Fiddle Fingers: August 12-16, 2025 (Tues - Sat)
All-Level Fiddle Workshop
Scroll Down to Learn More about this Event!
Schedule, Offerings, Level, Venue, Fees, & More!
Want to know more about Scor!?
If you don't already get our emails, SIGN UP FOR E-NEWS!
You'll get the latest on upcoming in-person events, exclusive invitations to FREE LIVE CLASSES, encouraging playing tips, year-round class & course info, exclusive discounts, & more!
Fiddle Fingers Workshop
Multi-Level Celtic Fiddle Workshop for Violin, Viola, Cello, & Bass
Want to learn and play fiddle tunes with friends, improve your fiddling technique, or learn to sound fiddley from a classical background? Fiddle Fingers is back by popular demand, but with a NEW unique theme. THIS YEAR ONLY enjoy a deep dive into CELTIC FIDDLING! (This Celtic theme is a one-time offering, & will not happen next year.) Enjoy exploring some Irish, Scottish, & Cape Bretton tunes. Learn fiddling style step by step, and fiddle fantastically in no time. (Yes, we'll have sheet music!)
August 12-16, 2025 (Tues - Sat)
Held in Canandaigua NY (Finger Lakes Region in western New York State)
Travel In: Tues Aug 12 Casual, Fun Evening Cookout Starts at 6:15pm. Get to know each other in a casual, relaxed environment.
Travel Back: Sun Aug 17 Activities go through Saturday. Stay around & relax before traveling on Sunday.
Join us for our 144th event in our 22nd season!
Space is currently available for you. This event will be popular, so Apply Now! (No payment due at time of application.)
Save $300 with early-bird prices only through May 7!
For pricing info, continue down the page.
What is Fiddle Fingers like?
Violin, Viola, Cello, & Bass - Everyone can fiddle! (Play fiddle style, that is!)
Do you love fiddle music? Want to learn and play fiddle tunes with friends? How about improving your fiddling and bowing techniques so you can sound better? You'll also explore harmony and back-up parts, and learn some fiddle ornamentation that will make you sound authentic right away.
Did you come from a classical background, but want to try fiddle style? You've come to the right place! You'll learn the ins and outs of fiddling style step by step, and fiddle fantastically in no time! And you'll even get to use sheet music!
Have you come from a fiddling background, but want to learn skills and techniques that will help you sound & feel better when you play? As long as you read music, you've also come to the right place! Plus, you'll have tons of fun playing and learning tunes with friends!
In addition to lots of learning, each day you'll enjoy fun fiddle tune jam sessions (with sheet music!).
***Have you had a negative experience at a fiddle camp or fiddle jam, where everyone around you is whizzing through a tune they all know and there's no sheet music, so you can't keep up?***
THAT WON'T HAPPEN HERE!
Many fiddle sessions and camps simply play tunes, and people look at you funny when you don't know the tunes by heart. Well, at Fiddle Fingers, we actually teach fiddling technique and style step by step. We'll provide sheet music for each tune, so you won't feel lost or overwhelmed. We'll break down the instruction step by step so you'll be able to transform your fiddling during the week! We'll try a little playing by ear, step by step, so you can get the hang of it, without everyone whizzing by you on a mysterious tune! (And, we'll provide sheet music afterward so you can see what you were trying to play!)
Is this you?
Have you ever felt like...
- I love fiddle music!
- Playing fiddle music is so much fun, especially with others!
- I'd love to learn how to actually sound like the fiddling that I've heard and loved!
But...
- I'm not sure where to go to get that kind of experience.
- There are fiddle groups in my area, but they just whiz through music that I'm not familiar with.
- Fiddle workshops I've been to don't provide sheet music, and don't show me how to do things better.
- I've played some fiddle tunes, but I don't sound like fiddle music is supposed to sound.
- I'm not how to improve my fiddle playing.
Do you want to...
- be immersed in learning, playing, and enjoying fiddle music?
- transform your playing into sounding authentically fiddle-style?
- learn step by step various fiddling techniques and tricks that can help you sound better right away?
- have some fun jamming on some fiddle tunes daily with friends & an instructor, and actually have sheet music to use?
Join us this summer at Fiddle Fingers!
What will I experience at Fiddle Fingers?
You will...
- Experience the fun of daily learning and playing fiddle tunes with an instructor and friends!
- Learn the differences between classical and fiddle style, and the tricks you need to sound fiddley.
- Learn and hone many technical and practical skills to boost your playing.
- Dabble in step by step playing by ear (with sheet music to back you up).
- Learn fiddle ornamentation, backup & harmony approaches, and double stringing tricks & tips.
