Learn at your own skill level & pace.
Four Celtic Fiddle 'Play by ear' courses.
Choose from below
About the Courses
Each course takes the student on the next steps of their Celtic Fiddle 'Play by Ear' journey.
The courses are progressive and students can undertake the courses in their own time and listen to the recorded Q&A sessions.
Students are welcome to participate in live fortnightly Q&A sessions via Zoom.
Courses run for six weeks online. We recommend everyone start with Beginners and if totally new to the violin, you might want to take a look at Absolute Beginners (free).
Each module includes an introduction lesson followed by a series of video lessons taking students through learning the technique and how to practice and improve on their own.
See below to find out more detail.
“Colin is a wonderful tutor who has a unique style which carries his pupils with him...
His lessons and sessions are great fun and resound with laughter whilst the learning takes a quantum leap. "
Claire Hurst, UK
What's in the Absolute Beginners course?
Let's Get You Started Playing Celtic Fiddle by Ear
Course Cost: $47 USD
Email Support Provided
This course helps you to take the first steps on your journey to play Celtic Fiddle by ear.
Imagine being able to hire or purchase your first instrument and have an idea of what to look for in the instrument or know which violin accessories to request.
The first part of the course, Choose a Celtic Fiddle*, helps you to do this.
* A fiddle is another name for a violin
Once you have your instrument, we'll teach you how to put everything together, holding the fiddle, the bow and also tuning the instrument aswell.
Once you're comfortable with holding the violin and the bow, it's time to play your first notes on your Celtic Fiddle.
And from there, we will teach you to play your first Celtic song.
“Colin's music and Celtic Fiddle course are like a rainbow on a persistently rainy day!"
Meg Pilkington, Australia
What's in the Beginners Course?
Let's Get You Started Playing Celtic Fiddle by Ear
Course Cost: $297 USD
Length of Course: 6 weeks online
Live Q&A Sessions: Weeks 2, 4 & 6
Course Commencement Dates: w/c Monday May 3rd
This Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Beginner course helps students interested in learning Celtic Fiddle experience playing from the heart by the time they have finished the course.
The course gives students more than knowledge, it will provide them with a wider experience with which to engage their life.
Each week for 6 weeks via an online browser portal, students attend a pre-recorded video class lesson. The lessons are 40-50 minutes in length.
There is also a Q&A and Feedback Session held once a fortnight. The class runs between 30 and 120 minutes depending on student requests and is a mixture of pre-recorded and 'live-streamed' instructor content.
Each weekly class consists of recorded videos focusing on teaching students four key 'Play by Ear' techniques.
To seal in the learning of the technique, each technique is then applied to three tunes.
Instructional vides have been recorded for the tunes and have broken the tunes downing bitesized chunks for easy consumption.
The three Q&A classes, held fortnightly, are recorded. Students can access the recordings at any time after they are loaded up into the portal. These classes revise key challenges that students face in learning the different techniques and provide solutions.
“Colin not only taught several pieces of music to a
group of fiddle players of a wide range of ages and abilities,
but had the audience smiling and singing as well.
Even the most musically shy of us were playing and
moving around the stage to the rhythm of the music.
Colin's love for Celtic music is contagious! Thank you Colin.
I had so much fun - can't wait to do it again!”
Sarah O'Brien, USA
What's in the Intermediate Course?
Let's Get You Started Shaping Your Celtic Fiddle Sound
Course Cost: $397 USD
Length of Course: 6 weeks online
Live Q&A Sessions: Weeks 2, 4 & 6
Course Commencement Dates: w/c Monday April 12th
This Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Intermediate course builds on the beginner course and the focus, in this course, turns to shaping a player's confidence and building their playing confidence. In addition, the course starts to look at a wider range of rhythms of tunes and examines various ways to play these tunes with ornamentation.
Whilst the course explores playing Celtic Fiddle by Ear at a deeper depth it also helps the students to build their life skills, including listening skills and creative thinking.
The Intermediate Shape Your Sound course is run in a similar format to the Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Beginner course.
Over the 6 weeks of the online course, students will look at four techniques to shape their sound when playing Celtic Fiddle
Each technique is then applied to three tunes.
The tune videos are broken down into bite sized chunks to support the student learning of the techniques.
Q&A and Feedback Sessions are also held fortnightly on weeks 2, 4 and 6. Student questions will be answered and feedback provided on the hot seats provided for the sessions.
“Colin had promised to surpass each
of our expectations.
He delivered on that for me and
my violin is talking more eloquently and
passionately than before.”
Richard Gray, Australia
What's in the Advanced Course?
Let's Get You Started Owning Your Celtic Fiddle Sound
Course Cost: $497 USD
Length of Course: 6 weeks online
Live Q&A Sessions: Weeks 2, 4 & 6
Course Commencement Dates: w/c Monday June 7th
This Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Advanced course works on tone production and articulation of various pieces of music. We expand the range of keys which the student is exposed to. The Advanced course is a natural progression from the Intermediate course.
The course is currently in development and we anticipate inviting guest tutors to host a session teaching their particular style or aspect of a genre of music. Learning their technique adds to a player's sound and enhances the ability to add texture to their playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if I am too busy with my daily schedule?
The tunes, videos and their recordings can be accessed 24 hours a day so that the Celtic fiddle play by ear course can fit in with your daily schedule.
2. What if I have only played a few tunes by ear?
This course will provide you with the tools to play a lot more tunes by ear and have fun in the process!
3. What if I can read sheet music?
The Celtic fiddle play by ear course will help to put more passion and emotion into the playing of the music and provide different tools for ways to learn music.
4. What if I don't have time to complete this course?
The course materials are available online 24 hours a day to fit in with your lifestyle and work patterns and also broken down into small chunks for bite sized consumption. There are also fortnightly Q&A sessions to answer any questions.
5. What if I am inspired to join in a local Celtic music session before I complete the course?
As a result of the knowledge you are building in the Celtic fiddle play by ear course, you will be able to have even more fun joining with everyone at a local Celtic music session.
6. When can I start the course?
New course groups start in the first week of each month. Students work at their own pace through the weekly video lessons, and every second week we have a live streamed Q&A where you can get feedback directly from the instructor. The Q&A classes are also available on replay, and while it would be great to see you, you do not need to attend. Theoretically, if attending the Q&A sessions is not important to you, you could start at any time.
7. Is There A Refund Policy?
Students who follow along with the program, go through all the materials and actively take part in their learning experience are delighted with the course, and have more fun in playing Celtic fiddle by ear.If you’re not satisfied with the course after 30 days, you can email us to request a full refund. No questions asked.
“Colin's workshop was so enjoyable.
He really connected all the fiddlers together as well as the audience.
He encouraged us all to bring life to the music with our whole bodies, pushed us to move out of our comfort zone, and taught us to move with the music.
His manner of teaching took into account all levels of fiddlers so that everyone could participate, learn, and enjoy.”
Joanna Johnson, USA