This course is aimed at amateurs/hobbyists, and requires no previous woodworking experience.

Classes run on 5/6-week rolling blocks, with approximately 2-3 week gaps between each block.

Commitment only required for one session at a time, but if a class does not reached a minimum of 3 participants for a session they will be cancelled with 72 hours notice.

Bookings are non-refundable. However, if you are unable to attend and your place can be filled by another participant, a refund or credit may be issued.

Booking for term: September 10th – October 15th

Build a fiddle with a character and voice all its own, with this step-by-step guide to practical fiddle making.

Folk Fiddle – Making, Crafting and Decorating is a richly illustrated guide for makers who want to step beyond classical violin conventions and create instruments that celebrate the artistry, storytelling and freedom of folk music.

Drawing on years of hands-on experience, luthier Emma Hardy takes you through each stage of the process, from choosing timber and designing body shapes to carving scrolls, decoration, crafting and applying distinctive varnishes. With detailed photographs, clear step-by-step instructions and insights grounded in real projects, this book shows you not just how to build a fiddle, but why each choice matters.

Table of Contents:

1. Telling a Story

2. Project Preparation and Using Alternative Woods

3. Body Shapes

4. Scroll and Pegbox Designs

5. Methods for Decoration

6. Purfling

7. F-Holes

8. Five-String Fiddles

9. Pochettes and Kit Fiddles

10. Resonant Fiddles

11. Varnishing

12. Setting Up Your Instrument

NB: For customers in the EU and all other countries, please purchase your copy via the publisher or local retailer https://www.crowood.com/book/folk-fiddle/‍ ‍, thank you!