- Sound authentically fiddley!
Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Scor! is unique & special. It's a learning, growing, fun, exciting, supportive, encouraging, educational, low-pressure, challenging, inspirational, & transformational experience. And, it's tailored especially for adult string players like you & at your level by national leaders in the field of adult string education. Plus, you'll have a great time in the relaxed, fun atmosphere. So, you'll make music with newfound friends in ensemble, participate in unique & amazingly informative instructional sessions, and work with incredible, knowledgeable faculty. It's a special immersion experience created just for you!
Sessions & Classes
Focus on Celtic Fiddling... this year only!
NEW EVERY YEAR, attend instructional sessions offered at Scor! tailored especially for adult string players like you. Look forward to informative, interactive, and fun classes! The finer mysteries of fiddle style & string playing are not only revealed, but taught step by step with immediate application & improvement! THIS YEAR ONLY enjoy a deep dive into CELTIC FIDDLING! (This Celtic theme is a one-time offering, & will not happen next year.) Enjoy exploring some Irish, Scottish, & Cape Bretton tunes. And... NEW THIS YEAR benefit from classes split by level so you can learn at your own pace!
Camaraderie
Are you hungry for some REAL HUMAN CONNECTION? How about
MUSICAL CAMARADERIE? We all need connection with others. And music-making is something done
in community with other people
– an amazing gift we can share with each other. There is nothing quite like experiencing the beautiful unity of a piece played by many individuals, yet creating one sound of coordinated rhythm, pitch, harmony, emotion, & spirit. It's so special to be part of an ensemble, and in addition hang out, socialize, & FEEL CONNECTED TO A LIKE-MINDED COMMUNITY.
Faculty
National Leading Experts in Adult String Education
Don't miss working with our extraordinary faculty. After over 25 years of working with adult string players, WE KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR PLAYING SUCCESSES, STRUGGLES, JOYS, & CHALLENGES. And we know exactly what to do to get you sounding great & feeling even better. So, get ready for your playing to soar to the next level!
Beth Bultman, Faculty
Fiddle-Style Instructor & Performer, Composer, Scor! Program Director, Scor! Co-Founder
In addition to being a highly trained & experienced classical musician & teacher (see Faculty Page for full bios & performance), Beth has also spent decades as an experienced fiddle instructor & performer. She has received instruction from fiddling & eclectic style giants Darol Anger, Mark O'Connor, Natalie McMaster, Alastair Fraser, Jeremy Kittle, Robert Gardner, & Christian Howes. She attended the Mark O'Connor Strings Conference in San Diego and the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen, Scotland. As a performer, Beth is comfortable with many styles, but specializes in Celtic fiddle, old-time fiddle, blues & improvisational fiddling, as well as free improvisational, sacred contemporary, and classical. She also writes fiddle music and frequently performs her own compositions. As a fiddling instructor, Beth specializes in bridging the gap, helping student from a classical background learn the ropes of fiddle style, and helping students from a fiddling background shore up techniques and skills needed to improve any style!
Kyle Bultman, Faculty
Fiddle-Style Instructor & Performer, Scor! CEO, Scor! Co-Founder
In addition to extensive training in the classical music realm (see full bio on Faculty Page), Kyle has taught fiddling for decades. Kyle has received instruction from fiddling & eclectic style giants Darol Anger, Mark O'Connor, Natalie McMaster, Alastair Fraser, Jeremy Kittle, Robert Gardner, & Christian Howes. He has participated in the Mark O'Connor Strings Conference in San Diego and the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen, Scotland. As a performer, Kyle is an amazing back-up player and a super improviser. He is comfortable with many styles, but specializes in Celtic fiddle, old-time fiddle, as well as free improvisational, sacred contemporary, and classical. As a fiddling instructor, Kyle specializes in teaching bowing techniques that are unique to fiddling, helping students learn how to play by ear step by step, and teaching how to play & create harmony and back-up parts for any tune!
Is This Event the Right Level for me?
Each event has been designed with certain levels in mind. Come an event that's right for you! You'll feel right at home surrounded by others at your level with your musical interests. The ensemble music & instruction is catered right to you, giving you the best possible musical, learning, and community experience.
At Fiddle Fingers, we accept participants at the Basic, Intermediate, Advancing Intermediate, & Advanced Levels.
Are these levels right for you?
For complete descriptions of all 5 levels, plus event recommendations for each level, see our In-Person Levels Page.
Fiddle Fingers FAQs
-
Why is this event called Fiddle Fingers Workshop?
You'll get your fiddle fingers on for this one! Your fingers will get all the tips and tricks they need to sound better and more fiddley, and you'll do it all in the FINGER LAKES.
