Summer
Introducing Irish Fiddle
A Group Course for Beginners
Next course starts 1 July 2025.
'A really enjoyable course. All of the tunes I learned were broken down and made easy to learn and pick up. The teacher was extremely helpful, accommodating and approachable, and this gave me the confidence in going on to learn the fiddle.'
– C. Finn
'I didn't expect to be able to play seven tunes after only ten weeks. This was a fantastic introductory course that covered the basics perfectly.'
– M. McGoldrick
Course Description
The Irish fidil (the name derives from Vitula, the Roman goddess of victory and jubilation) has existed in one form or another for nearly a thousand years. It is not clear precisely what kind of instrument the early fiddles were, and today’s fiddle is actually a classical violin, introduced here from Italy around the middle of the sixteenth century – although the way it is held and the methods of playing it are very different. In any case the fiddle is arguably the most widely-used instrument in the performance of traditional music.
Designed for absolute beginners, this summer version of Waltons New School of Music's Introducing Irish Fiddle course introduces students to the basics of playing this subtle and demanding instrument – holding, bowing, fingering, etc. – and guides them through the main forms of traditional music (jigs, reels, hornpipes, airs, etc.), including some of their many variations. Regional and individual playing styles will also be covered, giving the student an important first source of repertoire.
Requirements
All course participants will need to have a full-size violins (fiddles) and shoulder rests (Wolf Forte Secondo rests are recommended) for classes and practise, as well as having their fiddles in tune before classes begin. (See the Recommended Instruments tab on this page for recommended student fiddles, which are available at discounts from Waltons Music for course participants, and the Tuning Your Fiddle tab for more information on tuning fiddles.)
Enrol in this course.
Questions about the course?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Have you enrolled in this course?
Download our Introductory Handout
for tips on how to get the most from it.
This course covers Stage 1 of the New School's ten-stage system of student progress and assessment, which culminates in a teaching or performing qualification (Stage 10) should the student progress that far. Participants who successfully complete the course can be issued with a certificate of completion of Stage 1. If you are taking the course, please let the school office know if you would like this certificate. See About Our Stage System for more information.
Summer Introducing Irish Fiddle is one of the New School's group courses. We also offer private Irish fiddle lessons for students of all ages and skill levels. See Traditional • Folk • World Instruments Tuition for more information.
Adam Agee
Adam is an acclaimed fiddle player with over 25 years teaching experience. None other than the great fiddle player and composer Martin Hayes has written of him: 'Adam's music has been familiar to me for many years.... I've never heard him play a note that wasn't sincere and from the heart. His music is true and free from pretence. He constantly seeks the deepest expression of the music.' Adam's love for people and for the music have made him a beloved educator. Originally from the United States, he learned the fiddle as a child, and it was his passion for Irish music that led him to come to Co. Clare in 2004 to immerse himself in the tradition. Since then, he has developed his career as a musician, releasing two full-length albums and a single with guitarist and tenor banjo player, Jon Sousa. Music from their first album was featured in the 2023 film In the Land of Saints and Sinners, starring Liam Neeson. As a duo, Adam and Jon have toured internationally as both performers and educators. Now living in Ireland, Adams brings an innovative approach to his teaching, where creativity and communication lead the way for students to bring their own voices to the tradition.
Reviews • Testimonials
'A really supportive and enthusiastic teacher from the start, with a love for music that was contagious! I really enjoyed learning the fiddle, and I will definitely continue taking lessons from Waltons.'
– J. Bombon
'The tuition was excellent. I learned a lot in a positive and pleasant way.'
– D. Brennan
'I really enjoyed this course. In such a short space of time I feel I have learned loads, and I look forward to improving.'
– L. Butler
'A great teacher who offers excellent tuition catered around each individual student's needs. One of the best.'
– A. Carroll
'Fiddle is a tough instrument to start as a beginner, and this course shows that it's actually manageable! The teacher is really nice and helpful and patient.'
– R. Charifou
'I was over 50 and wanted to learn to play the fiddle, so I signed up for my first set of classes (10). I nervously attended my first class in Waltons, and I needn't have worried. The admin staff were so welcoming and light hearted and made me feel at ease. My class teacher has a very natural way of teaching; she is so patient and encouraging and there is a relaxed atmosphere in the class. I will be starting my sixth set of sessions with Waltons at Easter.'
– M. Ferns
'Truly amazed at how far I have gone in such a short period!'
– P. Hogan
'The teacher was excellent, very encouraging and with endless patience.'
– M. McCluskey
'Great fun, great teacher, great group and a great skill learned!'
– J. McShane
'A very patient teacher who moves the class at just the right pace to push you forward but she doesn't leave anyone behind.'
– C. Nally
'I really enjoyed the course and have signed up for the continuation group. I found the delivery of lessons very effective and benefited hugely from them.'
– P. Needham
'[A] very patient teacher, and I really enjoy the classes. The classes progressed at a steady pace, neither too slow nor too fast, and used a variety of teaching methods. It's amazing to see how much we have progressed in such a short time.'
