Instruments are listed in order of focus for each workshop. For example, F M means Fiddle focus with Mandolins encouraged also. C F means Cello focus with Fiddles encouraged also. The Instruments in [ ] after instructor names are the ones they're using to lead this session.

Instructor bios are here.

The Registration Desk is in Room R5 near the right front entrance of the Westford Regency Inn. Sign in, pay if you're not preregistered, get a stylish wristband and nametag, pick up a Program Brochure and Grid, perhaps buy a T-shirt ($15 or 2 for $25). Then, look for your fellow fiddlers; cellists; and mandolin, guitar, and banjo players everywhere around you. 

T-shirts and instructors' CDs and books are also in R5, which closes at 10:40PM Thursday. Carriage House Violins (Johnson String Instrument) has fiddles, bows, strings and accessories, and Justin can perform minor set-up work for you (during the day). Jon Cooper has splendid violins to show, and will be making a new violin during Fiddle Hell. Magic Fluke will have their Cricket travel violins to show on Friday and Saturday. Dave Golber will have his Hardanger violins to show on Sunday. 

Cash Lunch Concession with inexpensive choices: Vegetarian Wrap with Grilled Veggies, Roast Turkey & Bacon Wrap, Hot Dog, Individual Pizza, Soup, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Fruit, Cookies, Chips, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go or at a session.

Welcome to Fiddle Hell, beginners and anyone who wants to ease into the weekend!  Nice straightforward tunes, relaxed tempos, and a sociable atmosphere, with a fine teacher to lead the way.

Bring a banjo! This class is for students who are starting from the very beginning or those who want a refresher on technique. We will focus on the bum-ditty and double thumbing patterns and learn a tune you can practice them to. We will learn by ear, but tablature will be provided and it's helpful to bring a recording device.

Although it evolved over 37 years into a mostly original acousto-electric band, The Horse Flies began as an old-time stringband playing lots of simple, meditative fiddle tunes. Let’s learn one of these!

An essential and accessible 6/8 march in the key of A for any Scottish fiddle player.

Pam will address individual questions and concerns about left-hand technique.

"Brian Boru's March" is a traditional Irish tune about the High King of Ireland from about 941-1014. Brian Boru died in the Battle of Clontarf in which his army defeated the Vikings. This tune was originally a slow air but is now usually played as a faster march. Some think this may be the oldest fiddle tune.

We will learn 4 licks and then apply these licks to different styles of songs and different keys. Then we'll show how to expand the licks. If you have taken this workshop before, there is more to learn and practice!

Begin the Fiddle Hell weekend with "Le Reel de la Broue," from the fiddler and harmonica player Luc Veilleux from Eastern Township. Mr. Veilleux was an incredible harmonica player with powerful sound and rhythm. Éric met him a few times a long time ago.

Learn a fun tune while picking up Irish mandolin techniques for both your left and right hands.

Feeling lonesome isn’t the only way to play the blues properly… Using pentatonic scales, bends (aka slides), syncopation, and the I, IV, and V chords are also all great ways to play. We'll listen to examples of tunes and players who use the blues effectively and decipher what works and why.

The fiddle music of Eastern Europe encompasses Klezmer, Balkan, Greek and Gypsy traditions. We'll explore the unique scales, modes and odd meter rhythms that are often used in these styles, and learn to play a beautiful tune.

For over 60 years, Skip has been following the old-time mountain and bluegrass guitarists like Riley Puckett and Jimmie Rodgers and their older styles of guitar picking on 78 and LP recordings. He'll lead you through some of the nuances and techniques executed on guitar behind instrumental and vocal music of the period 1920-1970.

Some of the most outstanding fiddle tunes are waltzes. In this session you will be introduced to a few lovely and memorable old-time waltzes. Once we learn the tunes together we will apply a harmony to them to further bring out their beauty.

We're not sure just what tune Duncan will teach. Here he is playing a jig and a reel in the Under-18 Fiddle competition at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2006. Did you know that Duncan also plays the uilleann pipes?

Improvisation is making it up as you go along - spontaneous creativity. This session will look at various approaches to improvisation, not only looking at how to make lines that sound right, but how to make them interesting, using a range of simple techniques.

Good intro to this popular alternate tuning in Irish music. The focus will be on some very useful and beautiful sounding chord shapes in DADGAD but we will also run through some rhythmic concepts that are applicable in other tunings. Capo and recording device recommended.

Pam will teach a fine tune from the repertoire of the great Dewey Balfa, including both melody and seconding. Get yer Cajun on! Aeiii!

The Clayfoot Strutters were among the very earliest of the big groundbreaking ‘jam band’ style contradance outfits of the modern age. At 29 years and counting, they continue to be a huge influence. Founding member Pete Sutherland will teach a classic tune or two from the Strutters’ timeless repertoire.

We'll learn this iconic and fun strathspey, focusing on playing it with intensity. The strathspey is said to have originated from the strath or broad glen of the River Spey in NE Scotland. In 4/4 time, but slower than a reel, it contains dotted rhythms, including the Scotch (Scots) snap.

Robichaud was influenced by Canadian greats Don Messer and Tommy Doucet. We'll learn "Moccasin Shuffle" and explore another tune or two from his extensive and unusual repertoire.

Bill Monroe was known as the "Father of Bluegrass Music." Learn to play this bluegrass standard, co-written and first recorded by the great Byron Berline. It's a fun tune, played at bluegrass jam sessions everywhere. We'll get it under your fingers and you'll be ready to join in!

Helpful suggestions about the Fiddle Hell schedule, choosing where to go, special events, levels for sessions, learning by ear, jamming, and more. Includes the best tips for newbies from prior attendees. Also held Friday at 10:35-10:55AM.

I’ve been playing with Rachel Bell lately and we love to delve into tasty French tunes. Here are two beauties: "Avant Deux de Travers Quatre" and "Bourree Carree de Montgusty."

This is a stirring and lyrical march that is easy to learn. The second half of the B part is the same as the second half of the A part. "Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine" will be played at the Saturday 10:30AM FLASH MARCH; paired with "Trip to Moscow."

We’ll go through a series of exercises designed to help strengthen your ears over time, and improve your ability to learn tunes on the fly. No experience necessary, all instruments welcome. Bring a recording device and a notebook! Also Friday at 2PM.

This easy and classic march was one of the most popular American Army tunes of the Revolutionary War.
Still a fine tune today, it is the “March to the Dining Hall to Thank the Cooks” tune of choice at
Maine Fiddle Camp!

Ever wondered what your violin would say if it could talk? Let’s find out together! In this workshop we will practice singing with our instruments (in every way you could interpret that sentence).

We will learn "Old Billy Hell" from the playing of Estill Bingham of Kentucky. We will learn a nice banjo arrangement, add in a few more of the trickier melody notes, and go over the chords.

The rhythmic drive, flow of notes, and liveliness of a fiddle tune owe much to the patterns woven by the fiddler's bow. Dave will impart this essential knowledge in a very approachable way, at an L2 level, with a few L3 patterns and techniques. Helpful handout of patterns and names.

Learn "Scotland" and some possible harmony parts. Bill Monroe (Clan Munro?) paid homage to his Scottish-Irish ancestry with this stately composition, which evokes the sound of a bagpipe drone. Taught by ear but music and recording available.

Judy will teach a simple oldtime tune and use it to help violinists get a more fiddle-y sound and fiddlers improve their violin technique. All will learn different perspectives on playing. Mostly L2 but L3 welcome (perhaps you've been playing New England style and want to sound more Southern).

Joe Cormier (1927-2015) grew up speaking French in Chéticamp, Cape Breton, but the musical tradition around him was mostly Scottish. He moved to Waltham, MA in the 1960's. We'll learn a couple of tunes from Joe's seminal recording, "The Dances Down Home."

Drawing inspiration from bouzouki style accompaniment in the Irish music world, this mandolin approach is based less on triads and more on simple lines with drones. The chord shapes are easy and are a great basis for the kind of strong rhythm playing that is essential in accompanying so much fiddle music.

Bring your bluegrass instruments (and voices) to this early jam. Brown County Breakdown, anyone? Jerusalem Ridge? Old Daingerfield? Blue Night? How about Old Home Place? Levels vary by tune, covering L2 to L3.

Klezmer is a rich musical tradition, with fiddle (fidl) playing a prominent role in late 19th and early 20th century Eastern European ensembles. We'll explore scales; learn to play easy tunes (freilachs, bulgars, khosidls and horas); and discuss accompaniment. No previous knowledge required. Klezmer jam at 11AM on Sunday.

With his recent move to Chattanooga, Tom has been sitting in on local oldtime jams, learning fiddle tunes popular with the East Tennessee fiddlers there. Tom picked one of his new favorites, “Old Chattanooga,” a simple but nicely syncopated tune in G, to teach in this class.

When you think of mandoln tunes you might not think of rags but ragtime tunes are very suited to the mandolin. In this workshop, Alan will introduce and teach two lovely rags that will seem as though they were written for the mandolin.

This tune, in the New 52, originated in East Texas in the 1920s and was later recorded by Bob Wills, Johnny Gimble and countless others. We'll learn this in the original key of F, which sits great on the fiddle once you get the hang of it.

Interesting and fun tunes, techniques, and tricks, and a bit of recording for repertoire development. Learn from a fine fiddler and consummate contra caller. David promises to reveal all (well, several) of his secrets.

"Maple Sugar" was written by Canadian fiddler Ward Allen and is considered a classic of the Canadian fiddle repertoire. Let’s take this simple melody and see how much fun we can have with variations.

Gerry will teach the highland “The Chicken's Gone to Scotland.” It's one of the many unique and interesting tunes from his soon to be launched tune book Rose in the Gap (Dance Music of Oriel). This is Gerry's first descent into Fiddle Hell.

Roy says: “These gavottes were recorded by Kevin Burke in the 1980’s. I believe Kevin learned these tunes from fiddler Patrick Seacou. Mantra-like in their simplicity and repetition, and part of the gavotte dance tradition of Bretagne, they are among my favourites.” Roy travelled recently to Bretagne to further explore their fiddle music.

Fiddle tunes in the key of C are shaped a little differently because of the layout of the open strings. We’ll learn a lesser-known strathspey and reel set ("Lady Lucy Ramsay," "Johnny Groat’s House") and do a quick overview of some of the other popular C repertoire.

Four individual performers on fiddle and cello, plus one hard-working backup guitarist, will bring magic to the main stage for this concert. While styles may blend and cross over, Abby and Barbara represent Scottish traditions, Andrea brings us the Cape Breton sound, and Roy channels Prince Edward Island music.

Yoga is so good for fiddlers! This "Yinyasa" class starts with a yin yoga sequence for stretching the connective tissue of the body, breathing, and deep relaxation, and then a vinyasa flow to encourage awareness of posture, focusing on parts of the body fiddlers work the hardest. Bring a yoga mat, and any yoga props you have (blocks, yoga belt). Participants are responsible for their own well-being (not Fiddle Hell) in this yoga session.

The accompanist helps to drive the music along in these musical genres. Bill will show you several key techniques to get it done for reels, jigs and 2-steps. A more advanced version of this workshop is on Friday at 2PM.

This drop-in session is especially for beginners and low intermediates on fiddle. Bring Oliver your questions on left hand, right hand, bowing, intonation, rhythm, and styles from New England to Oldtime to more. Drop in for a little while or stay for the hour to learn.

Dissect fiddle tunes to find out what makes them tick, explore idea creation, discuss how to use melodic development to turn a small phrase into a coherent fiddle tune, and learn how to open ourselves up to receive those magic bits of inspiration. As a group, we will collaborate on writing a new tune together, and attendees will leave with a new skill set and inspiration for writing new tunes into the future!

Cathy and Paul have led many happy jams over the years, and they’ll share a few nuggets of helpful advice on jamming throughout this session. It’ll be very basic to start with, and will pick up a bit as the jam progresses.

Violinists and vocalists invented the style we call “the blues.” Without the blues, we might not have Boogie Woogie, rock, pop, or possibly even swing! This style even influenced traditional Appalachian fiddling. We’ll explore vital ingredients to jam over 12-bar blues and boost your super powers in this style.

One of the lovely and distinctive things about Cajun music is having twin fiddles, exchanging leads and "seconding" (backing up) each other. We'll learn about rhythm patterns and chord shapes that will give your fiddling that Cajun feeling, with combined influences of music from Louisiana, Texas, Québec, and Cape Breton.

85 years ago, Vermonter Flanders was a force in documenting ancient European ballads and folk songs still to be found in the hills of New England. Pete’s great great aunt was one of her many informants with an archaic version of “Two Sisters.” Pete, an adjunct instructor at Middlebury College where the collection is housed, will discuss it and teach several lively examples.

Skip says: We'll choose some pretty tunes from my CD "Mandolin in the Cow Camp" (in the Fiddle Hell Store). Start your day with gorgeous, lonesome, wild and woolly oldtime melodies from the Western Plains.

As a musician on any instrument, you may encounter chord charts and lead sheets at gigs and recording sessions. These require you to sight-read the harmonies written ABOVE the notes and come up with your own parts, without relying solely on written notes. This class demonstrates incremental practice techniques to develop this skill.