-
What music will we play?
THIS YEAR ONLY enjoy a deep dive into CELTIC FIDDLING! Enjoy exploring some Irish, Scottish, & Cape Bretton tunes. (This Celtic theme is a one-time offering, & will not happen next year.)
-
Do I need to have previous experience playing fiddle style?
We do ask that you meet a certain minimum level of playing and that you can read music (See "Is this event the right level for me? above). However, you don't have to have any specific experience with fiddle style before attending.
-
Am I Ready to come to Fiddle Fingers?
Let's find out. Take this short quiz: By the time Scor! rolls around, will you have played for 1 year or more? Can you read music at a basic level? Do you want to improve? Do you want to learn fiddle style? If you answered Yes to these questions, then you are ready! You may even exceed this level by a lot! Don't worry, you'll still fit in, learn a lot, and have fun! Don't miss out on Scor! because...well...you're afraid or hesitant. There's a place for you at Scor!
-
Will I be able to use sheet music?
Absolutely! You'll be provided sheet music for all our playing, learning, and jamming sessions. We'll just dabble in playing by ear a little, step by step, but you'll have some sheet music to check in with. NO WORRIES!
-
If I'm a basic player, will I be overwhelmed by fast music so I can't keep up?
No, you'll be just fine. You'll learn new tunes step by step. We'll even split up for some sessions so the earlier players can work on the tunes at a slower pace. You'll be able to play a part and tempo that is comfortable and doable for you.
-
If I'm an advanced player, will I be bored by easy music?
Nope! There is much to learn about Celtic fiddling beside just notes and rhythms. You'll learn style, ornamentation, and embellishments, so that each tune can be as difficult as you want it to be. Plus, we'll split up for some sessions so you can get a chance to really dive into faster & more complex fiddling!
-
Will there be other instruments like dulcimers, ukeleles, guitars, mandolins, etc?
This workshop is just for bowed string instruments - violin, viola, cello, bass. We'll focus a lot on bowing techniques that are unique to these instruments.
-
Should I wait to come until I'm better?
NO! Instead, you should COME NOW SO YOU CAN GET BETTER. If you wait to come, you'll delay your progress, & miss your opportunity to build your confidence & get better NOW!
Fiddle Fingers Schedule
August 12-16, 2025 (Tues - Sat, travel back on Sun)
Tues: Travel in. 6:15 - 8pm Kickoff Cookout!
Wed 10:00-5:30
Thurs 10:00-5:30
Fri 10:00-1:00 Enjoy Area; 1:30-8:00 Rehearsals & Fun Dinner
Sat 10:00-3:30
Sun: Travel back
See below for more details!
Full Detailed Event Schedule
Tuesday (6:15pm-8:00pm)
Daytime: Travel into Town/ Check into Lodging
6:15 - 8:00 Welcome Cookout (FREE FOOD!)
Join us for a free get-to-know-you hang out and chill evening with a dinner cookout right at the Scor! Venue on Tuesday evening from 6:15 - 8pm. Meet your faculty & all your new friends, chow down, & relax after traveling.
Wednesday (10:00-5:30)
9:30 – 9:50 Arrive
10:00 – 10:30 Orientation
10:45 – 11:45 Play Celtic Fiddle Tunes (with sheet music!)
12:00 – 12:45 Session: How to Sound like a Celtic Fiddler
12:45 – 1:45 Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:15 Split Session: Earlier Players: Slow Practice & Learn Tunes Together / Experienced Players: Working up your Speed
3:15 - 4:00 Break - Enjoy the outdoors, chat, shop, practice, ask questions
4:00 – 5:30 Fiddle Tune Fun! Play Celtic Fiddle Tunes (with sheet music) & add Back-ups & Harmony
6:00 – 7:30 Dinner at Restaurant
Thursday (10:00-5:30)
9:30 – 9:50 Arrive
10:00 – 11:15 Play Fiddle Tunes with Back-up & Harmony
11:45 – 12:30 Session: All About Instruments & Bows with Luthier from The String House
12:30 – 1:00 String House Exhibit Open
12:45 – 1:45 Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:15 Split Session: Earlier Players: Hone Tunes & Sound Together / Experienced Players: Bowing Intricacies of Celtic Fiddling
3:15 – 4:00 Instrument & Bow Q&A/ Trying Session with String House
4:00 – 5:30 Fiddle Tune Fun! Play Celtic Fiddle Tunes (most with sheet music, a little by ear)
6:00 – 7:30 Dinner at Restaurant
Friday (1:30-8:30)
10:00 - 12:00 Enjoy the Area Tourist Time
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch Out
1:00 – 1:30 Arrive back at Venue
1:30 – 3:00 Session: Using Celtic Ornamentation to Sound Authentic
3:30 – 4:15 Relax & Listen: Faculty Fiddling Showcase
4:45 – 6:00 Fiddle Tune Fun! Play Celtic Fiddle Tunes (most with sheet music, a little by ear)
6:00 – 7:00 Fun Dinner on Site
7:00 – 8:00 Sunset Social Hour: Conversations/Informal Jamming
Saturday (10:00-3:30)
9:30 - 9:50 Arrive
10:00 – 11:30 Session: Hone Your Bowing & Ornamentation to Sound Fiddley Every Time!
