Online Fiddle Lessons from OAIM
The father of folk music, the fiddle is one of the most recognised of musical instruments. It's ability to produce bouncy tempos, smooth seamless phrases and fast staccato passages within the tune melodies make it one of the most distinctive and versatile instruments in the tradition. Also known as the violin, mastering the dexterities of the fiddle can be one of music’s most challenging ventures. Luckily, here at OAIM, we have developed expert fiddle lessons online that provide you with the skillset to reach your potential.
Our ‘Fiddle basics’ will supply you with the fundamentals of the fiddle, exploring posture and a variety of techniques. Once grasped, our online fiddle lessons will only help you explore the limitless possibilities of this lively instrument.
Fiddle Basics
This course is for the absolute beginner fiddler. It will begin with how to hold the instrument, proper posture and good basic technique. There will be progression through fingering, bowing, tunes and ornamentation.
Fleadh Tunes for the Fiddle
This course is geared at not only the Fleadh competitor, but also any fiddle player who wants to learn tunes best suited to the fiddle. It will begin with simple dance tunes and slow airs.
Clare Fiddle Styles
This is a lively collection of jigs, reels and hornpipes taught by the renowned Clare fiddler Tola Custy. Most of the thirteen tunes taught originate from Co. Clare, which Tola learnt from local players such as...
Donegal Fiddle Styles
In this course, Aidan passes down the skills, knowledge and repertoire from the great Donegal fiddlers to the fiddle students of OAIM. All the tunes taught are firmly rooted in the Donegal tradition'...
[OAIM has] saved me so much hassle, time and money!
"I absolutely love this online school. It's saved me so much hassle, time and money. It's especially good for me being on the move all the time. Thanks to you, I am now playing the Irish bouzouki and flute, now I hope to learn the fiddle."
Simon Graham - Co. Antrim, Ireland
Fiddle Basics - Free Lesson 1
This lesson introduces you to the Fiddle and Bow, how to hold them, and bowing for the E', A, D & G strings. Read More
Fiddle Basics - Free Lesson 3
Bowing exercises and the first part of 'Britches Full of Stitches' will feature in this lesson. Read More
Fiddle Basics - Free Lesson 5
A tune is taught in this lesson which crosses over three strings of the fiddle, E', A & D - 'The Rockchapel Polka'. Read More
Clare Fiddle Styles - Free Lesson
The jig 'The Geese in the Bog' will be taught in this lesson. Tola Custy teaches the tune phrase by phrase and then focuses on cuts. Read More
Fleadh Tunes for the Fiddle - Free Lesson
The slide 'The Gallant Boys of Tipperary; will be taught in this lesson Read More
Donegal Fiddle Styles - Free Lesson
In this introductory lesson to the course 'Donegal Fiddle Styles', Aidan teaches James Byrne's Reel, with focus on the bow hand and the 'up-bow' technique. Read More
Welcome to OAIM
Online Academy of Irish Music
- Would you like to become a better musician or singer?
- Are you on the path to mastering your instrument but need some top technique tips?
- Or are you interested in beginning a journey into Irish music and want to get off to a great start?
- Do you have a busy life style and find it hard to fit in the time to drive to weekly music lessons or are there no Irish music teachers in your area?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you have come to the right place!
Tutor Info
Tola Custy
Tola Custy comes from Toonagh in County Clare. His father, Frank was the local primary school teacher and also inspired many people to play traditional music. Names such as James Cullinane, Siobhan Peoples Sharon Shannon, as well as Tola himself all owe their musical beginnings to him. Thus music has been a friend to Tola since he was able to walk...[Read More]
Aidan O'Donnell
TG4 Young Musician of the Year 2010 Aidan O'Donnell has been described as one of the finest young Irish musicians at present. He began his music making at the age of 12, and since then has performed with some of traditional music's finest artists, including Donal Lunny, Micheal Ó' Suilleabháin and the Chieftains...[Read More]
Majella Bartley
All Ireland champion flute player, Majella Bartley, hails from Corcaghan in Co. Monaghan. She is a respected flute and fiddle teacher, tutoring at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance as well as at national and international summer schools and workshops such as Scoil Eigse, Fiddle Festival of Wales, Kilkenny Celtic Festival and the British and North American Convention of Comhaltas...[Read More]
