Fire up your fiddle! For the first time the Cromarty Arts Trust will be hosting the Cromarty Fiddle Weekend with tutors Anna-Wendy Stevenson, Fiona MacKaskill and Zoe Livings.  There are three playing levels, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced. The workshops will be in three different venues in Cromarty, you’ll work with all three tutors and the eight workshops are designed to develop your playing skills. On Friday night there is an imtimate tutor’s playing and sharing session in the loft studio after dinner. Accommodation and discounted packages are available, scroll down for more details and click through to  the booking form for prices. 

The Playing Levels

Elementary: you will have the opportunity to learn some simple session-friendly tunes in simple key signatures. An elementary player will be able to play simple tunes at a slow and steady pace.

Intermediate: you will have the opportunity to learn traditional tunes, simple bowing patterns, grace notes. An intermediate player will be able to play tunes in simple key signatures e.g. A,D,G majors and minors B and E minor and able to play tunes to a steady medium pace.

Advanced: a faster class where you will have the opportunity to learn more advanced tunes and technique including phrasing, alternative bowings and subtle variation to develop the character and style of your playing. An advanced player would come to this class able to play tunes to the dance pace they are written to be performed at i.e. reel approx. 110 beats per minute.

Your Tutors

Anna-Wendy Stevenson

Anna-Wendy is the third generation in the Stevenson family line of composer/performers.  Her fiddling, reputed for its swing, drive and beautiful phrasing, has been honed through years of playing with an array of Scotland’s musicians including the legendary Jock Tamson’s Bairns and the classic Bella McNabs Dance Band.  She has produced several albums and recorded on many, collaborating with a huge range of muscians.

Anna-Wendy is a highly experienced and award-winning educator (MG BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Tutor of the Year 2018, University of the Highlands and Islands Most inspiring Lecturer 2019 and Video Conference Lecturer of the Year 2016).  As Senior Lecturer with the University of the Highlands and Islands she has designed and delivered dynamic and award-winning courses which have produced many of today’s high profile traditional musicians. She is Programme Leader for the innovative BA (Hons) Applied Music and teaches on MA Music and the Environment.

Fiona MacKaskill

Fiona is a native of the Isle of Skye but is now based in Glasgow. She was a pupil at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music and went on to graduate with a BA First Class Honours from the Royal Scottish Academy in Music and Drama.  Fiona is also a Gaelic Primary Teacher at Condorrat Primary School, Cumbernauld. 

Being a multi-instrumentalist allowed Fiona to colour many projects and bands, but it was her drive, power and style on the fiddle that brought her to the forefront of the Scottish folk and traditional scene. Her playing, compositions and arrangements can be heard throughout many of the most influential and appreciated bands out there at present. Both her fierce fiddle playing, and tasteful string arrangements have been sought after and feature on various records in the current limelight. Fiona's most prevalent work and creativity can be heard in the music of ground breaking bands Niteworks and Kinnaris Quintet – the latter of which Fiona is a founding and integral member.

Zoe Livings

 Zoe Livings (Renouf) is an experienced fiddle player from Sutherland and an active member of Sutherland Sessions. She performs both as a soloist and within a variety of ceilidh bands, as well as teaching fiddle. She is a regular tutor within the feisean movement and teaches privately to fiddle pupils of all ages.  Zoe studied music at The National Centre of Excellence for Traditional Music, and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and spent time teaching and performing in New Zealand before returning home to Sutherland.

Zoe splits her time between performing and teaching music, working as a primary teacher and being a Mum to two fiddle playing sons. 

Friday 5 July

Workshop 1 14:00 -15:30, Workshop 2 16:00 - 17:30

Welcome drinks & dinner 18:30

Tutor sharing session 20:00

Overnight accommodation at the Old Brewery

Saturday 6 July

Breakfast 08:00

Workshop 3 09:00 -10:30, Workshop 4 11:00 - 12:30

Lunch 13:00

Workshop 5 14:00 - 15.30, Workshop 6 16:00 - 17:30

Dinner 18:30

Overnight accommodation at the Old Brewery

Sunday 7 July

Breakfast 08:00

Workshop 7 09:00 -10:30, Workshop 8 11:00 -12:30

Lunch 13:00

Places are limited to 12 per group, workshops are for 18 years +and we regret there will be no beginners sessions.

You can download a booking form here, or  email info@cromartyartstrust.org.uk if you have any questions.