11:45 – 12:45 Lunch Break
1:00 – 2:15 Fiddle Tune Fun! Play Celtic Fiddle Tunes
2:30 – 3:30 Music Sharing Time
5:30 - 7:00 Optional Relaxing Dinner Out
Sunday
Travel back. Or... consider staying in the area a few extra days to further enjoy your music vacation!
*This schedule may change or have minor adjustments, but the start and end times each day will remain the same. Attendees will receive updated schedule info over email.
Schedule FAQs
When should I travel? Travel in on Tuesday in time for the Kickoff Cookout. Travel back on Sunday. (See top of page for more specifics.)
Should I plan to leave early? You have traveled all the way here. You've put forth all the effort of planning and invested in yourself. Why sell yourself short? Why miss out on the final hours of camp? Would you leave a lovely restaurant meal or treasured vacation before it was over? Don't think so. You'd milk it! Or would you leave your plane flight before it was over? (Not recommended! : - ) We know you're the kind of person that doesn't give up, and finishes what you started. So why miss out on the final hours of camp? You'll want to milk every bit of your Scor! experience, and get your money's worth. Plus, you won't want to miss out on the best part - the Final Music Sharing at the end of Saturday! Relax. Plan to stay and travel back on Sunday!
Should I plan to be available the whole time? The event schedule is designed to provide you with a fantastic experience. Make sure you arrange your schedule so that you don't miss out on any of it! That's how you'll get the most out of your experience. Don't try to go to work, or squeeze in other committments around your Scor! experience. Plan your schedule around the start and end times above.
Am I going to be playing my instrument for 6-8 hours a day? Not exactly. Amidst our rehearsals & classes, there is plenty of time in the schedule to rest, converse, and relax. And rehearsals and classes involve playing, but also stopping, listening, and waiting. The schedule is balanced so you'll enjoy lots of playing and learning, but also have the needed breaks to help your physical and mental stamina.
Where are Scor! Events?
In Canandaigua, in the western New York State Finger Lakes Region
Canandaigua (can-an-DAY-gwa) is a jewel in the nationally recognized Finger Lakes Region of NY, known for its 5 large finger-shaped lakes. Wineries & breweries abound, in addition to a variety of dining and shopping experiences, outdoor recreation, historic atmosphere, and loads of summer fun!
Where's Canandaigua?
Canandaigua is situated in western New York State, about 35 minutes southeast of Rochester, 1.75 hours east of Niagara Falls, & almost 6 hours northwest of New York City.
(Flying? It's Rochester NY - ROC.)
Discover Where to Stay, What to Do, & more area info for your Music Vacation!
What about the Scor! Venue?
Join us on the Mountaintop!
Make music and enjoy your Mountaintop Experience at our peaceful, inspiring mountain retreat, nestled in the bucolic Finger Lakes region of western New York State.
Find out more about meals at Scor!
What makes Scor! so special?
Scor! stands out from the rest. Here's why...
A Treasured In-Person Experience with Genuine Connection: Being together in person is indeed special. After several string workshops have disappeared in the past few years, it's more important than ever to connect with friends in person, play music together, & receive top-notch instruction & inspiration in this unique immersion environment. After everything we all went through just a few years ago pandemic-wise, who can put a price on in-person musical camaraderie & friendship? A treasured experience, to say the least.
Best Faculty Ever: Your faculty are the most experienced, highest quality, & most inspirational instructors in adult string education that you'll find anywhere. The expertise is unsurpassed... 25+ years experience & 130+ Scor! camps & counting. They know exactly how to help you gain confidence, sound better, & soar to the next level, guaranteed.
Inspirational Retreat: Scor! events are held in a premium location, with beautiful surroundings in a peaceful, serene environment. Come away with us! Escape to this gorgeous retreat, calm your mind, body, & spirit, and give yourself the chance to learn, hone, & grow in a beautiful & inspirational place. There's never been a better time to escape & play music!
