We've all packed up and boarded our (very delayed) flights home, so it feels like the perfect time to look back on the incredible time we spent together in Quebec City. 

This is the 4th international retreat Drunken Fiddles has hosted and it feels like they just get better and better each time. It's hard to recreate the magic that happens when people are able to step out of their day-to-day lives and connect over a shared love of music. What a gift that we can do this together! 

The Monastery
This year, our group gathered at Le Monastère des Augustines in the heart of Quebec City. This unique property was founded nearly *400* years ago by three nuns sent to the new territory by France to establish a religious center and hospital. We had the pleasure of playing most of our sessions in the vault of the building, which had served as an extension of the hospital over the years - especially in times of war. Rumors of potentially supernatural activity in the space were perhaps confirmed whe...

Look out! The Drunken Fiddles team has officially landed in Quebec City and we're so excited to kick off our 2026 conference tomorrow. Over the course of the next week, we're going to be digging deep into the Quebecois music tradition, bringing in several local expert instructors. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok in order to get all the latest updates. Stay tuned!

Ok, community! Mark your calendars as our next Strings Retreat is in the works. This year, we'll gather September 11-13th at Greenwood Social Hall in Kansas City, MO. We'll have guest instructors and an agenda focused on giving you as much hands-on playing time as possible.

Much more information (and registration) coming soon! Stay tuned!

Over the last few weeks, it’s been inspiring to see posts in our community’s private FB group from students hitting their 100 Day Practice Challenge goals! Getting started with a new routine can be HARD, so it seemed like a great time to revisit some tips for practicing as an adult.

• Leave your fiddle out of the case and ready to go! Of course this requires finding a safe place in your house, away from pets, heating or AC vents, etc. But having your instrument available for a quick pick-up makes it that much easier to overcome the challenge of starting.
• Practice in the morning. Grab your instrument and pluck out a tune for 5 minutes when you get up or before you go to work. Not only can this perk up your mood for the day, but will likely inspire you to pick it back up later on.
• Don’t get too hung up on practice streaks. Of course it feels GREAT to hit a milestone like 100 straight days, but it can also feel discouraging if you happen to miss a day. Be flexible with your approach an
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It’s hard to believe we’re just a few short weeks away from kicking off the Drunken Fiddles retreat in Quebec City! In preparation, let’s learn a little about the musical history of Quebec and how fiddle has played a vital role. 

A Rich & Varied History
When you think about fiddle, Canada is probably not the first place that comes to mind. Instead, it’s probably images of a rollicking pub in Ireland or the rolling green hills of Scotland. Fair, fair... But it’s the depth of those musical traditions that provide the backdrop for how a uniquely Quebecois style evolved. 

As settlers from Scotland, Ireland, and France migrated across the Atlantic in increasing numbers through the mid-17th and 18th centuries, they brought their fiddles and distinct styles along. According to the Canadian Studies Center, the violin “flourished in New France during the 18th century, animating the bals of society and folk alike” and was used widely in social dance events across all levels of society. 

Expans...