– N. Owens
'The course was great. The weeks flew by, and I can't believe how much we learnt in that time.'
– D. Robertson
'When I took music lessons as a child I hated the regimen of scales, etc. with no tunes. In just a few weeks, I can play five tunes that folks can recognise.'
– N. Traynor
Have you taken – or are you taking – this course? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about it.
2025 Summer Term
Course Schedule
5 weeks, 1 – 29 July 2025
Tuesdays 6.30 – 8 pm
Course Type: In-School
Tuition Fees
Standard Fee: €160
Discounted Fee: €144 *
* Students taking more than one Summer Term group course, either concurrently or in another part of the Term, receive a 10% discount off the second group course. The discount applies both to courses taken concurrently (in the same part of the term) or in two different parts of the term. It can only be applied to Summer Term courses and to a second course with the same or lower tuition fee than the first course.
Enrolment
Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the course fee. Places are limited to eight and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. Many of our group courses fill in advance of their start dates, and early enrolment is recommended.
Purchasing this course as a gift?
Please complete a Gift Certificate Booking Form.
Questions about the course?
or call us on (01) 478 1884.
Recommended Instruments
If students don't already have instruments for this course, the following reasonably-priced student violin outfits – all available from Waltons Music – are recommended:
- Martini Student Violin Outfit • €112
(Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.) - Martini Student Plus Violin Outfit • €145
(Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.) - Martini Deluxe Violin Outfit • €195
(Includes bow, case, digital tuner and spare strings.)
These violin outfits can be purchased from Waltons Music at 5% discounts for students enrolled in the course. We also recommend that you get a Wolf Forte Secondo Shoulder Rest (€42.50), and a music stand (we recommend the the Apextone AP-3505 Music Stand, €39.99) is also very useful. Both of these can also be purchased from Waltons Music at 5% discounts. If you would like to obtain a discount, please contact Waltons with your instrument and/or accessory choice and include a scan or photo of your course payment receipt.
What happens after the course?
Two weeks before the end of each Introducing course, participants will be given options for continuing their tuition with the New School if they would like to do so. Although an 'improvers' or continuation course cannot be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough course participants would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability or there is timetable availability with another teacher. Participants can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or 'partner' lessons with another class member. (See Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons.) We are happy to discuss these options with you.
Trad Slow Sessions
Participants in this and other Irish traditional music courses are also welcome to attend our Trad Slow Sessions. These are traditional Irish music sessions in all ways except one: the tempo. We play the session tunes at a slower than normal pace (often less than half the speed), so that beginning and intermediate players can more easily learn the tunes and join in the session. Trad Slow Sessions take place once a month on Friday evenings.
See our Trad Slow Sessions page for more information, a tune list, printable sheet music for all tunes and dates.
Tuning Your Fiddle
Tuning your fiddle (violin) – and keeping it in tune – is an essential first step to playing it. Below are some general recommendations, as well as two videos about violin tuning and a list of violin tuning apps.
The Basics
Violins are tuned in 5ths, and their strings, from lowest to highest, are as follows (including a link to online note sounds):
G | D | A | E • Online Sounds
Violin strings can be tuned with both fine tuners and pegs. Some violins only have fine tuners on the E string, while others have fine tuners on all four strings. As their name suggests, fine tuners are used for tuning the string if it is off-pitch by a small interval of no more than half a tone or so. When the string is out of tune by more than half a tone, then the pegs are used to tune the note initially, with the fine tuner used afterwards to make sure the note is exactly in tune. To begin with, you should not tune with the pegs unless absolutely necessary, in order to avoid unnecessary string breakages, and in any case always adjust in small increments. When tuning with the pegs, stand the violin on your knee, facing you, and place your left thumb across the strings to avoid a string hitting you in case it breaks.
When tuning any string instrument, you should always tune from below the note, up. This prevents string breakages and systematises the process of tuning, so you eventually become more familiar with the sound of a perfect, in-tune string. When a fine tuner has been wound right down to the end of the screw, you will need to loosen the fine tuner near to the end of the screw before carefully tightening the tuning peg. This way, you prevent the string from being over-tightened.
It is advisable to start by tuning the A string first, followed by the D, G and then E string. When you start to become more familiar with the sound of the notes of the different strings, you can try tuning the strings against each other. This is known as relative tuning.
Tuning Videos
Here are two videos demonstrating some of the basics of violin tuning:
Tuning Apps
There are a number of free smartphone violin tuning apps available. Here are five of the most popular, listed in alphabetical order:
Master Violin Tuner
Android Only:
Pano Tuner
Android:
iOS:
Tuner-gStrings
Android Only:
Tuner Lite
Android:
iOS:
Irish Fiddle on YouTube
'When Charles II had come to the throne, one of his first acts was the bringing over to England a band of 24 fiddlers, each a prodigy in his own way, but immeasurably inferior to their leader Baltzar. This man performed such marvels on the four slender strings of the violin that an honest gentleman of the period suggested his identity with Satan and seriously examined his feet in the expectation of finding them cloven.'
– Francis O’Neill, Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913)