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!

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...