Learn an oldtime tune TBD with funky lyrics. Then we'll play rhythm and groove games and get our jam on!

We’ll learn a classic tune, "Music in the Glen" in the key of G, with cuts, interesting rolls, tricky third finger serpentine bowing. A meaty tune to help improve your playing!

Using bluegrass fiddle tunes and songs, we will begin by embellishing the melody little by little, incorporating easy excersises that will challenge you to begin improvising expressively while never losing the anchor of the tune or song. 

We will explore bowing patterns, Irish ornamentation and double stops on this raucous reel.

The left handed fiddler Yvon Mimeault has a unique style. He has a very large repertoire from different sources. He picked up this tune when he was young from a radio program where the player was Eddie Poirier from Moncton, New-Brunswick. It's a very nice tune for dance.

Hungry? Thirsty? Food and drinks available at Old Joe Clark's Pub off the Lobby. Special menu for Fiddle Hell, leisurely paced.

Laissez les bons temps rouler! These fine players will be playing in various dynamic combinations. A special guest is Mitch Reed, who toured for 11 years with BeauSoleil and has recently moved to Maine.

You’ll learn a good old traditional tune that's one of Andrea's favorites, as played on Cape Breton Island. This will be at a relaxed pace for beginners.

Just the basic step can get you through the whole party. Here's a quick chance to try some step dancing with Cindy Roy. Also offered Sunday at 3:30-4:30PM.

Sound better, play faster. Right hand, left hand, intonation, tone, vibrato, and more (drop in for just a few minutes or stay the whole time). Maine Fiddle Campers already know Elaine, of course.

Lots of musicians experience technical stumbling blocks that get in the way of their musical expression, and sometimes even give them pain. We’ll look at how good technique can help us play fiddle pain-free and sound better than ever.

The most common way to approach intonation is to learn to "match" pitches in, say, a tune or a scale. I have found it more effective (easier to hear) to learn to "find" your place in a chord. Come experience if this is helpful to you!

Ask a question, get an answer! How to play chords on a tune? How to count in South Indian rhythmic solfege (konnokol)? How to play a bluegrass lick? Electronics with your fiddle? How nature and dragons and magic and mathematics relate to mandolin or fiddle? Drop in; it’s first-come, first-served.

Learn one of the most popular Scottish pipe jigs. We’ll dive into the notes, the “swing,” ornamentation, and suggested variations.

Interesting, yet accessible tunes from a staggeringly rich tradition where fiddle is the most important instrument. We’ll work in detail on an easy schottische or march and a melodically and rhythmically mysterious polska.

Learn to flatpick and ornament “The Morning Star,” an Irish tune played in first and second positions using bluegrass guitar techniques. You should be able to play a G major scale with alternate picking and have some experience with fiddle tunes. We’ll use a heavier pick for this class. Tablature and notation available.

Pete says: "The first fiddling I fell hard for was Southern. Loved the groove, the swing of it, the simple melodies that seemed to grow out of the bowing. I love sharing the ingredients that make this happen."

Master Irish fiddler Kevin Burke has performed and recorded with seminal groups The Bothy Band and Patrick Street. He recorded “The Raheen” as part of a reel medley on his 1984 album “Up Close” and likes to play and teach it in his own workshops today. We’ll learn it as Kevin plays it.

From Nova Scotia, we'll learn "Florence Killen's Waltz" and then George will present a few more great tunes to take home for later learning.

A tune that's popular in both the Scottish and Cape Breton traditions. We'll learn the notes and add bowings and ornamentation to bring out the "pipey" sound of this tune.

Bluegrass fiddle seems increasingly difficult to define… And that’s good! Explore the merging of traditional bluegrass fiddle styles (Kenny Baker, Bobby Hicks, Benny Martin) with modern sounds (Stuart Duncan, Aubrey Haynie and YOU! among others) and in the process, help you find your voice and work towards stylistic playing and improvisation techniques.

“Ginger Kate” is a 4 part reel in Gm; not for the faint hearted! From the collection The Rose in the Gap, to be launched at Fiddle Hell in a Flash Book Session on Friday at 7.30PM.

We'll listen to and analyze several classic "prototypes" of fiddle tunes, and dissect them into their component parts ("riffs"). As a group, we'll decide on a prototype to experiment with and collectively build the tune. The goal is to help you with creating your own tunes.

Practicing is more than just playing tunes :-). Get the most out of your practice time with insightful and helpful tips learned from years of experience. Between them, Ellen and Flynn cover fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, but their suggestions should be applicable to any instrument. Topics include goal setting, technique, practicing for improvising and improving tunes.

Of course, you know Éric on the fiddle - did you know he's also a fine singer, with a repertoire of traditional Québecois songs? He says "I will can mix this with foot tapping and the songs will be the most popular ones every Québécois knows, not specialized, no rare songs, no depressive, only happy, happy!"

Using "Starry Night for a Ramble," an easy tune to learn if you don't know it, George and Art will show you a few ways to make your jig bowing feel more comfortable, rhythmic and flowing.

Learn how to become a cello chameleon! Shred the melody like a fiddler, groove like a bass, and chop like a drummer. We will also discuss modifying fiddle tunes to suit the cello.

Andy's practical and sage advice will help you make progress on your instrument while keeping sane! This has been described as "transformational" by several prior attendees.

It’s a “lucky” tune which turns up in sessions worldwide - according to thesession.org it’s a traditional Irish reel (not!). We’ll also look at the Scottish crunch and some fun bow-throwing techniques which can enhance this and other tunes.

Be the driver at the wheel rather than grazing the landscape without direction. Learn to master the difference between these three musical vessels and boost your skills for tune interpretation, soloing and writing your own tunes.

It’s deceptively simple!...or is it deceptively challenging? Come and find out! We’ll explore some of the secrets of making even the simplest traditional Irish tunes sound enthralling. We’ll learn a barn dance by ear and will explore some subtle bowing and variation techniques to add nuance and musicality.

Bill and Pam harmonize with Jim Joseph in their trio, T-Acadie, on everything from sea shanties to Doo-Wop. We’ll share our process with you, and we will all create some harmony together!

Vibrato is a sound, not a motion. Most folks approach vibrato as a complicated and awkward movement of the left hand. When approached as a sound (which is the point), it becomes much easier.

We will learn the basics and play a song on the mando, come on out! Rob's a multi-instrumentalist, and a friendly teacher whose technique suggestions are worth their weight in gold.

How far can you go with just 5 notes? Quite a ways, it turns out. We'll explore both major and minor pentatonic scales, and learn how to use them to improvise solos in various styles such as blues and bluegrass, even if you've never improvised!

Here is an exhilarating Charlie Lennon tune that is so fun to play. I’ll include the ornamentation, of course. We might have time to explore the change tune, "Handsome Young Maids" as well.

The craic will be mighty! Time for lots of trad tunes. Sorry, no black pudding or barmbrack.

Let's share some energy through the music on this fine Thursday evening at the beginning of Fiddle Hell. This will include tunes from Québec and the Canadian Maritimes that have been popular in Maine. Don and Cindy were named National Heritage Fellows by the National Endowment for the Arts earlier this year!

A complete system based on a simple technique called a "skip" or "ghost brush." Mastering it will help you improve your song breaks, exactly capture the rhythms of complex Appalachian fiddle tunes and even venture into the fields of ragtime and blues.

We'll explore exciting possibilities of old time American tunes in tunings such as DDAD, AEAE, GDGD, GDGB and GDAD ("Gee, Dad"). Hear more on Skip's CDs, at the FH store.

Power chords are the building blocks of Rock and great for string players to understand harmony and chord changes. They also help in composing, arranging, and learning other genres. We will rock out to play music by Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Jimi Hendrix, and will also touch on pentatonic riffs and songwriting.

An iconic 4-part Cape Breton strathspey. We'll incorporate traditional bowings and ornamentation and soon step-dancers will be hopping up on stage with you! An early version is in the Second Collection of Niel Gow's Reels, published in 1788.

Acadian fiddler Eddie Arsenault was one of most popular fiddlers on PEI. Although he played some Quebecois and Acadian tunes, most of his repertoire was from the Scottish tradition. We will learn a few of his popular tunes such as the “Brae Reel,” the “Princess Reel,” and perhaps a simple waltz, “Leaving Lismore.”

Joe will demonstrate how he uses an electronic looper to layer rhythm and melodies and creatively build a song. You'll have a great time at this demo and will come away with new ideas and a strong desire to try it out yourself! Incidentally, Rob Flax is teaching a workshop on looping Sunday at 9:30AM.

Meet a few others your age at Fiddle Hell. It's during a break, so you won't miss a workshop.

New England-based string and vocal trio Low Lily explores the roots of American folk music with traditional influences and modern inspiration. The musicians have deep relationships to traditional music styles, ranging from bluegrass to Irish, Scottish, English, New England, and old-time Appalachian sounds. Their music is rooted, yet contemporary.

We'll learn a very easy and traditional blues tune dating back to the 1930's, "Deep Elum Blues." Along the way, we will explore the 12-bar blues form and blues scales. Ironically, playing the blues will probably cheer you up! 

Ken wrote two great books on the music of PEI, and has released many field recordings from fiddlers there (see bowingdownhome.ca). Learn a great tune that Ken collected from PEI roots players.

Pam and Bill will lead a shanty and other sea song swap. They will lead a few that hopefully many will know, but bring your own sea songs to share as well. Bad nautical puns are also seafare game.

We will focus on your mandolin questions on scales, arpeggios, pick direction, tremolo, chord shapes up the neck, and more. Drop in or stay for a while; Shana will also teach some exercises for developing and refining technique.

Come for the whole time or just drop in. Bowing, tunes, cuts, rolls, trebles, slurs across the beat, and other ways to bring your Irish fiddling to the next level. Ask away!

Cape Breton in Nova Scotia is home to the world’s largest fiddle and bow. Even better, it’s home to a driving, ornamented, fiddle style that draws on Scottish and Irish traditions and more. Mabou (where the Beatons are from) is a great community of strathspey lovers.

"La Gigue à Wallen" is the tune. The Wallen family lived in the Stoneham area close to Québec City. Eddy was the last member of his family to be a fiddler. He was an expressive fiddler and he would drink a Coke all day long between every pair of tunes.

Can you do both? Sure, says Joy.

A warm, welcoming, waltz wonderland. Read the music or play by ear to drift along through a 3/4 landscape for an hour. Actual waltzers welcome. Two more waltz sessions on Friday morning and Sunday afternoon.

Brother and sister duo Julia Clifford and Denis Murphy learned from the great master of Sliabh Luachra style fiddling, Padraig O’Keeffe. They recorded a classic duet album in 1969 called “The Star Above the Garter.” We’ll learn tune(s) from this recording and explore bowing for that special Sliabh Luachra flavor.

This is my favorite part of the fiddle. We will work on movable double stops of varied intervals through chord progressions in several keys and how you can use this amazing sound in your own music for both soloing and accompaniment.

Indiana is a crossroads of fiddling. Lotus was a true treasure of American music and fiddling was just one of his talents. It was privilege for me to have spent some of the 1980's in his company, I in my 30's, he in his 70's. I love sharing his music and stories. I'll teach a couple of his pieces.

We'll touch on learning and practicing chord changes, phrasing, blues and bebop language, rhythmic variety, and radical approaches to improvising. L4 instrumentalists with or without a jazz background are encouraged to participate.

Right after the Low Lily concert, Flynn and Liz of Low Lily will teach the traditional song “Meeting is Over” and demonstrate different approaches to finding vocal harmony parts on modal songs. Be ready to sing and to learn a song by ear (the lyrics are easy).

If you’ve only written just one tune or dozens it can be hard getting your original work out there. This is your chance to share a tune you’ve composed. Bring along some copies so other can play along.

Hear and see exactly how it's done, and try it yourself. Examples in multiple styles, from bluegrass, blues, and folk to other styles. Helpful handout on back-up approaches and on chords.

You'll see David in glorious action at the contra dances Friday and Saturday. But here's a behind-the-scenes look at the caller's viewpoint, and a chance to try a little bit yourself. If you don't want to call, but would like to dance a bit, you'd be most welcome!

Slow airs are the heart of Scottish cello playing; slow, beautiful and soulful. Ornaments give character to the simple melody. We will discuss different possibilities while learning a short slow air.

Searching for the conversations in the melodies of tunes from the Franco-American tradition.

Learn a simple tune that is easy to play and covers some of the fundamental left- and right-hand techniques of playing the Irish Tenor Banjo. Bring a 4-string tenor banjo, unless you just want to listen.

An Introduction to the various rhythms and regional dance types of our Celtic Cousins in Western France. Gerry will teach a fine tune he plays with top Breton Guitarist Gilles le Bigot (Skolvan, Barzaz), with whom he has toured worldwide for over 20 years.

Play some of Alan Jabbour's favorites. Listeners welcome! Classically trained, Alan Jabbour began documenting Southern oldtime tunes in the 1960s from musicians like Henry Reed and Tommy Jarrell. Alan taught many oldtime fiddle tunes to his Hollow Rock String Band, an important link in the ‘60s instrumental music revival.

The fantastic accordion player Sabin Jacques wrote "Reel du Quêteux" a long time ago, Little bit modern, a good tune for a dance.

