Fiddle

January has been an amazing month for the Artistworks Fiddle School.

We had a record number of new-year signups and renewals of longtime fiddle students, some of whom have been with us since 2014. This month alone I’ve posted videos of 3 mini-lessons, some suggested Bluegrass solos, an overview of the fiddles I own and why I love them, and a couple of improvisations on jazz tunes.

And I’ve done over 40 personalized Video responses to my students’ videos just this January… we may break 50 before the 31st, which will also be a new record. We are closing in on 2500 personalized Video Responses to students at every level from beginning through Bluegrass and Old-time to advanced Jazz players.

Add that to my expanding series of funny and super-informative interviews with so many of the great fiddlers of the day, some amazing performance footage, backup tracks and study materials, and a great forum where all the participants generously share their knowledge and questions, and you have a pretty decent place to move your fiddling forward. I’m proud and flattered (sometimes flattened!) by the chance to run this amazing school. Thanks for everyone’s support so far.

Darol

Happy Friday fiddlers!  We're pleased to announce the addition of another great new lesson from Darol to the curriculum, this time teaching a simple version in the key of F of the classic "Rabbit in the Log" also commonly known as Feast Here Tonight. This is another popular tune to have up your sleeve for jams and a lot of fun to play, there's notation and backing tracks in multiple tempos in the study materials to help you get started. You can find the new lesson towards the end of the list in the Beginner Fiddle lessons or to go straight there now click here. Enjoy!

What could be better than a musical weekend where you improve your fiddle playing, eat great food, and have a great time with like-minded fiddlers?

Your Aritistworks Professor of Fiddlin' will present the Second Annual Darol Anger California Fiddlers Retreat in Benicia, October 11-13, Columbus Day weekend 2019.

We’re again holding it in the gorgeous little town of Benicia, tucked into a warm corner of the San Francisco Bay, close to Wine Country and various State Parks.

Returning this year will be the incredible award-winning fiddler Annie Staninec and Singer-Songwriter-Creativity Guru Emy Phelps, and special Surprise Guests.

And Darol, of course, and his 30 years of experience in teaching all the ins and outs of Fiddling all over the world.

We've just added another great lesson on Cluck Old Hen to the Beginner lesssons, now taught in the key of D! The new lesson is accompanied with notation and backing tracks in 3 tempos to help you work it up to speed comfortably. To go straight to the lesson now click here. Happy bowing!

We've added another great new lesson to the Beginner lessons, filmed during Darol's most recent visit to the ArtistWorks studios in Napa. Darol teaches a simple version of the tune Cluck Old Hen in the key of A, a very recognizable melody and jam essential to add to your song list. The lesson is accompanied with notation and backing tracks in 3 tempos to help you work it up to speed comfortably. To go straight to the lesson now click here. Happy bowing!

Happy Friday fiddlers! We've just added another new lesson to the Beginner section from Darol's recent ArtistWorks studio visit. In this lesson Darol teaches a simple version of the beloved tune "Shady Grove" in the key of E minor. The lesson is complete with a simple version performance as well as a more embellished version to give you some ideas of where to take it. Darol then breaks it down part by part for you in the analysis, and don't forget you can adjust the video player speed if you want to see it slowed down. Darol has provided backing tracks in two tempos and notation to help you find the notes, those are attached as study materials.

To go straight there now Click Here. We hope you enjoy learning and adding this Appalachian classic to your repertoire!

We've just added another new lesson to the Beginner lessons!  In this new lesson Darol teaches the classic tune Red Wing in the key of G, a very versitile tune and a great one to have in your repertoire for jams. Darol breaks down the tune with a 2 part analysis and there are performance videos in fast and slow tempos, the lesson is also accompanied with backing tracks in 2 tempos as well as notation to help you find the notes. To go straight to the lesson page now click here. Enjoy!

We've just added a new lesson to the Beginner Fiddle section featuring the very popular tune Angeline the Baker in the key of D. Darol breaks down the tune in parts in the analysis lessons and also performs the track in both a slow and fast tempo so you have a variety of examples to follow. There is notation and backing tracks in 3 tempos to help you practice and learn the tune. To go straight to the new lesson Click Here or find it right after the D Scale lesson in the Beginner lesson list.

We've just added a new lesson to the Beginner lesson section on the tune Dead March in the key of A. There is notation as well as backing tracks in 2 tempos to practice with in the lesson study materials. Click Here to navigate straight there now. Enjoy!