Learn to play the fiddle today with Riddell Fiddles. See "The Team" page for more details. The group is run by Sheila Sapkota and Karen Hendry (Administrator).
Riddell Fiddles aims to allow anybody to learn the fiddle, by providing inexpensive fun-filled lessons for young and old alike. It is an ongoing teaching programme run on a termly basis. Anyone wishing to visit or attend any of the sessions or workshops should contact the organisers first.
Originally a fiddle group Riddell Fiddles has now branched out to include performances, and guitar accompaniment, run by Donald Knox. A double bass player (Tony Manning) accompanies most classes. The emphasis is on performing with musicians working together and listening to each other.
Fiddle Lessons and Guitar Accompaniment Classes are now held in the Argus Centre, Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, on Sundays, see diary dates for details.
Each lesson consists of groups and will last approximately 50 minutes. This includes time for a short break/snack (provided) and will let us learn a few exercises to untangle / loosen wrists and shoulders as well as to listen to different types of music. Parents are welcome to stay during a child's lesson (most end up playing the fiddle themselves). Coffee and biscuits are provided.
Argus Centre, Selkirk
Tuition is provided by a bank of local tutors, but visiting musicians are called on to give a workshop if they are playing locally. Recently Bruce Molsky, Bruce MacGregor and Jenna Reid have all given up their time to travel here and teach us.
These are the people who run Riddell Fiddles!
What's On
Busking Dates
Performances
Saturday 27th March
- Hawick Reivers Festival Performance
Other Events
Plattling Visit
- the dates will be from the 22nd to the 27th July
James Paterson, our good friend and accordionist, sadly passed away on Tuesday morning. He supported us well
over the years and leaves a legacy of great tunes.
A true gentleman who will be sorely missed. Funeral Tuesday 9th February 1 p.m. Innerleithen Cemetery with music session to follow at The Green Tree, Peebles afterwards. Musicians - Bring your instruments !
Quote of the year 2009 - "Aly you are only tuning up because Riddell Fiddles are here!" Phil Cunningham at Melrose Concert
Well done everyone on yet another fantastic year. No more performances for a few weeks. Well done on the hardy souls who braved Melrose busking on Sunday 20th & got a bit chilled. The church concert in the evening at Lilliesleaf was a success with everyone playing so well. Great sound! The Bogie's Close Stompers were outstanding as were the Bedlam Ceilidh Band.
Plattling Visit
The dates will be from the 22nd to the 26th or 27th July. These will be confirmed once we have booked flights. A meeting & fundraising will begin in earnest in the new Year. It would be good to take as many folk as possible and our trusty allies the Bogie's Close Stompers will be there too. Fundraising suggestions so far have included busking and selling one kidney each!! Not too sure about the latter!
November 2009 –
Riddell Fiddles was nominated for the Trad Music Awards under the ‘Best Community Project Category’ – One of only four selected throughout Scotland.
Unfortunately we were beaten on the night by the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail.
Melrose - Busking
Half way through an other busy Sunday, a band of intrepid souls busk in the freezing cold of Melrose Square. There were very few people around, but those that were watching showed their appreciation (or was that just keeping their hands warm?).
Then it was off to Midlem for a great end of term party.
Scott's Selkirk
Well done for a frenetic, fiddle packed weekend at Scott's Selkirk on 4th,5th & 6th December. Members of the group performed in Edwardian costume five times (in the freezing cold), played for a ghost walk, became the Sworddancers' Band which included a pub tour, played at the school concert at Connections, led the town dancing in the square - with dancing and music and then whizzed down to Melrose to open a packed 'Phil & Aly Concert'. The group were well received.
Lilliesleaf Ceilidh raised over £600 - mainly due to the generosity of James & Amy who waived fees. Thank you everyone for your hardwork. Riddell Fiddles is now officially solvent!
Tom McConville was our guest tutor on 1st November, and as well as excellent fiddle sessions, he also taught us the Alexander Technique for the relief of stress, backpain, RSI, and health management!
The book of images from our trip to Vancouver in the Summer has now been published. You can preview it from the link below, and it is available on-line from Blurb.
There is also a 43 minute slide show on DVD available from the trip as well for £6.00. Just e-mail Ian for details.
The quiz raised a respectable £204 and was great fun. Thank you to all who attended. Big Thanks to Susan & Lorna for the questions. Did you know that the Battle of Bannockburn started on a Sunday or that the Saffir Simpson Scale measures the force of hurricanes (no, not the heat of chillies Allan!)? Well done to the winning team - the Jammie Dodgers.
Well done to Hannah, Caitlin & Stuart who starred with the TMSA Young Musicians at their Hawick gig on Wednesday 21st October. You did us proud.Great playing!
The TMSA musicians were pretty good too.
Selkirk Sessions - Full range of images in the Gallery page (and all the images from the weekend on the Selkirk Sessions web site)
Busking Tescos on 19th September. Well done to the buskers who raised over £185.
Caitlin and Stuart won the Junior Hawick Teribuskers 2009. They played extremely well on Friday night at the concert too.
Well done to the players who survived a wet (again?) Langholm, a quick appearance at Peebles Fiddle & Accordion Club and a guest spot at Eastgate Theatre in Peebles - all in one day. The performances were well received.
The members of Riddell Fiddles who attended the 2009 Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music (http://coaststringfiddlers.com/) are now all back home, after a tremendous time at Abbotsford, Roberts Creek and various other places around Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Images from the trip are available to view on our MySpace page, and video footage on YouTube
Well done on a great Bowhill Theatre performance and a very generous audience who donated £205
Busking at Tesco's on Saturday 23rd raised an amazing £208.69! Very well done indeed.
Grant gratefully received from the Leishman Trust
Riddell Fiddles players, in various combinations, managed to play with the Traditional Young Musicians from Skye, play at a concert (Fantoosh), entertain guests at the Grand Hall at Edinburgh castle, play for a ceilidh, participate in Hawick Reivers festival (one hour outdoor performance), play in Catriona Macdonalds concert and then take in Shona Mooney's session at the Beanscene - all within the space of 11 days. Whew!
The endurance medals go to Caitlin Gowans and Kim Hendry who managed to be in almost everything.
Our new business sponsor is our well kent photographer / film man / web designer etc. Ian Oliver. The group have received a grant from Arts and Business Scotland, due to his sponsorship of the group. This grant will pay for our administrator. Thank you Ian.
Jimmy's Sessions at Lilliesleaf have unfortunately come to an end. Tunes from last term are still available from the Sessions page. Borders Fiddle group and Shetland Fiddle group provide an alternative. Details at www.bordersfiddlegroup.org.uk.
Traditional music sessions are also held at
Town Arms, Selkirk - last Friday of every month
Gordon Arms Hotel, Yarrow - 4th Friday of every month (01750 82222)
Quote of the year 2009 - "Aly you are only tuning up because Riddell Fiddles are here!" Phil Cunningham at Melrose Concert 