After we learn a fiddle tune we’ll add bowing rhythm, explore some simple improvisation, and play to a compelling percussive groove. We’ll also look at the software in which the groove was constructed.

Learn the nuts and bolts of Scottish ornamentation that gives Scottish tunes their Scottish accent! The world famous “Scottish snap” rhythm and how to do it, cuts, burls, drones, and more. How they differ from other styles (Irish, Old Time...), how to execute them with speed and agility, and where to place them in tunes.

Registration and Fiddle Hell Store close until 7:45AM Friday morning.  But jams and workshops continue! Plan ahead for the very useful early sessions on Friday, starting at 8:30AM.

Thirsty? Drinks available at Old Joe Clark's Pub off the Lobby. Jam session! Last call is 12:30AM.

Mandolin is a great instrument for fiddlers to double on. Flynn's session will focus on the aspects that can be vexing for fiddlers: chords and pick technique.

Officially, shredding is a virtuoso lead solo playing style.   Unofficially, it's about having some crazy MUSICAL fun with your instrument. Duncan will explore ways to become more comfortable with your bow arm and playing-hand fingers, so you can narrow the gap between what you hear in your head and what comes out of your instrument.

The playing of North Carolina fiddler Tommy Jarrell (1901-1985) is revered by legions of oldtime musicians for its depth, rhythm, fluidity, expression, and ornamentation. After listening to some of his playing, we’ll learn a tune from his repertoire with as much stylistic detail, both Tommy’s and Judy’s, as we can handle.

Blues music, originated by African Americans in the Deep South, traverses a wide range of emotions and musical styles. Playing and hearing the blues can help you cheer up and lose "the blues." 12-bar blues and more. L3 with some L2; don't worry too much about your level.

Whether you like to play for dances or for concerts, or just for fun, the underlying essence of a tune can be expressed in the “groove”. Through an exploration of bowing and right hand techniques like hammering and double stopping you can bring more rhythm and swing to your playing.

This class explores bowed strings as a member of the rhythm section. Chopping, comping. scratching, strum bowing, and thinking harmonically and rhythmically will all be covered. Learn practical exercises to develop your "pocket." We also discuss how to create great riffs to enhance the arrangement and compliment the other rhythm players in a band.

Official Jam Spots are fine (not those near guest rooms), and the following rooms are open all night for jamming: R4, R6, R7, R8, R35, and R36.

Start the day with the Westford Regency's hot breakfast buffet ($15.00 + tax + gratuity; or $9.00 + tax + gratuity for continental breakfast). Alternatively, Cash Breakfast Concession (quick breakfast, snacks, and coffee) opens at 8AM in the Fiddle Hell Lower Hallway.

The Registration Desk is in Room R5 near the right front entrance of the Westford Regency Inn. Sign in, pay if you're not preregistered, get a stylish wristband and nametag, pick up a Program Brochure and Grid, perhaps buy a T-shirt ($15 or 2 for $25). Then, look for your fellow fiddlers; cellists; and mandolin, guitar, and banjo players everywhere around you.

T-shirts and instructors' CDs and books are also in R5, which closes at 10:40PM Friday. Carriage House Violins (Johnson String Instrument) has fiddles, bows, strings and accessories, and Justin can perform minor set-up work for you (during the day). Jon Cooper has splendid violins to show, and will be making a new violin during Fiddle Hell. Magic Fluke will have their Cricket travel violins to show today and Saturday. Dave Golber will have his Hardanger violins to show Sunday (tentatively).

Cash Breakfast Concession with inexpensive choices: Breakfast Burrito, Oatmeal, Bagel and Cream Cheese, Muffin/Danish/Croissant, Yogurt, Fruit, Granola Bar, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go or at a session.

Stretches with Marsha Rich and warmup scales, arpeggios, patterns, rhythms,  and bowing. Get ready for the second day at Fiddle Hell by warming up your body and mind. 

Pam will help you control the bow with your right arm (larger muscles) rather than your hand for better tone and smoother playing. Also, she'll briefly discuss Tracy Silverman's new book Strum Bowing and demonstrate this new rhythmic way of playing. 

Balancing technical with creative practice while identifying and strengthening weak areas in our playing can be a challenge. Create your own customized and ever-evolving system of practice and time allotment to maximize effectiveness of your precious practice time. Learn to develop new exercises to strengthen weaker elements of your playing while having more fun practicing!

Keith and Becky will discuss the tune writing process and different sources of inspiration - chord progressions, rhythmic ideas, mimicking other genres. Keith and Becky will also play samples of some of their best compositions, discuss and answer questions.

If you’re new to oldtime fiddling, or newish to the fiddle, Bruce will lead you through the basics, what to listen for and how to find your way into a simple tune.

Elaine says: "I will teach Reel à Edmond. It is a lovely melody with interesting rhythm. We will learn about adding the swing essential to this music, and a simple variation or two."

Drop in for a few minutes or stay for a while. Technique, style, tone, improvisation, sounding bluesy. Rob will help you out.

What is a strathspey? Is it a type of tune, a dance, a location in Scotland or maybe all of the above! And many are named for historical events in that ancient land. We’ll learn one and talk about that bit of Scottish history.

Andrea will break down this great jig, written in 1984 by Dave Richardson, into digestible phrases and learn some basic Scottish style.

Cathy will teach effective social and musical jam participation strategies. Learn how to play along with tunes you've never played before and make friends at the same time. Tim and Art will hold down the banjo and backup guitar roles. See the Fiddle Hell Jamming Guidelines.

Explore the most important aspects of accompanying Irish and Scottish tunes on guitar. Tune types, basic right hand rhythms and easy fail-safe chord progressions for most traditional tunes. We'll focus on a few Irish and Scottish tunes to put the technique in context. Players interested in Drop-D, DADGAD, and Standard tuning are welcome.

Guitarists will learn chord voicings outside of first position (not barre chords), including playing up-the-neck over open drone strings. If there’s time we will learn some of John McGann’s special standard tuning chords as well. This workshop will focus on playing along with Irish fiddle music.

Not sounding exactly the way you'd like? Understanding the relationship between bowing speed and weight, and between finger pressure and placement, will help you improve your overall tone and clarity. With slight playing adjustments, Gretchen will help you expand your "tone bank," and will offer practice techniques to continue working on.

Learn Memphis Minnie’s “Call the Firewagon,” with 3-note chords, and echo some bluesy lead licks.

We will explore how to articulate grace notes, triplets, trebles and rolls, and— most importantly— we’ll unlock the secret of where they fit (or don’t fit) in traditional Irish jigs, reels and hornpipes. We’ll also talk about suggested exercises for improving articulation of ornaments.

Sing, play and learn about some of the music that built the American song and tune book. From Dan Emmet to Stephen Foster and more. Help welcome Molly Mason to Fiddle Hell!

New England, oldtime, Irish, bluegrass, Scottish, and the unexpected. Says Darol Anger: "Andy Reiner is an exceptional creative presence in this rapidly evolving Fiddle world, and stands tall among his peers as an agent of positive change." Joy and Mali play really big fiddles to hold down the growly low end.

Doug founded and runs Maine Fiddle Camp and plays many instruments and styles. In this relatively fast-moving workshop, he'll take you through a few Maine fiddle tunes and eloquently describe some underlying techniques.

Bobby Hicks played with Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs and the Bluegrass Album Band. Here is a great kickoff solo from a Ricky Skaggs album.

A classic, driving jig in Em that is one of the essential Irish tunes in the repertoire.

What does a caller want; what will animate the dancers? Lissa will cover the elements that make New England tunes exciting to dance to. We'll pick a common tune and apply a series of exercises that you can use again and again for other tunes.

Says Pete: "As a young buck who didn't know one style from another, I was unbelievably fortunate to be introduced to this ex-cop and radiator repairman living a mile away in Burlington, VT. Louis and his music influenced me tremendously, and some of his tunes are deservedly well-known. I'll teach a couple."

Says Skip: “I met Aly Bain in the late 60's and later traveled with him and Tom Anderson for a week in the Scottish Highlands. Some of the tunes we might work on include Shaalds o' Foula, The Full Rigged Ship, Da Scalloway Lasses, and Sleep Sound in the Morning.”

Says Don: "We'll learn a fine tune from the iconic Waltham, Massachusetts, player Gerry Robichaud who spent many hours in sessions with us [Don and Cindy]."

Helpful suggestions about the Fiddle Hell schedule, choosing where to go, special events, levels for sessions, learning by ear, jamming, and more. Includes the best tips for newbies from prior attendees. Also held Thursday at 1:35-1:55PM.

Cash Lunch Concession with inexpensive choices: Vegetarian Wrap with Grilled Veggies, Roast Turkey & Bacon Wrap, Hot Dog, Individual Pizza, Soup, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Fruit, Cookies, Chips, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go or at a session.

You'd think you're in the Cobblestone Pub in Dublin with these three fine Irish fiddlers. Brian O'Donovan of WGBH will be our genial M.C. for this dynamic concert of Irish trad music, featuring fantastic Fiddle Hell instructors - and performers. Laurel Martin will lead off, followed by Gerry O'Connor (visiting FH from Ireland), and then Rose Clancy. Hard-working guitarist David Surette will back them all up.

Jon Cooper's a master luthier, known far and wide for his great 4- and 5-string fiddles. Start the day with his practical words of wisdom about the care and feeding of your instrument. Jon will be building a fiddle at his hallway table at Fiddle Hell this year - stop by later on to say hello and try one of his fiddles.

Dating from the 18th century and popular with the British (and later American) cavalry, "Gary Owen" fits nicely on the cello. If you can play a G major scale, you’re ready to “galop away” on this classic jig (and sometimes march).

The title sums it up — joyful singing for all! We will learn a few quick and useful vocal warm-ups and then learn songs on the fly — rounds, call and response, and chorus songs. Maybe singing is your main thing, or maybe you want a break from playing tunes. Come along.

This is at an easier level than the other two waltz playalong sessions (Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon). Sheet music provided. Play by ear or read the music to help us gently wind down in this musical reunion. Waltzers welcome.

Once you've got the basics of a tune, Bruce will show you a couple of oldtime rhythmic and melodic techniques that can drive and animate the tune and give it that oldtime sound. Starting with a simple tune, Bruce will guide you along the path to oldtime happiness, with Allison anchoring the tune on clawhammer banjo.

This compelling waltz by Väsen’s Roger Tallroth has been described as “one of the most important compositions of our time." While it was originally written in F, it's usually played in G these days. "Dopvals" translates roughly as "christening waltz" or "baptism waltz."

We'll learn "Brain Cloudy Blues" from the Merle Haggard Tribute to Bob Wills album. As we learn this tune, we will explore the 12-bar blues form and blues scales and how this form relates to other styles of music. Wear blue if you like! 

The genre, found in Scotland, Ireland, and Cape Breton, involves a single performer singing lighthearted lyrics. In puirt à beul, the rhythm and sound of the song often have more importance than the depth or even sense of the lyrics, so it's fun to move them onto the fiddle. We'll learn a few super catchy and accessible tunes from this Gaelic song tradition.

Bass runs are a quintessential part of the folk-guitar vocabulary. They expand on the basic boom-chuck rhythm heard throughout the world and propel tunes and songs forward. Come to this workshop to get your bass runs going with a few quick tricks to get from chord X to chord Y.

This is a critical skill for banjo players, especially for oldtime tunes. Tim knows the secrets and will share them happily.

In Bluegrass, quoting performance on the original recording is a badge of belonging and a way of connecting past with present. Quoting can develop into subtle, nuanced commentaries on the original solo and others in the style. We'll learn several iconic "breaks" and how they can be used in other contexts.

How and when to use double stops in tunes and songs in a variety of styles. Some are standard, some are innovative and ear-catching. Also, we'll address issues of intonation and cleanliness when using double stops, and examine ways to adjust our playing hand technique for ease and clarity of sound.

We will work on the essential elements of soloing within a swing setting, including rhythm, picking technique, phrasing, dynamics, and more. Says Mike Marshall: “Jason Anick's playing has a wonderful clarity and creativity and his compositions offer a modern jazz approach to our instrument which is truly refreshing and inspired.”

Learn how and why a waltz can make dancers feel light on their feet and can touch your heart and bring a tear to your eye.

Ken wrote two great books on the music of PEI, and has released many field recordings from fiddlers there (see bowingdownhome.ca). Learn some great tunes that Ken collected from PEI roots players.

Jos Bouchard is a iconic name in Québecois music. "Reel St-Jean Ile d’Orléan" has two characters: the first part is like a reel and the second part is very lyric, a typical layout on the Bouchard repertoire. Crooked but fun and happy.

Brian O'Donovan of WGBH will be our M.C. for this dynamic concert of French Canadian and Franco American music, featuring fantastic Fiddle Hell instructors - and performers. Becky Tracy will lead off, backed by Keith Murphy.  Then, Éric Favreau, also backed by Keith. Finally, Don and Cindy Roy will take the stage for Franco American tunes.

An introduction to using your whole body to support the vocal mechanism and create a healthy and open sound. We’ll explore how body, breath, and imagination combine to
create your uniquely beautiful voice.

Says Pete: "I love to figure out how to move around a singer, between, behind and through the lines of the song, to reflect, comment, hopefully enhance the line, and magnify the mood. A little basic street theory, but mostly open ears and eyes, and we’ll try some ideas.”

