Montana State Old-Time Fiddlers' Association

District 8 is proud to sponsor our free Fiddle classes. Our next round of classes will begin April 17 and will be held at The Bass Clef Music School 525 Central Avenue, Suite M2 in Great Falls. Classes run for 5 weeks and are open to ages 6 and up. Rental and loaner instruments are available upon request.  These classes are a group setting and are designed for people who have never played before.   All classes are open to any folk instrument (fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, etc) and all skill levels. Classes are free for MSOTFA members and kids under 18. $10 suggested donation for all others.

Classes are an hour each and will run for five sessions.  

April 17th-May 15th 

5:30 Tone, Timing, and Technique 

In this class we will focus on improving our technique, tone and timing. We will study some traditional methods and how to use them to develop our personal sound. We will work on rhythm and how different styles incorporate different "feels". We will also work on how to get the most tone out of our instruments and how to shape that tone into our personal sound. 

6:30 Fun Fiddle Tunes 

This class is all about playing fun tunes. Each week we will learn a new tune and review some of the standards. We will study learning by ear and reading music to learn new material. We will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of both approaches. Chord structure, ornamentation, improvising, and form will all be explained so we can better understand how tunes develop and how to make them our own. 

For more information email icfiddle@gmail.com