Camps & Workshops
CANADA (scroll down for other countries)
B.C. Fiddle 'Treat, Gavin Lake, British Columbia, July 24-30, 2010. Fiddle, piano,guitar, bass. Info: Box 4017, Quesnel, BC, Canada V2J 3J2, (250) 992-5776/5081; http://members.netbistro.com/fiddle/
Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddling, Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Workshops throughout the summer -- check site for details/dates. Information: www.celticmusicsite.com
By-The-Canal Fiddle Camp, Long Island Locks, Ontario (10 km south of Ottawa ), August. Fiddle & piano accompaniment. Fiddle Evening concerts and jams. Info: Peer Norgaard: (613) 258-5093; peer.norgaard@sympatico.ca
Camp Violon Trad Québec, Rawdon, Québec, July 25-30, 2010. Six intensive days of traditional Québécois fiddling & repertoire; also guitar and piano accompaniment. Instructors include André Brunet, Stéphanie Lepine…www.violontradquebec.com
Canadian Olde Tyme Fiddle & Step Dance Contest, Douro, Ontario. Early June. Douro Community Centre, Hwy #134 (north of Hwy 7 and south of Hwy 28 - just 10 minutes east of Peterborough). MC: Art Jamieson. House Fiddler: Louis Schryer. Contact Michael LeMoire, General Delivery, Douro, Ontario K0L 1S0
60th Canadian Open Old Tyme Fiddle Contest, Shelburne, Ontario, August 4-8, 2010. Info: 519-925-2600, ext. 238;fiddleshelburne@yahoo.ca; www.shelburnefiddlecontest.on.ca/
The Ceilidh Trail School of Celtic Music, Inverness, Cape Breton, N.S., July 12-16, 2010, "Remembering Jerry Holland." Cape Breton fiddle, piano accompaniment, guitar, and step/square dance. Instructors include Jerry Holland, others TBA. Info: www.ceilidhtrailmusic.com
Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. 1 and 2 week sessions in July and August. Sandy MacIntyre, Leanne Aucoin, Stan Chapman, Jennifer Roland… bagpipes, dance, piano accompaniment Info: (902) 295-3411; gaelcoll@atcon.com; www.gaeliccollege.edu.
Hockley Valley Music Camp for fiddle, piano accompaniment and step dancing, Hockley Valley, Ontario. 2010 dates TBA. Contact Phil Howes, 3 Billy Joel Cr., Markham, Ontario, L3P 3C4 ; (905) 294-1141; www.fiddlecamp.ca
Kenosee Lake Kitchen Party, Kenosee Lake, Saskatchewan, July 31-Aug. 3 (Kids' Camp), August 6-10 and August 17-21, 2010. Located in the heart of the Moose Mountain Provincial Park, this camp boasts excellent faciliites, phenomenal instructors and an atmosphere of collaboration and fun. Nightly jams, evening concerts and square dances. Info: www.kenoseekitchenparty.ca
John Arcand’s Fiddle Fest, near Saskatoon, Saskatachewan, August 12-15, 2010. Nine fiddle workshops in Metis, old time, Celtic, French Canadian, and East Coast styles. Info: www.johnarcandfiddlefest.com/
Maritime Old Time Fiddling Contest, early July, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (just outside Halifax ). Special events include a square dance, Halifax Harbour cruise, fiddle jam sessions, fiddle competition in six categories, the ever popular Fiddle Mass, Maritime Jamboree. Info: Maritime Fiddle Festival, P.O. Box 3037, Dartmouth East, Dartmouth, NS Canada B2W 4Y3, (902) 434-5466; Email: whebby@fox.nstn.ca.
Meadowlawn Workshop, Bowen Island, British Columbia. Spring and fall weekend workshops. Info: Lois Meyers-Carter, RR #1, K-13, Bowen Island, B.C., V0N 1G0, (604) 947-2440; loislc@telus.net.