Rob will cover the critical downs and ups of picking techniques for reels and jigs. If your goal is to pick more cleanly, more consistently in rhythm, and with better tone, this is the session for you.

Learn a simple, rollicking jig by ear. The tune will be played in simple phrases and then embellished with an emphasis on bowing to express the jig dance rhythm of the tune. It's also known as "Cock O' the North," in the New 52.

Come for the whole time or just drop in. Bowing, tunes, cuts, rolls, trebles, slurs across the beat, and other ways to bring your Irish fiddling to the next level. Ask away!

"Magic Fiddle" is an ancient sounding tune in Am, which evokes different moods at different tempos. We’ll start with the basic melody and add in bowings and variations to make it sound more “magical.” Peter has played with Dave Reiner in several bluegrass and Western Swing bands in the past.

Southern oldtime tunes are hypnotic, rhythmic, and sometimes highly modal. They come around enough times at a jam that you can learn some of them on the fly. Alan and Tim promise this session will be somewhat s l o w. Really, they do.

Oldtime music from Surry County, NC has a distinct and exciting banjo tradition. We will learn my interpretation of Fred Cockerham’s unusual version of "Cumberland Gap" in F#BEAD tuning. We'll learn by ear but tablature will be provided.

The rhythm of Irish dance music is utterly dependent on the bowing patterns used. Gerry will highlight a useful generic approach to learning to play Irish dance music specific to the fiddle. Bowing is Everything!

Bring a diatonic harmonica in the key of C (you can find these for $10 in the Fiddle Hell store). Chris will show you how to play fiddle tunes, using easy techniques such as blow/draw, and a few intermediate ones such as bends and tongue blocking. Don't miss The Whomp! at 9:30PM tonight.

Shetland is an island unto itself way north of the Scottish Isles. We’ll explore some of the fun bowings and cool tunes from that treeless land! Fiddle Hell welcomes cello players - you can get a free loaner cello for Fiddle Hell by prearrangement with Justin Davis at Johnson Strings.

Andy grew up playing twin fiddle with dad Dave in the Reiner Family Band. They’ll demonstrate and teach exciting twin (harmony) fiddling techniques ranging from close harmonies to counterpoint to tradeoffs to chopping. New England, Bluegrass, Western Swing, Scandinavian, and Gypsy styles will all get a turn in the spotlight.

We'll use a few well known Western Swing songs to explore ideas for playing jazzy solos over the chord changes. We'll start with a simple blues-based song to review basic swing chords and find interesting ways to move among them while soloing. Art and Marshall play together in the Beantown Buckaroos.

Messer and Allen were big fiddle stars in mid-20th c. Canada and have left us an incredible legacy of great dance music. We’ll learn "Honest John Jig" (Messer) and "Maggie & Jiggs Two-Step" (Allen). Look for George and Art's CDs (including The Montville Project) in the FH store.

 Larry Reynolds emigrated from Galway to Boston in 1953 with fiddle in hand. The Boston Globe called him the “unofficial ambassador of Irish music in Boston.” Maurice Lennon, founder of Stockton’s Wing and prolific composer of Irish music wrote this jaunty reel for Larry; it's "Maurice Lennon's Tribute to Larry Reynolds."

Everyone knows that a lot of Scottish tunes are played in Cape Breton, but some great Irish ones sneak in there too! We'll learn a couple of corkers.

Learn how to unconventionally alter beautiful traditional melodies into odd, angular, and mind-bending jewels of your own. This class focuses on weird double stops on the guitar and fiddle and exploring non-diatonic possibilities of tunes. Half of "The Stash Band"!

We’ll go through a series of exercises designed to help strengthen your ears over time, and improve your ability to learn tunes on the fly. No experience necessary, all instruments welcome. Bring a recording device and a notebook! Also Thursday at 2PM.

How do I survive all these fiddle tunes in A major? Am I holding my bow right? What's a Block Strap? Bring in any question you may have about your cello. Stay a little while or for the whole hour.

Shy about singing in public? Come have fun with simple songs, vocal warm-ups and easy techniques that will help you find your voice. Pressure? No. Fun? Yes, indeed. Participatory for all levels.

If you’ve never jammed before, there are so many questions. What do I play? How do I even ask someone to jam? Learn the basics of this community-oriented music making method. We’ll talk about jam sessions of different styles, what to play (and what not!), and then have fun playing together.

Find your fiddle “voice.” It’s all in the bow! Learn how to optimize the tone of your fiddle through examining the role of bow weight, bow speed and bow placement. We will look at the economy of bow movement and the importance of relaxation in creating a smooth and stable tone.

Some easy tunes, some a touch harder.  Share, request, learn, listen, record, ENJOY! 

Learn the essential practice tools for developing a perfect swing feel and groove. Hear more gypsy jazz and swing at 3:30PM on Saturday, when Jason's Acoustic Trio will perform on the FH stage.

PEI tunes draw from Scottish, Irish, and Acadian traditions, with a dose of Cape Breton and Maritime. Roy's a well-known PEI fiddler and fiddle ambassador, and Ken has studied PEI fiddlers and folklore for many years. With Eamon on guitar, it ought to be a fun jam for low intermediates. Gentle pace throughout, with relatively easy tunes. Come to jam or just listen.

In the context of a bluegrass song with three chords, Skip will get you playing some mighty fine fills and riffs from Bill Monroe and others. Did we mention that Skip learned this directly from Bill?

Tom leads many slow jams, from Tennessee to Ireland. Some common seisiún tunes, at a s l o w pace. David Surette on guitar will add the low end and keep it steady.

Bring your favorite French Canadian tunes to share, and Becky and Keith will share some of theirs. Should be a rocking good time. Soyez le bienvenu!

The accompanist helps drive the music along in these musical genres. Bill will show you several key techniques to get it done for reels, jigs and 2-steps. He'll help you develop a "backbeat" pulse using dampened bar chords. A more basic version of this workshop is on Thursday at 3:30PM.

The Blues as a common language pervades EVERY style of American music. It's a harmonic and melodic system with specific moves and skills. We will analyze and PLAY the Blues, focusing on the form, and the three crucial Blue Notes in the Blues scale and how to use them. Listeners welcome.

We'll learn a classic strathspey, which will serve as a platform for applying what we learn about snaps and the up-driven bow. Did you know that J. Scott Skinner's Guide to [Scottish] Bowing was first published in 1900? For extra credit, in which year did Skinner's name appear on the back of the FH t-shirt? 

We'll play some improvisation games, and see what happens when we play those music games with a simple American tune.

Gretchen invites teachers to swap their "best of" ideas to bring back to their teaching studios. She will offer her own tried-and-true techniques gathered over her 30+ yrs that help students "catch tunes," including tips on breaking tunes down and hands on pointers for a variety of learning styles and musical situations.

"Lovers Waltz" seems to trace the rise of romantic desire and its satisfaction in each section. Is this really true? See for yourself.

In some types of music, the drummer lays down a rhythmic groove. But there's no drummer in oldtime music. Fortunately, the bow is your drumstick! In this fast-paced workshop, Bruce will show you how to wield the bow in the context of several driving oldtime tunes.

Western Swing is a style typified by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. "Maiden's Prayer" is a classic, relaxed tune in A, which can be played on one fiddle or several. Incidentally, bluegrassers such as Richard Green have added their own take on this tune as well.

Pete's Posse has twin fiddles (Pete and Oliver) in tight, wild harmony over high-powered guitar and pounding foot percussion with mandolin, clawhammer banjo, jaw harp, rocking keyboards, and soaring vocal harmonies. You can bet that one of their favorite tunes will be mighty fine!

Graham attended the first Fiddle Hell in Missouri, hosted by Dale Hopkins in 2004, and then organized a series of FHs in the UK in Buxton. Dave Reiner started up FH in Massachusetts in 2005. Welcome Graham and hear his stories of the good old days of Fiddle Hell.

Microphones, mixer, speakers - what's it all about? Oliver will talk through a few of the basics. We might use a volunteer instrumentalist or two to experiment on. A more advanced version offered as a full session by Oliver and Colin at 2PM on Saturday.

Drop in for a few minutes or stay for a while. Left hand, right hand, style, tone, technique - Gretchen will help wherever you'd like.

This gentle introduction to a versatile and fun instrument from Lorraine starts with the basics of holding the mandolin and pick, getting good sound from it, and fingering chords and easy melodies.

Drop in for just a few minutes or stay the whole time. Right hand, left hand, basic frailing, double thumbing, slides, different tunings, and whatever else is on your mind. Tim welcomes you to the rhythmic land of oldtime banjo. Look for Tim’s CDs with Jubilee Mule and the Hi-Tone Ramblers.

This session was suggested by a FH attendee last year. Sometimes there are just too many notes and the tune is going too fast. What can you do to hang in there at speed and still feel good about what you're playing? Well, you can play faster by playing less. Clayton and David will demonstrate and help you learn to do the same.

Come learn a choice selection of traditional dance tunes (gavottes, en dros, hanter dros, ronds, etc.) from Brittany, the Celtic region of France. All tunes will be in fiddle-friendly keys!

Tunes from our native composers in Maine, which has a rich heritage of wicked good fiddlers and tunes. L2 tunes and gentle pace.

Barndances are a great relic of Irish musical history, having had their heyday in the big dancehalls of the early part of the last century. They are also fun, accessible, easy tunes to learn. We might learn "Auchdon House" or another tune, and play around with some easy ornamentation ideas.

Learn to use a sweet, succinct melodic/harmonic idea to build every creative skill you’ll need to improvise in any style. We will learn a few of the most classic vamps and cadences and use them as a springboard into skills essential to fearless and effortless improvisation.

Ken is a well-known pioneer in melodic clawhammer banjo. In the context of Celtic and New England tunes, Ken will cover the skills involved in playing fiddle tunes note-for-note on the banjo, drop-thumbing on all strings, melodic fingering shapes, alternate-string pull-offs and using the fifth string for melody.

In the 1950's, country giants like Hank Williams ran in the same circles as the early bluegrassers, like Bill Monroe. In this short survey class, we'll take a listen to some of the biggest vocal influences of those styles and we'll sing some of their classic songs as a group!

Basic rhythmic techniques and bass runs to accompany some very different fiddle tunes.

We’ll learn “Mule Skinner Blues,” a standard bluegrass song and talk about how to achieve its bluegrassy nuances on fiddle. JR will anchor the rhythm and sing. Trivia: Peter Anick and Dave Reiner have played in many bands together, including Hot Off the Frets ("All the notes that fit, they play").

Feel okay about taking an easy solo on some tunes, but still sometimes get confused about where you are? Do you hear a harmony player’s juicy chords, but can’t figure out how to react? Do you want to build a solo with a satisfying narrative arc? This session is for you.

How do you make your slow tunes gorgeous and haunting? Learn the practice techniques to develop tone and control over dynamics and phrasing to make your Slow Airs legendary. We will study different instruments like the voice and the pipes and learn how to incorporate those elements on the fiddle.

We’ll be working on “Patsy Geary’s Jig,“ which was recorded on The Bothy Band’s first LP. We'll compare it to the melody it became in the States called “The Yellow Rose of Texas.”

Guided jam with easy songs – not too fast or difficult. Learn as you jam. It’s more fun if you can sing or improvise solos, but not required. The best way to get prepared is to learn a common bluegrass song to sing (you can bring the verses along to read from).

Who knew that the Ceilidh Trail led right to Westford, MA? This should be a fine session, full of fun tunes. The main purpose of Cape Breton music was always social. This tradition was something that knit together  small coal-mining communities and then spread well beyond them.

Tunes will move right along, although we’ll play each one for a while in true oldtime style. Key changes will come regularly every three days :-). Read more about Molsky's Mountain Drifters.

Traditional bowing techniques really make the sound of Québecois fiddling for "Le Reel du Sapin Bleu." When you play a simple tune without many notes, you can create variations with ornamentation and different bowings. Transform a simple melody, make it a bit more complex, and different every time, but always in a traditional style.

Klezmer is a rich musical tradition, with the fiddle (aka fidl) playing a prominent role in late 19th and early 20th century Eastern European ensembles. Don't forget the intermediate Klezmer jam at 11AM on Sunday.

Learn a great tune or two that Gerry has helped resurrect and record from the South Ulster area of Ireland. But that's not all - at 7:30-8:00PM tonight, Brian O'Donovan will launch Gerry's new book Rose in the Gap, The Dance Music of Oriel. See and buy the book then and also in the Fiddle Hell store. Be sure to stop by!

Hungry? Thirsty? Food and drinks available at Old Joe Clark's Pub off the Lobby. Special menu for Fiddle Hell, leisurely paced. A faster alternative for dinner is the Quick Dinner Buffet from 5PM-6:30PM in the Lobby.

Mark Simos’ new book, Songwriting in Practice: Notebooks, Journals, Logs, Lists (Berklee Press 2018) is all about the “housekeeping” of creative work. Primarily addressed to songwriters, these guiding principles can also be useful to tune writers, or players organizing their tune repertoire. Come celebrate—and get a Fiddle Hell discount!

