On December 14, 2022, our latest ArtistWorks Video Exchange course, Old Time & Bluegrass Fiddle with Brittany Haas, was launched to the public.

Since its debut at the end of 2022, Brittany’s course has become extremely popular, with a highly engaged community of like-minded fiddle players from around the globe connecting and learning together. Considering Brittany is one of the premier fiddle players of her generation, a musical virtuoso who’s shared the stage with countless greats, and a co-founding member of the popular string outfit Hawktail, it’s not a wonder that her course has garnered so much interest since launching and continues to grow.

We are beyond proud that Brittany is a member of our esteemed faculty of bluegrass instructors here at ArtistWorks, and are very excited to announce that, after less than 3 months since launching her course, she has already completed more than 100 Video Exchanges with her online fiddle students.

Thank you, Brittany, for your continued dedication and commitment to your musical community, and thank you to all of Brittany’s wonderful fiddle students for your amazing engagement and consistently submitting videos! To celebrate this fantastic milestone, we asked Brittany to reflect on her experience teaching at ArtistWorks thus far and posed a few questions about her first 100 Video Exchanges.

LEARN MORE: Want to learn how to play the fiddle from a master musician like Brittany Haas? Try some free online fiddle lessons now!

ArtistWorks: What do you enjoy most about teaching through the Video Exchange platform?

Brittany Haas: The best part [about teaching at ArtistWorks] is hearing everyone play. [Video Exchange offers] a cool window into people's musical lives, and allows me to get to see folks in their spaces playing whatever they are working on. I feel very privileged to be a part of their musical journeys.

AW: Have there been any common questions that you’ve received from your students up to this point?

BH: Not exactly… There have been a bunch of folks working on “Angeline the Baker” and “Soldier's Joy.” It’s so cool to hear all the different versions.

I find myself talking a lot about slurring in my response videos, which is not a topic I foresaw coming up so much. I've heard other teachers talk about the bow arm as a source of musical personality and I think it's so true—bowing styles are so individual and it's exciting to see folks at different stages along the journey of finding their right arm approach.

AW: Do you have any recommendations for your current or future students on how to get the most out of their Video Exchanges?

BH: I like it when folks ask specific questions. It helps me provide a direct, focused response and give as much precise, helpful guidance as possible.

AW: Were there any Video Exchanges that were particularly memorable from your first 100 that you especially enjoyed responding to?

BH: Every Video Exchange is memorable in its own way! It's such a pleasure getting to know all my students through the ArtistWorks platform.

Thanks again to Brittany and all of her amazing fiddle students for creating such a fantastic online learning community! We look forward to all that the next 100 Video Exchanges and beyond have in store…

LEARN MORE:

Have you always wanted to learn how to play the fiddle? Through our comprehensive fiddle lessons online and Video Exchange Learning platform here at ArtistWorks, you can learn from internationally renowned players, like Brittany Haas, and get personal feedback on your playing.

Brittany's course starts with the basics and teaches everything from beginner fiddle to advanced performance techniques, improvisation methods, classic old time and bluegrass tunes, and Brittany's unique and critically acclaimed approach to the instrument. So, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, all levels are welcome and all students will grow and improve their skills as fiddle players and musicians.

Sample some free music lessons here and see what makes ArtistWorks courses some of the best online music lessons around!

READ MORE:

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Fiddle Lesson: Bowing Patterns for Melodies with Brittany Haas

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