Learning at Your Level: Scor! events are designed with your level in mind, so you'll have a terrific learning experience. You'll feel right at home surrounded by others at your level who share your musical interests, with music & instruction tailored just for you, giving you the best possible musical, learning, & community experience.
Vacation Destination: You're coming to a great location.... the renowned Finger Lakes Region of New York State, a hot spot for tourism, wineries, breweries, history, unique dining & shopping, and beautiful natural surroundings... Music Retreat Vacation, HERE I COME!
Best Customer Service in the Business: We've raised the bar & offer the most professional customer service around. We don't have volunteer, hobbyist, part-time, or fly-by-night staff and administration. In fact, we are the only fully professional adult string-focused operation out there. That means you'll be treated the way you want and the way you deserve - to a quality experience, receiving more individual attention, help, customization, interaction, substantial information, and thorough communication than anywhere else. You're in good hands, and we'll help you the whole way!
Invaluable Instruction to Transform your Playing for Life: You'll receive many hours of unique, valuable, key instruction that will unlock playing mysteries, reveal the secrets of professional players, and provide you with a musically enjoyable, transformational experience. A Scor! event is NOT JUST LIKE AN ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL!!!!!!! Most teachers, orchestras, and workshops just teach you how to play a given piece better. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE AT SCOR! Through a unique immersion experience, we help you develop skills, techniques, and approaches that professional musicians use. These are not normally taught in lessons or orchestra rehearsal, but they will help you improve immeasurably. It’s like the old saying, “Hand someone a fish, they eat for a day. Teach them to fish, they eat for a lifetime.” We'll teach you to fish (with technical & musical skills) so that you can apply what you’ve learned anywhere. Now, no matter what piece you tackle in the future, or what ensemble you play with, you'll have the ability to take your playing to new heights!
Pricing
No payment is due at time of application. (See Application process below.)
Want to spread out your payments? Take advantage of our Installment Plan.
If you haven't already, sign up for Scor! E-News HERE to receive exclusive coupons & discounts, info on deadlines, plus free classes & more!
| Item | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
Scor! Camp Tuition (Pat from Florida says "Scor! was well worth every penny!") |
(No payment is due at time of application. Above discount automatically applies.) |
Tues - Sat: 5 fun-filled days of playing fun fiddle music together, top-notch instruction by national leading experts, relaxing with friends, & enjoying a music vacation! Why is Scor! so special? See above! |
|
Installment Plan (optional) |
$25 | Split up your balance into 3-5 easy payments! See more info HERE. |
| Meals during Scor! | $179 | Eating together is part of the fun of Scor!. Includes Wed lunch, Thurs lunch, Fri dinner, & Sat lunch. (Fri lunch is enjoyed at a local restaurant. Breakfasts are often included with your lodging.) |
| Tues Kickoff Cookout | FREE! | Food, Friends, & Fun! Join us for a free get-to-know-you hang out & chill evening with a dinner cookout right at the Scor! Venue on Tues eve from 6:15-8pm. Meet all your new friends, chow down, & relax! |
|
Friday Catered Dinner for Spouse/ Traveling Companion (optional add-on) |
$54 | Bringing a guest? Purchase a Friday dinner. We'll have a fun & scrumptious spread! (Plus, dinner on Tues is FREE for you & a guest!) |
|
Instrument Rental (optional add-on) |
$125 | Flying in? Rent a quality instrument & bow so you don't have to bring yours on a plane. |
|
Optional Donation (optional add-on) If you wish to support Scor!, you can opt to include a donation to Scor! in your registration. |
$50? $100? $250? $500? |
Help us recover from devastating pandemic-era losses & build foundational infrastructure at our venue that will be used for years to come. For more info on Donations, CLICK HERE. (Scor! is a program of Symerge, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization & donations are tax deductible according to IRS rules.) |
*TUITION OFFERED WAY (WAY!) BELOW COST: Scor! has endured vast and devastating pandemic-era losses from forced event shutdowns. We are walking the long hard (scary) road of seeking restoration & building again from the ground up. Our current actual costs per person to put on events are substantial ($2680!) due largely to pandemic debt. However, good news for you... we are not passing on those costs to you. You can come to Scor! at just over 1/2 of the actual cost (53%) as indicated in the table above. It's like a 50% discount right off the top. We hope you enjoy this sacrificial REALLY GOOD DEAL! :-)
Staying Healthy at Scor!
Health Protocols & Policies for In-Person Events
Get lots of great tips on staying healthy both at Scor! and while traveling (from experienced travelers!). Check out our health protocols & policies, and find out more about the environment at In-Person Scor!.
Looking for more info about in-person events?
Question?
Just ask!