Quickly learn a few basics of yodeling. No experience necessary; just bring yourself and your sense of humor :-).  Alan was one of the three yodelers and yodel composers in a much-loved YouTube video .

Traditional Irish goatskin drum, played with a tipper. Bring yours for an easy introduction, or just listen in

When these powerful forces get together with Darol, the result is mythical, magical, musical mayhem that varies from bluegrass to world to folk music.

Want a quick dinner before the evening sessions (including the Whomp)? The hotel is running a Fiddle Hell buffet for us in the Stoney Brook Café next to the main lobby. It's a Thanksgiving theme - help yourself to turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, garden salad. rolls and butter, and your choice of a soft drink or a bottle of water. Prices include tax and gratuity: Adults $19, Kids 4-12 $12, Kids under 4 free.

The Highlands and Islands of Scotland have given rise to some of the most beautiful of Celtic melodies, some haunting, some upbeat. Some of the best are uncomplicated and easy to learn.

Come collect a few great “little” songs that will last you forever. Singers, fiddlers, all pickers welcome to participate. "The Hammonds are folk missionaries of the first order... who love to introduce people to the joys of traditional music." - Scott Alarik, Boston Globe.

Laissez les bon temps rouler! Michelle’s got a fine Cajun waltz to show you, with the elusive Aieee! factor. She’ll start with the skeleton or vocal line of the tune, and then add the ornaments that give it a Cajun flavor. Michelle plays with the Magnolia Cajun Band as well as others.

Bring your banjo and a recording device and try out 3-finger bluegrass picking for songs and fiddle tunes. The basics of hand position, the use of finger picks, how to improve your tone, the basic right hand “rolls,” and bluegrass rhythm. Also, there's a L2 bluegrass banjo workshop on Saturday at 9:30PM.

Together we’ll explore right and left hand techniques including pick choice, tremolo and chord shapes. And we'll learn an easy tune.

Learn basic terminology and understand how scales and arpeggios relate to fiddle tunes; and also how to use the circle of fifths diagram to your great advantage. No theory experience necessary, bring all of your questions! While Flynn will have mandolin and guitar in hand, the material is appropriate for any instrument.

 Players with note reading skills quickly notice that notated music leaves much to the imagination. Gretchen will show many great techniques such as shuffles, drones, slides and more that can be layered on the basic tune to give it a more authentic old time sound.

Max will show intermediate guitarists some of the key aspects of playing rhythm guitar in gypsy jazz. Interesting chords, moving chords, up the neck, and more. Come hear Max with the Jason Anick Acoustic Trio Saturday at 3:30PM.

Considered one of the great Québec fiddlers, Louis Beaudoin actually lived in Burlington, VT most of his life. Wherever he lived or went, he seems to have spread great love and joy with his music. Oliver will teach "Reel de Jeunes Mariés," one of his favorite tunes. More from Oliver in the "Dynamic Duos" concert on Sunday at 3:30PM.

We'll consider the best ways to familiarize yourself with the upper positions on the fiddle (or mandolin) neck. We'll explore strategies to re-apply your knowledge of first position into an effective access point for other positions, and to other keys to that can seem awkward or difficult in first position. All twelve keys can be yours!

How about a blast of oldtime Southern tunes? They're in Pete's DNA, we think.

Josephine Keegan was born in 1935 in Dundee, Scotland, and moved to Co. Armagh in 1939 and Mullaghbane in 1950. She is known for being Seán Maguire's pianist, but is also an excellent fiddle player and a prolific composer. Rose Clancy founded and runs The Chatham Fiddle Company in Chatham, MA.

The music of Eastern Europe encompasses Klezmer, Balkan, Greek and Gypsy traditions. We'll explore the unique scales, modes and odd meter rhythms that are often used in these styles, and learn to play an exciting Bulgarian dance tune in 15/16, “Bucimis".

Andrea will show you "My Cape Breton Home," a beautiful waltz (or air) written by Jerry Holland and commonly played in Cape Breton. And of course, she'll help you make it sound Cape Breton-esque. 

The aim of this session is to achieve a more fluid bow arm. We’ll explore all aspects of what will help to improve your tone from bow hold to arm motion. Bring your challenges and your discoveries.

This will help you to harmonize, play double stops, back up a tune or song, and play along with tunes you've never heard before. Helpful handout included.

Doug, who directs the wonderful Maine Fiddle Camp,plays “old-time piano” for dances, melodramas, honky tonk saloons, and silent movies. Doug will demonstrate, elucidate, and illuminate while answering any and all piano questions. This is primarily a listening session since we don't have pianos for everybody.

Give your hands a break, and participate in this interactive session for musicians and performers of any kind that will include teaching, discussion, and exercises. We’ll talk about and try out ways to reduce stress and increase fun when performing.

"Off She Goes," which first appeared in print in 1790, is an essential jig for players of all ages. The tune was and is popular throughout the British Isles and North America. It is said to have been a tradition for the fiddle player to sit on the deck of the ship playing "Off She Goes" as the ship departed harbor.

We’ll hone in on a particular regional style and focus in first on melody, then phrasing, and how to move the bow and then maybe a little ornamentation. Participants can build the tune up to the level that's comfortable for them.

Ever wish you could slow down a player to see exactly what was happening during those lightening fast ornaments? Gretchen will break down a variety of left and right hand ornamentation, offering tips on speed & weight (bow/finger) during rolls, turns, flicks, cuts, grace notes, triplets and more.

There’s more to the violin than first position! Find out easy ways to access “other positions” and explore new territory. Especially for teachers, but all are welcome.

Learn from a great player who himself learned directly from Bill Monroe. Dave Dillon will back up on guitar - he played with Joe Val for many years. BTW, Dr. Brown will lead off the Mandolin Summit Concert on Saturday morning at 11AM.

"Trip to Moscow" was composed by Ian Ball in 1995. The Reiner Family Band learned this dynamite tune from Rachel Maloney many years ago at the Meadowlark Music Camp; it's just one tune from her eclectic repertoire. The tune will likely show up at the Whomp! at 9:30PM tonight, and at the FLASH MARCH Saturday at 10:30AM.

Bennett has a fascinating fingerpicking style, and uses it across many styles. He'll demonstrate some key ideas and get you playing like yourself, only more so. Bennett's a fine storyteller and writer as well as instrumentalist.

Klezmer is a rich musical tradition, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th century Eastern European ensembles. This classic showpiece is a rhythmically spirited dance with syncopated accents and expressive energy. "Heyser" means "hot" and a "Bulgar" is a dance. Don't forget the Klezmer jam at 11AM on Sunday.

We will learn a sweet and ear-catching tune on the mando, with nice ornaments and traditional jig picking patterns.

Franco-American accordion tunes are great on the fiddle, bringing energy and happiness. As do Don and Cindy...

How does a dyed-in-the-wool jazzer, like Graham, make his playing suit rock bands or other contexts? Graham find that his jazz background gives him a solid basis for playing in many other genres. Learn how he applies his jazz approach to rock, and try out several key techniques. Graham organizes Fiddle Hell in the UK, and is a renowned performer and teacher in jazz and rock styles.

Written by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, this is a Gypsy jazz anthem. Apart from the brief introduction and final coda or playout, there is no discernable melody, just a repeated sequence of chord changes over which players improvise continuously until the end is decided and the playout performed.

What key skills do you need to capture a style? Do you know how to lock into the groove? The ornamentation? The timing of how to enter, sustain and leave each note or where to place the accents? Let’s explore one phrase across a number of styles.

"Fisher's Hornpipe" is one of the most popular, widespread and frequently published fiddle tunes in the world. It was written in D and first published around 1778. Although Lissa plays this wonderful tune in both F and D, she'll teach it in D today. It's got a wonderful New England feel and is fun for jams, dances, and performances.

Darol is stylistically sweeping, melodically magical, and rhythmically remarkable. All that and he's a nice guy, too. Bring your favorite tune or just play along with Darol, Andy, Joy, and the other hellions.  Anything can happen - and will!

The vibrancy of Scottish music today is unbelievable and yet little of it makes it over the ocean. Learn a few contemporary favorites by today's fiddlers. Ed played a central role in creating the Boston Scottish music scene, and he's a great teacher.

Brian O'Donovan of WGBH will launch Gerry's new tune book The Rose in the Gap - 287 tunes from a previously unpublished collection from the turn of the 20th century, airing many of these tunes for the first time in over 100 years (176 pp, color photos, biography and tune analyses). Copies will be on sale; also look for them in the Fiddle Hell store.

Some shape note experience is needed. This community power singing style has been a part of America's musical landscape for centuries and remains a visceral and moving experience for participants and listeners in 2018. The bigger the sound, the better. Music provided. More at 5PM Sunday.

Meet a few others your age at Fiddle Hell. It's during a break, so you won't miss a workshop.

No dance experience necessary! All are welcome to dance or listen, with David Kaynor calling. Jay Ungar and Molly Mason are joining us at Fiddle Hell for the first time. Together with Abby Newton on cello, they're a great dance band. (No sit-ins tonight; that will happen at the Saturday night dance.)  Jay and Molly are also playing for dancing Saturday morning at 11AM - waltzes and other 3/4 dances.

In tunes like "Jos Couture Reel," phrasing, space between the notes, and sound are always important. Éric's here for all four days to teach tunes in the French Canadian style of beauty, feeling, rhythm, and excitement.

This is an important session for teachers of fiddle / violin. How can you leverage typical Suzuki student skills and knowledge, and add to this to get them playing traditional fiddle tunes?

I’ll teach a waltz of mine, “Chili and Chocolate,” which appears on my new Eloise & Co. recording with Rachel Bell. We’ll explore a harmony as well.

We’ll learn a Greek island medley - a dance called Ballos - in a couple of different makams or modes. It'll be complete with rhythm and chords.

Judy adores “alternate” fiddle tunings with their blissful overtones. Let’s retune our fiddles (she’ll help get you in and out of the tuning) and discover why.

Gerry will teach some jigs not generally heard outside his own area, learned from local fiddle players Peter and Tommy McArdle from Count Louth. He'll introduce bowing patterns specific to the playing of these very danceable jigs, which are from his recently released solo album Last Night's Joy.

A deep study into the different common rhythmic grooves in Gypsy jazz (Swing, Bossa, waltz, and 6/8 feel). Hear Jason's Acoustic Trio in concert Saturday at 3:30PM.

Join Katie and Eamon for a session of classic Scottish and Cape Breton tunes. They'll lead the way and students are encouraged to bring some of their favorite tunes to share. There's another Scottish jam Sunday at 2PM.

Mariel lived in Norway while studying the hardingfele, and plays fiddle with various groups including Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers (Sunday concert at 12:30PM). Swedish, Norwegian, and more - this will be a fun evening workshop.

Allison will show you tools you can incorporate into any tune to build variations. It can be difficult to get away from the usual banjo arrangement in a jam; we will discuss how to break down a tune and then rebuild it to make it more interesting. By ear, but tablature provided.

A primal gathering of the groove, with tunes and songs from oldtime, blues, world, intergalactic and other traditions. Participatory, with the emphasis on spirit and community more than technique. Echoes of Meadowlark Music Camp and Rustic Roots, now right here at Fiddle Hell for the third time!

Fun possibilities: Brenda Stubbert's, Calliope House, Cock of the North, Cutting Ferns, My Cape Breton Home, The Reconciliation, The Sailor's Wife, and The Stool of Repentance. Ed will guide fiddlers, mandolin players, and more; Abby will guide cellists who may play backup for these tunes if they don't know the melodies.

Tunes will be common repertoire similar to what you might find in The New England Fiddlers Repertoire book, but anyone is welcome to join whether familiar with the New England style or not. Bring your instruments, jokes, and favorite tunes to share. Tunes will be played 30-50% slower than usual.

Come learn a fun and easy tune with Patrick and Allison from one of their favorite fiddlers- Lyman Enloe who was from Missouri. We will learn by ear, fiddles and banjos welcomed, tab for banjo players will be provided.

The “Bus Stop Reel” is a contemporary and catchy Irish reel composed by Seattle musician Anita Anderson several decades ago. It’s become a popular with fiddlers everywhere, and was a favorite of Chattanooga fiddler Fletcher Bright.

Fiddle and mandolin share the billing since they're tuned the same. And for both, double stops can ratchet up your playing to the next level. In this deep and exciting workshop, Laura will guide fiddlers while Tony will commune with  mandolin players.

Try some hot breaks on your instrument, or just play melody and backup as Paul and Art lead you through classic tunes like Take Me Back to Tulsa. Do you think Time Changes Everything? Sorry, no Bubbles in My Beer, but maybe we'll try some twin or triple fiddling on Faded Love.

As a dance caller and dance fiddler, David is the perfect leader for this workshop. You'll learn a solid “workhorse” tune and then develop expressive melodic and rhythmic variations that relate to contra dance choreography. David, who will call at the Saturday night dance, promises to reveal several of his secrets and techniques.

Registration and Fiddle Hell Store close until 7:45AM Saturday morning.  But THE WHOMP! continues until 11:00PM. Plan ahead for the very helpful early sessions on Saturday, starting at 8:30AM.

Thirsty? Drinks available at Old Joe Clark's Pub off the Lobby. Jam session! Last call is 12:30AM.

