Who's This Perfect For?
Online Play by Ear Courses
HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES
WORLDSCHOOLING FAMILIES
families living in remote areas
RETIREES
EMPTY NESTERS
THOSE PICKING UP THE VIOLIN AGAIN
VIOLINISTS WHO WANT RO LEARN THE ART OF PLAYING BY EAR
Learn at your own skill & pace.
Four Celtic Fiddle 'Play by Ear' courses.
Choose from Below
About the Courses
Each course takes the student on the next steps of their
Celtic Fiddle 'Play by Ear' journey.
The courses are progressive and students can undertake the courses in their own time and listen to the recorded Q&A sessions.
We recommend everyone start with Beginners and if totally new to the violin, you might want to take a look at Absolute Beginners ($97).
Each module includes an introduction lesson followed by a series of video lessons taking students through learning the technique and how to practice and improve on their own.
See below to find out more detail about the courses to choose from.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"the learning takes a quantum leap"
"Colin is a wonderful tutor who has a unique style which carries his pupils with him...
His lessons and sessions are great fun and resound with laughter whilst the learning takes a quantum leap.."
- Claire Hurst, UK
What's in the Absolute Beginners Course?
Let's Get You Started Playing Celtic Fiddle by Ear
Course Cost: $97 USD
This course helps you to take the first steps on your journey to play Celtic Fiddle by ear.
Imagine being able to hire or purchase your first instrument and have an idea of what to look for in the instrument or know which violin accessories to request.
The first part of the course, Choose a Celtic Fiddle*, helps you to do this.*
A fiddle is another name for a violin. Once you have your instrument, we'll teach you how to put everything together, holding the fiddle, the bow and also tuning the instrument.
Once you're comfortable with holding the violin and the bow, it's time to play your first notes on your Celtic Fiddle.
And from there, we will teach you to play your first Celtic song.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"like a rainbow on a persistently rainy day"
"Colin's music and Celtic Fiddle Course are like a rainbow on a persistently rainy day!"
- Meg Pilkington, Australia
What's in the Beginner's Course?
Let's Get You Started Playing Celtic Fiddle by Ear
Course Cost: $297 USD
Length of Course: 6 weeks online
Recorded Q&A Sessions:
Course Commencement Dates: Join our waiting list!
This Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Beginner course helps students interested in learning Celtic Fiddle experience playing from the heart by the time they have finished the course.
The course gives students more than knowledge, it will provide them with a wider experience with which to engage their life.
Each week for 6 weeks via an online browser portal, students attend a pre-recorded video class lesson.
The lessons are 40-50 minutes in length.
There are also a Q&A and Feedback Sessions which can be accessed.
Each weekly class consists of recorded videos focusing on teaching students four key 'Play by Ear' techniques.
To seal in the learning of the technique, each technique is then applied to three tunes.
Instructional vides have been recorded for the tunes and have broken the tunes downing bitesized chunks for easy consumption.
The three Q&A classes, held fortnightly, are recorded.
Students can access the recordings at any time after they are loaded up into the portal.
These classes revise key challenges that students face in learning the different techniques and provide solutions.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"I had so much fun - can't wait to do it again!"
"Colin not only taught several pieces of music to a group of fiddle players of a wide range of ages and abilities, but had the audience smiling and
singing as well.
Even the most musically shy of us were playing and moving around the stage to the rhythm of the music.
Colin's love for Celtic music is contagious! Thank you Colin.
I had so much fun - can't wait to do it again!."
- Sarah O'Brien USA
What's in the Intermediate Course?
Let's Get You Started Shaping Your Celtic Fiddle Sound
Course Cost: $397 USD
Length of Course: 6 weeks online
Recorded Q&A Sessions
Course Commencement Dates: Join our waiting list!
This Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Intermediate course builds on the beginner course and the focus, in this course, turns to shaping a player's confidence and building their playing confidence. In addition, the course starts to look at a wider range of rhythms of tunes and examines various ways to play these tunes with ornamentation.
Whilst the course explores playing Celtic Fiddle by Ear at a deeper depth it also helps the students to build their life skills, including listening skills and creative thinking.
The Intermediate Shape Your Sound course is run in a similar format to the Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Beginner course.
Over the 6 weeks of the online course, students will look at four techniques to shape their sound when playing Celtic Fiddle
Each technique is then applied to three tunes.
The tune videos are broken down into bite sized chunks to support the student learning of the techniques.
There are recorded Q&A and Feedback Sessions for students to refer to.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"... my violin is talking more eloquently and passionately than before"
"Colin had promised to surpass each of our expectations.
He delivered on that for me and my violin is talking more eloquently and passionately than before."
- Richard Gray , Australia
What's in the Advanced Course?
Let's Get You Started Owning Your Celtic Fiddle Sound
Course Cost: $497 USD
Length of Course: 6 weeks online
Recorded Q&A Sessions
Course Commencement Dates: Join our waiting list!
This Celtic Fiddle Play by Ear Advanced course works on tone production and articulation of various pieces of music.
We expand the range of keys which the student is exposed to.
The Advanced course is a natural progression from the Intermediate course.
The course is currently in development and we anticipate inviting guest tutors to host a session teaching their particular style or aspect of a genre of music.
Learning their technique adds to a player's sound and enhances the ability to add texture to their playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What if I am too busy with my daily schedule?
The tunes, videos and their recordings can be accessed 24 hours a day so that the Celtic fiddle play by ear course can fit in with your daily schedule.
2. What if I have only played a few tunes by ear?
This course will provide you with the tools to play a lot more tunes by ear and have fun in the process!
3. What if I can read sheet music?
The Celtic fiddle play by ear course will help to put more passion and emotion into the playing of the music and provide different tools for ways to learn music.
4. What if I don't have time to complete this course?
The course materials are available online 24 hours a day to fit in with your lifestyle and work patterns and also broken down into small chunks for bite sized consumption. There are also fortnightly Q&A sessions to answer any questions.
5. What if I am inspired to join in a local Celtic music session before I complete the course?
As a result of the knowledge you are building in the Celtic fiddle play by ear course, you will be able to have even more fun joining with everyone at a local Celtic music session.
6. When can I start the course?
The courses can be stated at any time. Students work at their own pace through the weekly video lessons
7. Is There A Refund Policy?
Students who follow along with the program, go through all the materials and actively take part in their learning experience are delighted with the course, and have more fun in playing Celtic fiddle by ear.If you’re not satisfied with the course after 30 days, you can email us to request a full refund. No questions asked.
TESTIMONIALS
What others are saying
"Colin's workshop was so enjoyable"
"Colin's workshop was so enjoyable.
He really connected all the fiddlers together as well as the audience.
He encouraged us all to bring life to the music with our whole bodies, pushed us to move out of our comfort zone, and taught us to move with the music.
His manner of teaching took into account all levels of fiddlers so that everyone could participate, learn, and enjoy.."
- Joanna Johnson, USA
© Copyright 2025. Creativity for Growth & Business inc. All Rights Reserved.