United Methodist Family Services
Family Memberships
🎻 Reconnecting Through Music: A Family Journey
When families first journeyed from Scotland and Ireland to America, it was common for them to bring a fiddle along. That small instrument became more than just a way to make music—it was a source of comfort, connection, and joy during uncertain times..
Fiddle tunes helped lift spirits, brought communities together for dancing and celebration, and created moments of shared laughter and resilience. Just as importantly, learning to play the fiddle gave parents a way to pass down culture and tradition by ear—tune by tune—to their children.
As children played these tunes at local gatherings, they created new friendships, swapped melodies, and carried forward a living thread of heritage.
🎶 Today’s Families, Tomorrow’s Traditions
Our UMFS Family Subscription Program invites modern families—especially those connected through post-adoption services—to experience that same sense of bonding, play, and discovery.
This unique program offers:
- A chance for parents and children to learn side-by-side, regardless of prior experience
- A shared family activity rooted in tradition, fun, and creativity
- A gentle, ear-based approach to Celtic fiddle, making it accessible and engaging for all ages
- An opportunity to create new family rituals and pass on culture in a joyful, personal way
Whether you’re rediscovering your own roots or creating new traditions with your family, this is a chance to make music that matters.
💌 Join the Journey
Sign up below to learn more on our upcoming webinar on Thursday, August 21st at 6.30pm CET & 7.30pm EST.
Let’s create something beautiful—together.
🌱 How the Family Fiddle Program Began
The idea for the UMFS Family Subscription Program was born from a heartfelt conversation between Colin MacLeod and Kate Ockerman at United Methodist Family Services in Richmond, Virginia.
Via Zoom, they spoke about the challenges that families—especially post-adoptive families—can face when trying to build trust, resilience, and lasting connection. From that conversation, the idea emerged:
What if there were a way for families to learn and grow together through music?
That question sparked the creation of this online, ear-based Celtic fiddle program, designed for families to learn side-by-side—right from home.
🎻 About Colin MacLeod
With over 40 years of experience playing Celtic and Scottish fiddle, Colin has performed in bands across Scotland, Australia, and the US, and spent over two decades teaching and leading both in-person and online fiddle workshops for children and adults.
But the true inspiration for this program?
It comes from home.
Colin fondly remembers his own father sitting down to teach him tunes by ear—sharing not just music, but warmth, tradition, and time together.
In their household, Scottish fiddle music wasn’t just background noise—it was a part of family life.
Today, Colin brings that same spirit into the UMFS Family Subscription Program:
A way to help families create memories, grow closer, and build shared traditions through the simple joy of learning fiddle together.
💌 Ready to Learn More?
Sign up below to join our upcoming webinar on Thursday, August 21st 6.30pm CET & 7.30pm EST to find out more about our program.