Terri and Art will pick easier tunes from the Original 52 and New 52 common tune lists, like Bile 'Em Cabbage Down, Angeline the Baker, Old Joe Clark, Gary Owen, Redwing, Soldier's Joy, Da Slockit Light, Ten Penny Bit, Jamie Allen, Road to Boston, ... A slow jam helps you learn these.

From anticipation to syncopation, from bow rocks to slurs, Alan will show you the details of how it's done, in the context of a classic Southern oldtime tune or two. Alan wrote the book Beginning Old-Time Fiddle and he’s a patient and experienced teacher.

Laurel Martin's fiddle playing moves with the joyful, lilting rhythm and soulful nuance she hears in the music of Clare and East Galway. David will lay down a great foundation at this energetic late-night jam. Amy Beshara was originally scheduled to join them but won't be able to be there because of illlness.

Guided jam with easy songs – not too fast or difficult. Learn as you jam. It’s more fun if you can sing or improvise solos, but not required. The best way to get prepared is to learn a common bluegrass song to sing (you can bring the verses along to read from).

Lady Be Good? How High the Moon? Take the A Train? Satin Doll? Minor Swing? EMD? All of Me? Autumn Leaves? Bring your favorites to this late night jam. Duncan and Marshall will have some good suggestions, too, depending on who shows up. Fiddle, guitar, mandolin, cello, and others are welcome.

Judy has many favorite fiddle tunes. That’s the nature of loving old-time fiddle music, right? She’ll choose a great one for the occasion.

Official Jam Spots are fine (not those near guest rooms) and the following rooms are open all night for jamming: R4, R6, R7, R8, R35, and R36.

Start the day with the Westford Regency's hot breakfast buffet ($15.00 + tax + gratuity; or $9.00 + tax + gratuity for continental breakfast). Alternatively, Cash Breakfast Concession (quick breakfast, snacks, and coffee) opens at 8AM in the Fiddle Hell Lower Hallway.

The Registration Desk is in Room R5 near the right front entrance of the Westford Regency Inn. Sign in, pay if you're not preregistered, get a stylish wristband and nametag, pick up a Program Brochure and Grid, perhaps buy a T-shirt ($15 or 2 for $25). Then, look for your fellow fiddlers; cellists; and mandolin, guitar, and banjo players everywhere around you.

T-shirts and instructors' CDs and books are also in R5, which closes at 11:15PM Saturday. Carriage House Violins (Johnson String Instrument) has fiddles, bows, strings and accessories, and Justin can perform minor set-up work for you (during the day). Jon Cooper has splendid violins to show, and will be making a new violin during Fiddle Hell. Magic Fluke will have their Cricket travel violins to show today. Dave Golber will have his Hardanger violins to show Sunday.

Cash Breakfast Concession with inexpensive choices: Breakfast Burrito, Oatmeal, Bagel and Cream Cheese, Muffin/Danish/Croissant, Yogurt, Fruit, Granola Bar, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go or at a session.

Stretches with Marsha Rich and warmup scales, arpeggios, patterns, rhythms,  and bowing. Get ready for the third day at Fiddle Hell by warming up your body and mind. 

Volume control, pitch control, vocal range and stamina are hallmarks of singing with strength. We’ll learn some “tricks of the trade” that help strong singers succeed.

Maine Fiddle Camp welcomes players of all levels. We’ll play tunes from our classes and from easy jams during those wonderful summer music gatherings in Montville, Maine.

Bowing questions? Intonation and tone? A tricky part of a tune? Where to start with a new technique? Gretchen can give your playing the "once over," offering a fresh set of eyes and ears to help answer your fiddle playing questions. Drop in for a few minutes or stay the whole time.

We will take a well known dance tune ("Miss Monahan’s") and develop some basic rhythmic and harmonic ideas to create texture, shape and drama. Excellent workshop to start your day at Fiddle Hell!

You may have noticed there's lots of learning by ear at Fiddle Hell. The tunes you learn by ear will stick with you - but how do you actually do it? In this early bird workshop, Shana will share useful tips and help you out. A good way to start out Saturday at FH.

A great start to the day for guitarists - pluck strum, alternating bass pluck strum, alternating bass pluck strum with bass runs, and chunking on the back beat. Yikes, Bill will cover them all in just 45 minutes!

Drop in for a few minutes or stay for a while. Technique, style, tone, improvisation, ornaments. Scottish, Irish, and more. Abby will help you out.

In Cape Breton, we saw more with our bow, and slur less, so we'll work on the "general rules" of that - in the context of a fine 2/4 march in A from Cape Breton. Andrea wrote this classic tune!

Curious what Swedish folk music is all about? Join Bronwyn and learn the basics, including how to play simple Swedish tunes by ear, basic bowings, rhythms, and resources for how and where to learn more!

Learn how to find 2 and 3-part harmonies on a majestic and spiritual song. A gentle and fun session to try out. Bring your instrument if you have one, or just your voice. Emy and Joy sing together in Darol Anger and the Furies.

The tune is "Cotillon de Baie Ste-Catherine." The Cotillon ("Cotillion" in English) is a dance that is in Québec since New-France. Many cotillon melodies are a song at the origin; not fast, but simple and charming.

Pete says: "The first fiddling I fell hard for was Southern. Loved the groove, the swing of it, the simple melodies that seemed to grow out of the bowing. I love sharing the ingredients that make this happen."

This popular reel dates back to the O’Neill collection, and is quite cheerful. The B part draws a lot from the A part, making the tune an easy one to learn. This tune shows up often in friendly jams. This tune will be a bit of a stretch for Beginners.

"Miserlou" (Greek: Μισιρλού, Turkish: Mısırlı) is a traditional song and hypnotic dance from the Eastern Mediterranean region. The flowing melody is not too difficult, and Beth Bahia Cohen will make it yours forever (and a day).

Double Stops [notes played together on two strings] are considered the Final Frontier in Bluegrass and Swing fiddling; The oldest and greatest fiddlers obsess over them. Organizing our thoughts on this difficult technique is paramount. We''ll work through the different flavors and explore simple techniques for practicing them. L2 with some L3.

Do you love the sound of jazz but are intimidated by the complex chords and music theory that musicians always talk about? Just remember: Jazz is really about groove and expression. It's conversational and earthy. It’s MUSIC!!! and it’s learned best if you’re letting yourself have fun from your first encounter. No prior experience needed.

Ellery will teach a polka -and maybe a jig too- that were tried and true favorites of her youth students at the Saturday Irish music school Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.

Learn the melody with slides and more and also the chords and rhythms used for “seconding."

Many traditional tunes are composed in modes other than conventional major and minor. Each mode creates a landscape with a distinctive scale and chord palette. In this by-ear session, melody players and accompanists will learn a “skeleton key” to the modes to help you recognize, learn, and accompany modal tunes.

Molly will teach songs with guitar accompaniment at this cheerful morning workshop.

Fingals’ cave is a unique geological place that both inspired classical composer Mendelson to compose his Hebrides overture and a traditional musician to compose this more modest march. One of my favourites with lots of double stops and interesting rhythmic accents.

Tony will review some of the most important aspects of Flatpicking Guitar in the bluegrass style, but this knowledge will apply to many other related styles of music as well. Bring your questions or just come ready to learn!

From Native Western Canadian fiddler and composer John Arcand, "Grey Owl" fluctuates among D major, E minor and B minor. It's a crooked tune with great spirit. Andy DeJarlis and John Arcand are the two best-known Métis fiddler-tune composers, who have ably added to the store of traditional tunes.

"Cooley's Reel" (from the Original 52 common tunes) will be the canvas. Cuts, rolls, spitting triplets, and serpentine bowings will be the paint. Get in to the nitty gritty of Irish ornamentation with a focus on how to use your fingers and hands to create a vibrant masterpiece.

This great tune comes up a lot in jams. Ellen will have a few variations and bluegrassy bowings to add once you know the basic tune.

I'll teach "Hotel Verret" in 6/8 and "Le Voyageur" (a necessary session ender). I'll mostly play the tunes, alternating between a very slow tempo and a moderate tempo. You get to join in where it is most helpful to you. People talk about this style of learning as being refreshing - less talking, more playing.

Lissa is a quintessential New England fiddler, from notes to ornaments to bowing to that ineffable "dance feel." She'll teach a couple of challenging New England tunes that she loves to play.

Meet in Carignan Room 2. March to Lobby playing "Bonaparte Crossing the Rhine" in D. March back playing "Trip to Moscow" in Gm, by Ian Ball.  

Meet a few others your age at Fiddle Hell. It's during a break, so you won't miss a workshop.

Three very different mandolin players, from bluegrass, world, and Western styles. This will be an enjoyable 60 minutes to inspire mandolin players and non-mandolin players alike.

Cash Lunch Concession with inexpensive choices: Vegetarian Wrap with Grilled Veggies, Roast Turkey & Bacon Wrap, Hot Dog, Individual Pizza, Soup, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Fruit, Cookies, Chips, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go, at a session, or perhaps upstairs in one of the two Quiet Rooms.

You will learn an easy and fun oldtime tune that has all the rhythmic elements that make a fiddle tune sound "oldtime." We will discuss how you can modify the oldtime tunes you already play to have them sound more rhythmically charged and "oldtime." Alan wrote a fine book called Beginning Oldtime Fiddle, from which this workshop takes its name.

Ed Pearlman sometimes leads a similar jam at the Maine Fiddle Camp. It's likely to feature common tunes and tunes that the attendees suggest (and sometimes lead off), played at a slow pace. Come and enjoy!

Working from printed lyrics, we will work our way through a couple of classic call and response songs. May also include a brief foot percussion tutorial!

Pete and Oliver represent two-thirds of Pete's Posse, known for its excellent original fiddle tunes.  Learn how they do it. Their "Fruit Fly Blues" CD is hot off the press.

Éric will show you a wonderful and energetic tune, "Reel à Ira Leblanc," from the Acadia area that is really good for step dance or square dance, or contradance. C'est une belle façon de commencer la journée pour les jeunes violoneux!

Says Flynn: "Everything you need to know about playing rhythm guitar for fiddle tunes in bluegrass jams, including typical keys, chord voicings, and bass runs. Bring your capo and a heavy pick. Patrick will be our live bluegrass fiddler for this workshop."

Gerry will teach an easy, unusual dance tune from his recently released body of South Ulster tunes. In fact, it's the eponymous title tune of Gerry's collection The Rose in the Gap.

Have cello....now what? What should you play in a jam session? How can you tastefully back up a fiddle player? Where’s the awesome “cello groove”? We'll cover these and more. Who's playing great cello on the New 52 CDs in the FH store - Joy, of course!

we'll look at a spectrum of different tunes—a jig, a reel, a strathspey—and examine some classic bowing patterns and techniques that apply to each type of tune.

Some contests have a whole Trick and Fancy or Novelty division, where anything goes - visual tricks, wierd sounds, fancy bowing, and more. Try it out!

Don learned to play mostly from his uncle, Lucien Matthieu of Westbrook, Maine, who taught his nephew the basics and gave him records to listen to and learn from.

Congratulations to Mariel and Stash on their recent marriage! They'll co-teach a fine Swedish tune, for guitar, fiddle, and mandolin players. See them both as part of Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers, in concert on Sunday at 12:30PM.

Andrea came down from Cape Breton just for the Fiddle Hell Festival, carrying with her the awesome fiddling traditions of the Beaton family, the MacMasters, and more.

Released in 2002, Diary of a Fiddler was Darol’s time-capsule masterpiece CD. It was an all-fiddles recording, with some of the greatest fiddlers on the planet. Darol, Andy, and a surprise guest or two show and teach twin techniques for fiddlers playing together.

Ellery plays with Fódhla, well-known in the Northeast for beautiful and driving traditional Irish tunes. She'll cover two fine tunes from the album, "Notes from Mill Pond." Ellery will teach the reel "Sandymount" and the jig "Crabs in the Skillet."

Jason will help you to achieve that authentic sound and feel of Gypsy Jazz (vibrato, tone, phrasing, and more). At 3:30PM today, catch The Jason Anick Acoustic Trio in concert to hear more Gypsy Jazz.

Jay Ungar wrote this catchy tune for the Vermont based group of the same name (they changed it later to Assembly), to capture the energy of teenaged musicians. Interesting string-crossing shuffles and chords.

Hungry? Thirsty? Food and drinks available at Old Joe Clark's Pub off the Lobby. Special menu for Fiddle Hell, leisurely paced. A faster alternative for dinner is the Quick Dinner Buffet from 5PM-6:30PM in the Lobby.

Tradition steeped in possibility! Easy jam with Bruce, Allison, and Stash follows at 2PM.

Discover the basic premises behind music therapy and how music can be used within a variety of settings and populations to foster growth of life skills and address individual needs. Engage through stories, ask questions, and participate in a lively discussion of this unique field!

The title sums it up — joyful singing for all! We will learn a few quick and useful vocal warm-ups and then learn songs on the fly — rounds, call and response, and chorus songs. Maybe singing is your main thing, or maybe you want a break from playing tunes. Come along.

Many people know Shetland tunes such as Willafjord, Sleep Soond Ida Moarnin, and Da Slockit Light, but there are so many great tunes that fly under the radar. You'll get to choose your favorites to learn from a variety of samples Ed will play; sheet music and recordings will be available afterward.

