Ashley here. I don't know that I've officially introduced myself, but I've worked in the background at Drunken Fiddles for a few months, helping with content and other various tasks. While my work doesn't directly require expertise in fiddling, Laurel thought I should try my hand at it - partly so I'd understand what it's really like to start and partly because she thought it would be fun. And so my journey began! She helped me track down an instrument and got me enrolled in the latest session in Kansas City. Class officially kicked off last night, so I thought I'd report back about how that went. 

A Blast from the Past
While I've never played a stringed instrument before, I have some musical background - from playing piano, flute, and singing. As the lesson kicked off, I could feel my brain reactivating the parts of itself that stored information like "what are the names of the notes?" and "I think that's a quarter note". These portions have been largely dormant for many, many years, ...

While we've offered an online school for many years now, it seemed like there was an additional need for an intensive focused specifically on starting from the absolute beginning. Enter Zero to Fiddling.

This course will kick off on September 1st and is designed for students who have NO fiddling experience and are looking to get started. Over the course of the 8-week session, we'll release a lesson once a week, give students a few days to watch and learn on their own, then follow-up with a live practice session where they can log in and practice live with Laurel. Throughout the course, they'll have access to a private student community where they can ask questions and collaborate amongst themselves. 

Whether you've always dreamt of playing or are just in search of a new hobby to stretch your brain creatively, this will be a great place to start. And don't worry: we can help you track down an instrument if you need one. :) Hope to see you there!

Registration is officially open for our Summer Strings Retreat, happening September 11th, 12th, and 13th at Greenwood Social Hall in Kansas City!

If you've been around Drunken Fiddles for a while, you might be familiar with the format of our seasonal strings retreats in the past - but for this event, we're really taking things to the next level. Think about it like a mini international retreat, where we'll focus on providing you ample opportunity for connection, community, PLAYING, and fun! 

One of the main ways we're doing that is with the addition of the Drunken Fiddles House. In the past, participants have attended the event through the day, then have dispersed in the evening to do their own things. While some like to have that flexibility (and it will still be an option, introverts!) we wanted to take inspiration from our international retreats and facilitate a space for further community time and jam sessions. The house has numerous rooms available for reservation if you'd like ...

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...