" option in the upper right; this also lets you go to fullscreen view.

You can bring up the Zoom Chat window in workshops and jams, using the Chat command at the bottom of your screen on a laptop or desktop. Whova has its own chat, but we plan to just use the Zoom Chat. You can ask musical questions in the Chat to the instructor or technical questions in the Chat to the Zoom host of the session. A link to the Chat will be added to the session description when the replay is posted. 

Using an iPad? Here are some iPad-Zoom suggestions. As on laptops, please don't turn on a virtual background; some people have a sensory sensitivity to these. BTW, a left to right screen swipe on an iPad will exit a video view if you're stuck. And a swipe will take you between Gallery and Speaker views on Zoom.

SEEING: Use a laptop or desktop computer to attend Fiddle Hell Online - you'll see more than on a tablet or phone. Make livestreams and videos full-screen if you want to see details more easily. And it's always helpful to update your Zoom app to the latest available version: 1. Sign in to Zoom desktop client at zoom.us . 2. Click your profile picture, then click Check for Updates.

BEING SEEN: This is for live Zoom meetings, not replays. Aim your camera straight on at you (not from below), using the built-in camera in your laptop, or a webcam. Get good lighting from lamps and natural light in front of you (not backlit or overhead lights only). Have a non-distracting real background if possible (please, no virtual backgrounds, since they sometimes cut instruments out and can cause problems for people with light sensitivity).

INTERNET: Your wifi may work just fine!  But if it’s slow or freezes, here are some ideas (these will help for more than just Fiddle Hell):

Connect to your network via an ethernet (preferably “cat6”) cable instead of using wifi. If you are unable to do that, locate your computer as close as possible to the router.  It’s also ideal if there are no walls between you and the router.  If that’s not possible, you might consider a wifi repeater or extender which will extend the coverage of your wifi network. If you’re on wifi, please take your phone off the wifi.

Certain times of day have a lot more wifi traffic than others, depending on where you live.  If you can concentrate on the less busy hours, that may help a surprising amount. Since FHO sessions are replayable, you have quite a bit of control over when you see some of them. Also, close other programs on your computer, and persuade other members of the household to stay away from online gaming or bandwidth-intensive downloads or viewing.

If these suggestions don’t help, try your smartphone for replays, if you have one. Even with fast Internet, people sometimes find that their phones work more smoothly.

HEARING: Use good quality headphones and plug them into your computer before joining each Zoom session (you may need to select your headphones as the output device in Zoom audio settings after joining a session). Alternatively, use good Bluetooth speakers, or wired speakers.

BEING HEARD: You don't need anything fancy to perform in an open mic concert, or ask a question in a workshop. However, if you're playing an instrument that others will hear, it is important to adjust your Zoom audio settings (lower left-hand corner of the screen, ^ to the right of the mic icon) for the best sound.
First: If needed, Select a Microphone [to make sure you have the correct one] or Select a Speaker
Second: Click on Audio Settings...
Third: Within Audio Settings:
    Uncheck the box Automatically adjust microphone volume. 
    Select "Original sound for musicians". 
    Uncheck the box "High-fidelity music mode". While HFMM may improve sound slightly for guitar and mandolin, it doesn't do much for fiddle in our testing. And HFMM uses extra processing resources and can cause video quality to drop on slower connections.
    Check the box "Echo cancellation" (unless your mic or other sound equipment already does cancellation (RARE), or you are wearing isolating headphones)
    Uncheck the box "Stereo audio"
    Do not select Live performance audio (this is a new feature for synchronization, but it causes problems for FHO!)
    Here's what these audio settings should look like:
           
Fourth: Close the settings window, go back to the meeting window. In the upper left, if it says "Original Sound for Musicians: On" then you're all set.  If it says, "Original Sound for Musicians: Off," click on that once so that it changes to "Original Sound for Musicians: On."

Fiddle Hell Online has additional guidelines for instructors about mics, audio interfaces, and settings, which we are happy to share with attendees on request.

These tips are for iPad and smartphone users, for live viewing of workshops and jams.  If you're using a laptop or desktop, you don't need to read further.

Here are the steps to view live workshops and jams on your device:

1. Open the Whova Mobile App
2. Click on the "Agenda" button at the bottom of the app
3. Find the session you want to attend and click on it
4. This will bring you to the more detailed session page
5. On that page of the app, there is a Virtual Access section part way down that has a green "Live Stream" button 
6. Click on the "Live Stream" button and the session will play right in the Whova app

Because of internal changes to the  Zoom interface, Whova on a mobile device is not able to launch the Zoom app, which is why the Zoom session plays in a Whova window.

You should be able to hear and see the session fine. You may have to allow Whova to "Call via device audio" on a phone. Once in a while there's an issue with a black screen, but if you go back to the Agenda and then to the session again, it seems to work.

You may initially see the Session Q&A and Whova Chat displayed.  We don't use the Whova Chat - only the Zoom Chat. You may occasionally use the Session Q&A to enter information that needs to persist beyond the end of a live session (such as a useful link).

Controls vary across iPhones, iPads, and Android phones.  Whova requires iOS 14.0 or later on an iPhone, and iPadOS 14.0 or later on an iPad. 

Turning your device to landscape mode (horizontal) may make controls more visible to see the Zoom Chat and Gallery View. Also, you can tap on the video itself to get to additional settings, or on the 3 dots ("More") at the bottom to get to the Zoom Chat.

Swiping left or right on an iPhone gets you to the Gallery to see participants.

On an Android phone, you can see some standard Zoom controls across the bottom, and may also see a row of many dots. Clicking on various dots will show you the safe driving mode, the instructor, and sections of the Gallery. 

We do recommend attending all Fiddle Hell Online sessions from a laptop or desktop computer (if you have one available) because you will be able to see the instructor better, more easily access the Zoom controls, more easily type questions into the Zoom Chat, etc.

Here's how to view and download PDF handouts from specific workshops and jams (or even all sessions).

Attend a mixture of concerts, jams, and workshops. 

Stay hydrated.

Stretch or walk around during breaks.

Give yourself and your eyes a break from screens and devices.

Don't worry if you miss a session. Concerts, jams, and workshops will be available for replay for 4 months (through Aug 10th), so if you miss them at the originally scheduled time, you can replay them later. 

Helpful videos! Of course, not everyone does it the same way. And, change your strings at your own risk.

Fiddle - Short Version from SHAR Music
Fiddle - Long Version from Kennedy Violins
Cello - Medium Version from Nan Kemberling
Mandolin - Short Version from Long & McQuade
Mandolin - Long Version from Nate Lee
Guitar - Short Version from Martin Guitars
Old-Time Banjo - Long Version from Deering Banjo Co
Old-Time Banjo - Quite Long Version from BanjoLemonade

Please help us make Fiddle Hell better by filling out our anonymous survey after the April event at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FiddleHellApril2024

We read all responses carefully!