Kids - Learn essential tools for playing in a bluegrass band, including 1-4-5 chords, the role of each instrument, kick-offs, backup, melody and singing. Try it out.

Here are some possibilities: The Cliffs of Moher, Egan's Polka, Father Kelly's, Inisheer, The Merry Blacksmith, Morrison's Jig, Swinging on a Gate. They're all on the New 52 2-CD set. We'll play at a relaxed tempo.

“The Icehouse” was composed in 1997 by accordion player Réjean Brunet, brother of fiddler André Brunet. Réjean composed the first strain at the Augusta Heritage Festival, then asked the workshop group to complete the second strain, following his chords. The result – a fantastic tune.

Music is more than melody. Learning the chords and rhythmic groove of a tune is as important as learning the series of notes that make up the melody. Especially for teachers but all are welcome.

We will work on some exercises, grooves, and patterns to help rhythmize your playing. We will look at chord strumming, double stops, and single note melodic playing, and also work on incorporating these into tunes.

Mark, an acclaimed tunesmith and teacher of many great young players and tune composers, will guide participants in close listening to a half-dozen of your tunes, demonstrating some revision secrets: for finishing tunes and getting tunes unstuck, polishing trouble spots, and spinning serviceable but pedestrian tunes into moments of magic.

A fairly advanced workshop that covers key techniques for playing lead guitar in gypsy jazz. Channel Django Reinhardt for this workshop, then catch Max in concert with the Jason Anick Acoustic Trio at 3:30PM.

Should be a fine bluegrass jam, ably led by Dr. Richie Brown, with Dave Dillon on guitar.

Learn to make your rolls more rhythmic and percussive. We'll examine the roll anatomy from the root note, high cut, low lift and the bow. Rose will also discuss where and when to use the roll with specific examples using common tunes. She'll be your "roll" model.

We’ll learn a couple of contrasting tunes in odd meters and in different makams or modes. Regional styles of traditional Greek music for the violin date back over 400 years. In old times, people in some areas would say, "Let's go to the violins", meaning "Let's go for some music and dance."

Officially, shredding is a virtuoso lead solo playing style. Unofficially, it's about having some crazy fun with your instrument. We'll explore ways to unlock your melodic potential and turn the scales you’ve been practicing mechanically into REAL MUSIC with a side of crazy fun! Also, warming up and exercises to build fingering dexterity and evenness.

"Improvisation is making a choice, and responding to what happens.” Rob has a Master’s in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory, so if you’ve been looking to "improve your improv" this class is for you! We'll explore improvising in multiple genres and demystify what makes an improvisation compelling.

When you take a solo - rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic improvisation strategies can enhance your creative musicianship. The class will rotate among attendees (likely with different instruments, styles, and levels) so that Andy can provide constructive feedback and suggestions. This might be just the thing to take your improv up a notch!

Dalcroze Eurythmics will help us explore how to "internalize" more deeply the rhythms of common fiddle tune forms, through physical movement. When the entire body knows the rhythm, we are freer to play and listen at a deeper level of proficiency. Bring your instruments to class; we’ll be moving, with bare feet. Participants (not Fiddle Hell) are responsible for their own well-being given the movement aspects of this session.

We’ll learn "Barbour’s Cordial" from Keith Murphy’s brand new third collection of tunes. Keith also made up a lovely harmony to go with this, and we’ll learn that too.

We'll look at a few right hand strumming/rhythm options for backing up jigs, reels, and waltzes. Although Keith plays open-tuned (DADGAD) guitar, the workshop is open to guitars, mandolins, ukes, and others looking to play rhythm. Right hand focus, so chording will be secondary. Ellery will ably represent melody players in need of backup.

Challenge your mind and discover the joys of singing in a foreign language! Bronwyn will introduce traditional Swedish vocal melodies, harmonies, lyrics, and pronunciation.

Tunes and keys will be announced, and tunes will be played at a relaxed pace to give you a chance to absorb them more easily. Read more about Molsky's Mountain Drifters.

Doug directs the great Maine Fiddle Camp, and is clearly a multi-tasker. He'll help you to wear multiple hats as a fiddling caller.

Scottish fiddle and cello duo Elizabeth and Ben will teach a fun and hypnotic reel, "The Corrie Man." This was recorded a while back by Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas.

Hear Greg later (3:30PM today) with the Jason Anick Acoustic Trio. But first, bring your bass (or just listen in) for some helpful ideas about jazz bass playing, including note choice and rhythmic feel in walking basslines and other styles of jazz bass accompaniment.

Do you long to be able to do "the feet" WHILE playing your favorite Québecois tunes? Gretchen will help coordinate your feet with your bow and have you fiddling with basic foot percussion in no time. Then she'll teach your fingers Reel de Gaspé. Beginners or any instrument can attend for feet only.

Learn all the basic chord shapes and common arpeggios used in Gypsy swing music. Jason's Acoustic Trio will be playing a concert at 3:30PM today.

All instruments are welcome to jam with Jay and Molly on some well known contradance tunes and waltzes.

Learn a unique Scandinavian tune from Mariel’s repertoire from her time studying the hardanger fiddle in Norway, or perhaps her time in the Oldtime/Scandinavian fusion band, Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers (performing Sunday afternoon at FH).

You understand something about microphones, mixers, and speakers, but how do you make musicians sound good individually, and mix several together? Oliver and Colin will talk through the perspective of a sound person. They might use a volunteer instrumentalist to experiment on. A flash version is offered at 3PM on Friday.

How to put two voices together? Skip and Mali are both excellent singers who've sung in a variety of styles, and they'll show you some key ideas to help figure out and strengthen your harmony singing. Listen and then try it for a few different songs.

Join in with traditional fiddle music, laughter, smiles, and maybe some dancing. On Cape Breton island, they add up to a wild ceilidh.

Darol is the fiddler (violinist) you hear on the original SimCity game and soundtrack. How cool is that? He'll teach you some of his hot licks from the game.

This syncopated, string-crossing shuffle fits over two measures of a fiddle tune such as Orange Blossom Special or Devil's Dream. This charismatic bowing is easier than it sounds,and Dave will slow it down, fit it into "Buck Fever Rag," show you how to practice it, and let you loose on the world.

Gerry will be joined by Kevin McElroy, his good friend and back up player for the short tour which kicks off after Fiddle Hell. Come play along with a variety of tunes and rhythms at an easy going Saturday Afternoon pace. Listeners welcome as well as players.

Not a dark art at all, really, but undeniably magical, even when it's not all that technical. Pete likes getting fiddlers of all kinds to go beyond their limits, to get tight with both their fiddling "voice" AND their singing voice and connect them.

This common A tune comes from the great Kentucky fiddler Ed Haley. We’ll use all of the left hand skills- drop thumb, hammer-ons, pull-offs and the super-important alternate string pull-off.

Play it, sing it, dance it! Or just listen. We'll meet in Room 3 and step into the hallway when we're ready. The music and words are on the New 52 CDs, and they were also in 2017's Fiddle Hell program book. Dinosaur supplies available for FH cosplay.

The Jason Anick Acoustic Trio is a perfect example of an open minded approach that fuses together contemporary jazz, classical, and new acoustic music. Rounding out the trio are guitarist Max O'Rouke and bassist Greg Loughman, world-class musicians and creative forces in their own right.

David will cover the critical downs and ups of picking techniques for reels and jigs. If your goal is to pick more cleanly, more consistently in rhythm, and with better tone, this is the session for you. 

Learn this one by ear! It’s the best way to capture the style. Don will guide this L1 workshop at a slow pace, with an easy tune.

You can be a good fiddler no matter how "correctly" you play. But gaining awareness of how your joints and muscles actually do their jobs, and doing simple exercises to teach your muscles to be efficient will help you relax and play longer without getting tired or injured. Video support available afterward.

Emy is a prolific songwriter with a riveting voice which plumbs the deepest emotions. Joy writes great songs and sings with Emy in Darol Anger and the Furies. They'll help you move along the path to effective songwriting. There's another songwriting workshop from Joy and Emy Sunday morning at 8:30AM.

Lock in with other musicians in a moderately-paced Southern oldtime jam, with tunes on the easier side.

Judy is known for her wonderful, driving rhythm grooves on fiddle with bands such as The Horse Flies. She'll show you how.

What rules, tricks, heuristics, and ideas can help you to work out harmony parts when playing with other fiddlers? Lissa and David know (and have both recorded some excellent twin fiddling) and will be your guides today to twin fiddling.

How to eliminate “stumbling” or “stuttering” in your playing. A few simple practice techniques. Pam is President of American Music System Charleston, Inc., author of Teacher Training in the American Music System, and a frequent clinician at music educators' professional development workshops. With Pam we've got the world's best teacher for this new workshop.

(you can find C harmonicas for $10 in the Fiddle Hell store. Paul plays with the Reiner Family Band, and adds great harmonica to his guitar playing and vocals. Bring your C harmonica and learn several key techniques for playing melody, playing "cross-harp" in G, and even bending notes.

Understanding the Circle of Fifths can help to unlock many music theory mysteries. Shana will discuss the major, minor and seventh chords found in any key; typical chord progressions in a key; and swing progressions with backwards cycling through the circle. She'll start at L2 and may take you to L3 territory.

"Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe" is an classic bluegrass album with great tunes! Road to Columbus, Brown County Breakdown, Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Jerusalem Ridge, and 8 more. We’ll play through several of the tunes from this album. Not a teaching session, but a chance to play some classic tunes. Listeners welcome.

Your favorites and some proposed tunes from Éric. 

Itching to jam over your favorite blues, pop, rock, or swing tune? Tired of sounding the same in every style? Learn the secret ingredients that can be used to vary slide and vibrato technique. Master vertical technique to generate innumerable sounds, from ghosting to vibraslides and beyond.

Tunes with few notes are hard to get right. They need flawless flow and phrasing. While it’s helpful to know rhythmic bowing techniques, it’s hard to employ these to reveal, not obscure, the heart of the tune. We’ll “work up" two such tunes - one familiar and one a lesser-known gem.

Tom has hosted master Irish fiddler Manus McGuire for concerts and workshops various times over the past few years, and has paid close attention to his style. Tom will teach “Tomorrow Morning Hornpipe,” one of Manus’s favorite tunes, first in the original form and then as it would be ornamented by Manus.

Lugubrious and serpentine, mysterious and puzzling and challenging to play, fiddler Paddy Fahey’s compositions capture the deep “draiocht” (soul) of traditional Irish music. Join us to learn compositions of this enigmatic East Galway musician, and as we explore the fluid style of bowing that highlights the grace and mystery of his tunes.

Want a quick dinner before the concert and dance? The hotel is running a Fiddle Hell buffet for us in the Stoney Brook Café next to the main lobby. Help yourself to pasta primavera in cream sauce, penne pasta in marinara sauce, meatballs in marinara sauce, garden salad, garlic bread, rolls and butter, and your choice of a soft drink or a bottle of water. Prices include tax and gratuity: Adults $19, Kids 4-12 $12, Kids under 4 free.

Lorraine's well-known as a great lap dulcimer player, and it's high time to have a dulcimer workshop at Fiddle Hell. Easy and fun tunes - bring your instrument or just listen. 

This Missouri oldtime breakdown in D is common in old-time sessions. And it's pretty easy. Take a ride on the "Spotted Pony" with Alan.

A five-string fiddle adds a low C string, which helps with melodies and chords, and extends the range of the fiddle downwards in a pleasing, growly way. Bob will demo and teach examples of 5-string playing. If you don't have one, come to listen and maybe get a chance to try one out.

Says Jay: "You’ll have to be there to learn more about this one."

Laura and Tony will teach workshop attendees some of the most important aspects of lead singing in the bluegrass style, but this knowledge will apply to many other related styles of music as well. Bring your questions or just come ready to sing!

Fiddle Hell just couldn't Let It Be. Because. Don't Let Me Down. Here Comes the Sun. And here come Patrick and Peter to be your magical mystery tour guides to playing Beatles on the fiddle.

What are the blues? Where did they come from? How do you play them? You’ll learn about the structure of 12-bar blues, where the blue notes are, and where to slide. In French, "J'ai le cafard" literally means "I've got the cockroach," but is a way of saying "I've got the blues."

A great jig for mandolin “Kitty’s Rambles” will be taught. We will review picking patterns and learn the technique and use of trebles and triplets. Encouraging fiddlers who are interested in picking up the mandolin as a second instrument to explore this workshop.

Abby plays cello with Ferintosh, a wonderful band that performs the vibrant folk music of Scotland, America, and Cape Breton. She'll teach one of her favorite tunes from the band's repertoire. BTW, Google tells us that "Newton of Ferintosh" is a scattered crofting township on the Black Isle in the Highland council area of Scotland.

We will explore the banjo up the neck through shapes, scales and chords. This will help you navigate this part of the neck, wether you are picking out a melody that goes high, transposing a low section up an octave, or taking a solo.

We’ll learn a beautiful tune TBD by ear, complete with ornaments and accompaniment. This is Beth Bahia Cohen's second year at Fiddle Hell, and she's bringing several new styles for us to learn and enjoy. Look for her on tonight's concert.