Orangeville Fiddle & Step Dance Camp, Ontario. July 11-16, 2010. Bill Elliott, 325 Broadway, Orangeville, ON, Canada L9W 1L4, (519) 941-5683; Email: belliott@easyfocus.com; http://www.fiddle.on.ca
Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music, July 5-9, 2010, Roberts Creek, BC. Fiddle instructors include Gordon Stobbe, Pete Clark... Daily instruction, jams & ceilidhs. Info: www.coaststringfiddlers.com
Tobique Fiddle Camp, New Brunswick, June 20-24, 2010. Instructors include Calvin Vollrath, Gordon Stobbe, Tom Wilkinson… (Camp Woolastook, Lower Kintore Rd. N.B.) Info: www.tobiquefiddlecamp.ca; Helen Edgar, 506-356-8549; dhedgar@nbnet.nb.ca
Ships Company Theatre Fiddle Camp, May 21-23, 2010, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. Professional instruction in fiddle, guitar, mandolin, piano accompaniment; all levels. Instructors include Gordon Stobbe, Skip Holmes, Greg Simm, Kendra MacGillivray... Info: 800-565-SHOW; www.shipscompany.com. Watch a video about it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbd_bCgrCQ8
Sherbrooke Now Fiddle Camp, July 5-8, 2010, Sherbrooke Village, Nova Scotia. Featuring instructors Kimberley and Skip Holmes, Ivan and Vivian Hicks, and Stan Chapman. Come to the shores of the beautiful St. Mary’s River for a musical experience. You can improve your fiddle and piano playing abilities, visit our heritage site and enjoy nature walks and village fun at its best. Information/registration: 1-888-743-7845; http://museum.gov.ns.ca/sv/fiddlecamp.php
Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp, near Nanaimo, B.C., March 12-14, 2010. Instructors TBD. http://web.me.com/nanaimofiddlers
IRELAND
Fiddlers Retreat, Tipperary, Ireland, operated by Theresa Bourke. Irish fiddle and culture school. Expert tuition, daily escorted tours to famous historic sights, delicious home cooking and night-time Irish music sessions are carefully organized into a week's holiday in a beautiful Irish village location. Info: www.fiddlersretreat.com ; For an article on the retreat, see www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0511/fiddlersretreat.html
Carmel Gunning International Summer School Festival of Irish Music, Sligo, Ireland, August 2-7, 2010. Info: carmelgunning@gmail.com or phone 00 353 87 6250 454.
Kerry Fiddles. Irish fiddle holidays for adults. Introductory courses for complete beginners. Courses for level 1 and 2 intermediates. Individual or group tuition. Kerry Fiddles specialize in fiddle virgins. By the end of the week, you'll be playing your first tune! Morning classes, afternoons free to explore the most beautiful part of Ireland. For intermediates, it's a chance to devote a week to your music, to getting new tunes, improving technique and learning how to teach yourself. Info: www.kerryfiddles.com
Joe Mooney Summer School of Traditional Music, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim. Late July. Fiddle instructors: Ben Lennon, Brendan McGlinchey, Gavin Collis, Gerry O,Connor. Also classes in button accordion, banjo, concertina, harp, tin whistle, uilleann pipes, flute, piano accordion, bodhrán, singing, set dancing. Info: Nancy Woods, 353/78/41213. Or write the Joe Mooney Summer School, Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, Ireland.
South Sligo Summer School, Tubbercurry, County Sligo. Early July. Classes in fiddle, accordion, uillean pipes, harp, tin whistle, flute, banjo, bodhrán, guitar, singing, concertina. Instructors include Charlie Lennon, Paddy Ryan, and dozens more. For more info, visit their website at www.sssschool.org or call 353/71/85010, or write South Sligo Summer School, Tubbercurry, County Sligo, Ireland.
Willie Clancy Summer School (Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy), Miltown Malbay, County Clare. Early July. Info: 353/65/7084148; angleann@oceanfree.net. Thirty graded fiddle classes.
SCOTLAND
Alasdair Fraser Skye Fiddle Course, Gaelic College, Isle of Skye. 2010 dates TBA. Info: Gavin Parsons, Phone: (0) 1471 844373; Fax: (0) 1471 844383;http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/cg/fios_cursacg_singilte.php
Alison McNeill’s Workshops. Scotland, West Coast. Easter workshops: advanced/intermediate workshop: April 2-4; beginner/intermediate workshop: April 5-6. Summer workshops: beginner/intermediate: June 30-July 1; advanced/intermediate: July 2-4, 2010. Workshops concentrate on many aspects of being a better fiddler and musician. Music from around Scotland and other folk traditions. Info: www.alisonmcneill.com
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop, Glasgow, Scotland. Year-round weekly sessions. Taransay Fiddle Course, Taransay Island, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, July. Instructors to be announced. Details at www.musicscotland.com/fiddlers
The Scottish Fiddle College, Douneside House, Tarland, Scotland, October. Instructors include Paul Anderson, Douglas Lawrence, Gregor Borland. Information: Scottish Fiddle College, North Skelmanae, Strichen, Aberdeenshire AB43 6SE; Phone: 01771 653320.
Shetland's Fiddle Frenzy Festival, August 8-15, 2010. Info: www.shetlandarts.org/
Shetland Arts, Toll Clock Centre North Road Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0DE; tel: 01595 743 843
AUSTRALIA
Celtic Southern Cross Summer School, Campaspe Downs, Victoria, January 17-22, 2010. Scottish, Irish, and Canadian fiddle; uilleann pipes, mandolin, concertina, tin whistle, singing, harp... Info: www.celt.com.au/summer.html
NORWAY
Høgskoken i Telemark Institt for folkekultur ( Telemark University College, Department of Folk Culture), Rauland, Vinje, Telemark. Norwegian Folk Music for Foreign Students, Norwegian Folk Music, Bachelor of Folk Music, Norwegian Folk Art, Master of Traditional Art. Info: anne.m.barstad@hit.no ; www.hit.no/folkekultur