Fiddle Hell Online is Thursday-Sunday, April 3-6, 2025, with all sessions replayable for the next 3 months thru July 6, 2025 (can be extended to 6 or 9 months). It's virtual, so FHO is wherever you are!

Fiddle Hell Online is a yearly gathering (every April) of fiddlers, cellists, mandolin & guitar & banjo players, and singers to meet, jam, learn, listen, and have fun. It's both friendly and diverse, and covers many traditional musical styles. As a registered FHO attendee, you'll have an amazing choice of 170 workshops, 25 concerts, and 25 jam sessions.

Not only can you attend these sessions when they are live online, but you can replay (and slow down) videos of any sessions during Fiddle Hell Online and for 3 months afterwards (can extend to 6 or 9 months). Teaching at FHO is primarily by ear although sheet music handouts are sometimes available (handout links are in session descriptions). 

Why sign up? FHO is an amazing online camp / festival whose teaching artists will help you to take your playing in different styles to the next level.

Your goals might include expanded repertoire, stylistic nuances, historical context, more fluid improvisation, or practical techniques such as bowing, picking, arranging, and composing.

Or perhaps you just want to have fun and hang out with artists and musicians from all over, from the comfort of your own space.

Join us at Fiddle Hell Online! 

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. For FHO, you'll be able to replay videos of prior sessions for the next 3 months (can be extended to 6 or 9 months), so you won't miss your favorite teaching artists, workshop topics, jams, and performers. You can access the online community starting on January 31st for discussions, messaging, exhibitors, and technical help if you need it.

Note: The next In-Person Fiddle Hell will be Nov. 13-16, 2025, in Westford, MA.

Artists will be listed in mid-January at  https://fiddlehell.org/staff and sessions in early February at 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 artists and sessions through the two Whova menus: Agenda > Artists and Agenda > Sessions. 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 (and replay) any and all sessions; individual session signups are not needed.

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, here's how to set up a Whova account (after mid-January).

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

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.

Regardless of level, repetition helps learning, and you can replay any sessions you want for 3 months (or longer if you purchase 6 or 9 months of replays), and even slow them down!

There are 25 concerts, 25 jams, and 170 workshops. During each of the four days April 3-6, we'll alternate one-hour sessions with 30-minute breaks, going from 10AM ET to 11PM ET.

In many time slots, you'll find a concert, a jam, and one or more workshops. 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 teaching artists or performers, the level(s) 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 3 months (or longer) afterwards, so it's fun to stretch out and try a new style or instrument - or just to relax and watch an amazing 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. 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. Some of the details only apply to the live part of the event, April 3-6.

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 postings, 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.

All that being said, younger kids can enjoy FHO and learn a lot from it! It's a chance to try new styles and techniques taught by new artists. 

Adult price
The price for an Adult (26-64) is $220, for access to all 200+ live sessions (concerts, jams, workshops) during FHO and for 3 months of replays afterwards (through July 6).

Discounts
We offer 10% discounts to $197 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 15 to $197 for Adults (26-64), and to $177 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 lion-head fiddle giveaway; as well as online lessons, online workshops, books, and CDs).

Add'l Household Members
Any additional household member wishing to attend ANY concerts, workshops, or jams also needs to be registered (for the reduced price of $97). 

Replays
All of the tickets above include 3 months of free replays. You may extend your 3 months of replays to 6 months for $57, or to 9 months for $97. These add-ons need to be purchased by May 17.

If you don't plan to attend any live sessions, we offer an Adult Replays Only ticket for $107, beginning on April 7, for 3 months of replays of all sessions. This is discounted to $97 for Seniors, Young Adults, Kids, and ASTA members), and to $57 for additional household members. You may extend your 3 months of replays to 6 months for $57, or to 9 months for $97. These add-ons need to be purchased by May 17.

If you extended your replays to 6 months, you can extend them further to 9 months for $57 (purchase by May 17).

Register as an early bird for Fiddle Hell Online by March 15th (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 rare German (or perhaps Austrian) carved lion-head violin from the 1880s. This has a new ebony fingerboard, pegs and chinrest, bridge and soundpost, and carbon-fiber composite tailpiece with built-in fine tuners. The instrument has been nicely set up - it is responsive and easy to play, with a full, open tone that works for various styles. 

It does show some wear from almost a century and a half of use, but has a nicely figured two-piece back and ribs, and is free of cracks and any structural issues.

A new Bobolock case is included; provide your own bow. The instrument is worth about $1200, but the coolness factor is way off the charts. Seriously!

This violin knows all your tunes, and the lion eats very little, unlike actual lions!   
 
Sign up for FHO in January for 3 chances to win this vintage violin; in February for 2 chances; by March 15th for 1 chance. The winner will be announced at the FHO Saturday Night Concert on April 5th. You do not have to be online at that time to win.

Other monthly early bird giveaways are books, CDs, strings, Fiddler magazines, and online lessons. Why wait?

And please tell your musical friends about FHO!

Yes! Thanks to generous contributors to our scholarship fund (including both teaching artists and other 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, 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).

Sure! Please send a check in the mail by March 15th (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 many musicians' gigs have partially disappeared, and are only slowly returning, Fiddle Hell Online pays all teaching and performing artists, 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. The Whova website or app is 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 on a laptop or desktop - the Whova Web App is browser-based.

2. Once you register, you'll get a confirmation email from Whova with ticket purchase details.

3. Using a laptop or desktop computer, go to www.fiddlehellonline.org to set up your account (easy!). If you already have an account (from a previous Fiddle Hell), 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.

4. 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 :-).

5. 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.  

6. 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 teaching and performing artists, and technical staff - I hope you'll enjoy the event as it unrolls, and have fun throughout and for the 3 months afterwards (extensible to 6 or 9 months) when you can replay sessions. Relax and experience the unique gathering that is Fiddle Hell Online!
- Dave Reiner

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/FiddleHellApril2025

We read all responses carefully!