Métis fiddling is a beautiful oldtime style based mostly in the Canadian prairies and upper midwestern US. The tunes are crooked and interesting, with melodies very similar to many American oldtime tunes. Bruce will demonstrate some Métis tunes and teach a fine one on the fiddle.

Come and learn a couple of Celtic tunes arranged in DADGAD tuning for finger style guitar, and get a look at techniques of arrangement, execution and ornamentation in this style.

We’ll see how you can be more playful and free in playing your favorite traditional fiddle tunes, with some exercises and practice techniques to develop your own personal style. Starting with a common simple fiddle tune we’ll bend it in a variety of ways. Bring a recorder and notebook to capture ideas.

Learn about the infinite potential of triads on the guitar. Explore different inversions up and down the neck through a simple folk song (such as In the Pines or Don’t this Road Look Rough and Rocky).

Michael Coleman was from County Sligo. His virtuosic technique, imaginative variations, and beautiful bowing and ornamentation captured the interest of traditional Irish musicians all over the world. Tune sets he recorded in the 1930s and 1940s are still favorite standards in sessions. We’ll learn a tune or two from Coleman’s repertoire.

Gerry will introduce and explain typical bowing patterns used in popular Irish dance tunes, which often create the greatest challenge to fiddle players. These reels will be studied and the bowing of these popular - however difficult to play - tunes will be addressed with a chance to try out the patterns hands-on.

Please invite your families and tell your friends about this great concert! Short appearances by more than two dozen excellent traditional musicians. Doors open at 6:30PM. Free for Fiddle Hell attendees who have paid for Saturday. Walk-ins are $15 (includes contra dance at 9:30PM). Thanks to Tim Rowell, Oliver Scanlon, and Colin McKinley for sound engineering and Eric Kilburn of Wellspring Sound for lighting.

Free if you're at the concert; no separate tickets for the dance. Fun, easy contras and circle dances for all, with exuberant, rich, inclusive music by an enormous, expertly-guided folk orchestra. FH attendees are also welcome to sit in with the band to play well-known New England tunes for the dancers.

Drop in for a few minutes or stay for a while to try out some Western Swing tunes. It's a style that combines hot fiddling and improvising with a great dance beat, on classics like Take Me Back to Tulsa. Art and Marshall go way back with Fiddle Hell, and play together in the Beantown Buckaroos.

Bring your banjo and a recording device. We’ll cover how to turn right hand rolls into “licks” and explore how to find new lick ideas and boost your repertoire with these prefabricated phrases and modules. Also, alternate tunings and differences between Earl Scruggs’s iconic style and the melodic style of the ‘60s.

Take your skill to the next level with some more advanced 16th note polskas, double stops, and ornamentation within traditional Swedish music.

Thirsty? Drinks available at Old Joe Clark's Pub off the Lobby. Jam session! Last call is 12:30AM.

No boundaries!

The magic of old time music is how you can play the same tune again and again and again and again and again and again... Learn a few easy favorites that will be sure to leave you in a trance.

Bring the day to a rousing close by singing some classic ballads, led by Paul. Irish ballads have simple melodies and great refrains, and sometimes there's even Whiskey in the Jar.

India is home to the most advanced rhythmic system ever created by humans. In this class we’ll scratch the surface of “konnokol,” aka rhythmic solfege, and learn to apply the basics to fiddle rhythms and more. You’d be amazed how useful this is for your grooving!

Learn a tune or two by John Campbell (1929-2010), one of the great Cape Breton fiddlers who defined the Cape Breton music scene in Boston. Son of a Cape Breton fiddling pioneer, John's first public performance came at age 9 when he was pushed onto an outdoor stage to perform a lively dance tune at a wedding.

This is a loosely guided bluegrass jam. We'll go around the circle asking folks to choose songs they want to sing and/or play. The best way to get prepared is to learn a common bluegrass song to sing (you can bring the verses along to read from).

Judy is a founding member of the alt-folk rock band, The Horse Flies, who have toured extensively and recorded many albums. Join her joyful jam tonight. Tunes will be at a moderate tempo and played long enough to seek trance.

Great tune! Kenny Baker fiddles it nicely, and it's perfect for mandolin and flat-picking guitar leads.

Registration and Fiddle Hell Store close until 8AM Sunday morning.  But jams and workshops continue! Plan ahead for the very useful early sessions on Sunday, starting at 8:30AM. Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour at 2AM for Daylight Savings Time!

Official Jam Spots are fine (not those near guest rooms) and the following rooms are open all night for jamming: R4, R6, R7, R8, R35, and R36.

An extra hour of sleep tonight, provided to you by Fiddle Hell! Officially, clocks should be turned back an hour at 2AM Sunday morning. Some smartphones will do this automatically for you; some may not.

Start the day with the Westford Regency's hot breakfast buffet ($15.00 + tax + gratuity; or $9.00 + tax + gratuity for continental breakfast). Alternatively, Cash Breakfast Concession opens at 8AM in the Fiddle Hell Lower Hallway.

The Registration Desk is in Room R5 near the right front entrance of the Westford Regency Inn. Sign in, pay if you're not preregistered, get a stylish wristband and nametag, pick up a Program Brochure and Grid, perhaps buy a T-shirt ($15 or 2 for $25). Then, look for your fellow fiddlers; cellists; and mandolin, guitar, and banjo players everywhere around you.

T-shirts and instructors' CDs and books are also in R5, which closes until next year at 6:15PM today. Carriage House Violins (Johnson String Instrument) has fiddles, bows, strings and accessories, and Justin can perform minor set-up work for you (during the day). Jon Cooper has splendid violins to show, and will be making a new violin during Fiddle Hell. Dave Golber will have his Hardanger violins to show today.

Cash Breakfast Concession with inexpensive choices: Breakfast Burrito, Oatmeal, Bagel and Cream Cheese, Muffin/Danish/Croissant, Yogurt, Fruit, Granola Bar, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go or at a session.

Stretches with Marsha Rich and warmup scales, arpeggios, patterns, rhythms,  and bowing. Get ready for the last day at Fiddle Hell by warming up your body and mind. 

The Montville Project is is a Maine/New Hampshire based band dedicated to recording and performing the essential repertoire of New England dance music. The inspiration for this project came in the summer of 2007 at Maine Fiddle Camp (in the town of Montville), George and Art will start your day off with this easy and catchy tune - look for their Montville Project CDs in the FH store.

Come collect a few great “little” songs that will last you forever. Singers, fiddlers, all pickers welcome to participate. "The Hammonds are folk missionaries of the first order... who love to introduce people to the joys of traditional music." - Scott Alarik, Boston Globe.

Drop in with your bowing questions; stay and learn more. Pam will help you control the bow with your right arm (larger muscles) rather than your hand for better tone and smoother playing.

Can you play a G scale? That'll make learning this tune easy.  "Garry Owen" is an old Irish quick-step that can be traced back to the 1800s. it was used by Irish regiments as a drinking and marching song. The tune has a lively beat, which accentuates the cadence of marching horses. The name (sometimes written "Garryowen") is derived from Gaelic meaning Owen's garden, a suburb of Limerick.

Seán's the 2016 US Scottish Fiddle Champion. He'll teach one of his favorite tunes, coincidentally one of the New 52. "Sailor's Wife" is simple, elegant, and beautiful.

There are several minor scales; we’ll look at the most-common Scottish one, and learn "The Arran Boat," a lovely slow air.

This workshop will delve into the various different kinds of Swedish polskas and what makes them unique! Learn a slängpolska, bondpolska, storpolska and more!

A skilled player can make a so-so tune sound great, but even a beginner can put across a really great fiddle tune. What makes these warhorses great? We will discuss structure, texture, and story in the context of fiddle tunes, and probably learn most of a couple. Listeners welcome, too.

We will review the basics and play a tune on the mando, come on out! David’s a friendly teacher known for his superb mandolin playing in Irish, Breton, and other styles.

A big part of the rhythm and sound of Franco American fiddling comes from the bowing. Don will lead you through several exciting bowing techniques in the context of French tunes from the Canadian Maritimes.

Eric will feature tunes such as "All of Me," "Summertime," and "Flintstones" as he introduces you to to jazz mandolin improvising. Dave will provide an entire rhythm section.

Learn how to find 2 and 3-part harmonies on a majestic and spiritual song. A gentle and fun session to try out. Bring your instrument if you have one, or just your voice. Joy and Emy sing together in Darol Anger and the Furies.

Lorraine does it best! She'll show you the tricks and techniques for this very effective combination of instruments. Bring your lap dulcimer or just watch. BTW, Lorraine will be backing up Dave Reiner in the Hell tune workshop at 11AM.

Originally used to play the music of Norway, the Hardingfele is a highly decorated instrument with inlays, carvings, and ink decorations. It has 4 playable strings on top of the bridge, and 4 or 5 more that resonate along. The instrument can be used for dancing or listening. Bring yours if you have one, try Mariel's (she's okay with that), or just listen.

You may have heard Rob and his looper at last night's concert. He layered rhythm and melodies  to build the song. How is it done? Rob will show you the basics, and you may get a chance to try it out.

Slow airs can express a wide array of emotions, from sorrow and loss to anger. Although there are some cultural norms, each player needs to find their own ways of interpreting and expressing these tunes. We’ll explore some conceptual approaches and techniques to bring more of your own expressiveness to your playing.

Explore the guitar’s boom-chuck in old time fiddle and dance music. This foundational workshop is for anybody starting to play backup on guitar, equally focused on listening as playing.

Guided jam with songs – a little faster than earlier days. Learn as you jam. It’s more fun if you can sing or improvise solos. The best way to get prepared is to learn a common bluegrass song to sing (you can bring the verses along to read from).

Get the lowdown from Mali. She'll cover three key skills in playing bass for traditional music, in styles such as bluegrass, oldtime, and folk.

Brenda Stubbert is a fine Cape Breton fiddler and composer from Point Aconi, Nova Scotia. "Brenda Stubbert's Reel", written by Jerry Holland, was named for her. It's got a wonderful hypnotic and modal feel, with bowed triplets and the occasional grace note. Andrea will lead you through the tune and its nuances.

We’ll explore some of the well-known old time banjo repertoire and dig into the technical nuts and bolts of clawhammer style.

Early Cajun music was all about the fiddle. There was no accordion nor guitar. These early tunes are sprightly, haunting and often quirky and involve twin fiddles. Cathy will teach "One Step de McGee" as well as a seconding (back-up) part so students can trade leading and backing up.

Delve into the limitless harmonic and rhythmic possibilities of backing up Celtic tunes on the guitar. Explore chord substitutions, advanced right hand rhythmic techniques, inversions, and some basic music theory applied to traditional music. Drop-D and DADGAD tuning is recommended, but Standard is welcome too. Prior experience in Celtic tune accompaniment is highly recommended.

Play for the Dance! What's the difference between a Set Dance and Set Dancing? What is a Fíor Céilí? A Feis? What's required to play for dancing in a performance or in a social setting; understanding what a dancer may need, be it for a Concert, Céili or a Feis Competition. 

Ashokan Farewell, Lover's Waltz, Wizard's Walk, and Popcorn Behavior - Great tunes from great composers! 

A combination of classic and modern tunes that are common to New England repertoire. It helps to be at least somewhat familiar with the New England style. Bring your instruments, jokes, and favorite tunes to share.

Cash Lunch Concession with inexpensive choices: Vegetarian Wrap with Grilled Veggies, Roast Turkey & Bacon Wrap, Hot Dog, Individual Pizza, Soup, Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Fruit, Cookies, Chips, COFFEE, Soda, Bottled Water. Eat on the go or at a session.

Sumptuous brunch: cooked-to-order omelets and Belgian waffles; cheeses, smoked salmon and gulf shrimp; fresh tropical fruits; pastries; seafood and chicken entrees; carving stations; salads. Adults $28 + tax + gratuity; kids under 12 are $18 + tax + gratuity.

CodaBow is a long-time sponsor of Fiddle Hell. Andy and Joy are both CodaBow Ambassadors, who delight in playing their CodaBows on mountain summits, while skiing, and everywhere, really. They'll play some fine tunes with their CodaBows, and finish with a group tune for all to join in.

Say hi to your good friends from Northeast Heritage Music Camp (NHMC) and perhaps even play a few tunes. Dave Reiner, Cindy Eid, and Eric Eid-Reiner all have fond memories of this camp!

Good advice and fun warm-ups from Susie to keep the songs coming. Look for Carter family songs at 12:30PM today, and the Dynamic Duos concert at 3:30PM today, from Susie and David Surette.

We’ll play a short medley of fun Ugros dance tunes from Dunántúl (=Transdanubia, a traditional region of Hungary). “Ugros” means “jumping" in Hungarian. You might want to bring a portable music stand.

Time to dance! Waltzes and other 3/4 tunes from a variety of traditions. There's not a caller for these couple dances. Bring a dance partner or find partners there. Or watch and listen.

Abby will play a couple and teach an easy one.

The bodhrán is a round, open-backed, goatskin drum played with a small wooden stick called a beater, usually to accompany Irish reels and jigs. The right hand beats out rhythms, often somewhat intricate, while the left hand presses inside the drum to change the sound and match the tune. This is a beginner's workshop to help you along with the basics. You'll need to bring a bodhrán.