Resources

First things first

This article, Anatomy of a Violin, provides a history of the instrument and some basic definitions. It's more about classical music, but hey, we all like to be well-rounded. This was recommended to us by the students at Centerline Arts Group - thanks for hooking us up!

Octane Seating sent us another resource entitled a Guide to Remote / Distance Learning Music for Students & Teachers. This site provides a wealth of information on virtual sources for all aspects of music education and tips on virtual learning for students.

Websites/Organizations

Minnesota State Fiddlers Association - https://fiddlemn.com/
Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association - https://www.minnesotabluegrass.org/
Fiddlers of South Dakota - https://www.facebook.com/fiddlersofsouthdakota
Montana State Old-Time Fiddlers Association - https://montanastateoldtimefiddlers.org/home

Festivals

Twin Town Old Time Music Festival - April 4-7 Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN - https://www.twintownoldtime.org
River Falls Bluegrass, Bourbon and Blues Festival - April 25-27 - River Falls, WI - https://riverfallsbluegrass.com
SEMBA Bluegrass Festival - May16-18 - Houston, MN - https://www.sembabluegrass.com/festivals
Greenbelt Music Festival - May 16-17 - live, IA - https://www.greenbeltmusic.com
Bluegrass at the Lake - June 12-14 Wisconsin Rapids, WI - https://bluegrassatthelake.com
Cedar Springs Bluegrass Gospel Fest - July 10-13-Nashua, Iowa - https://www.csbgfest.org
Kalona Bluegrass Festival - July 18-20 - Kalona, IA - https://www.banjoy.com/kalonabluegrassfestival/
Beaverdale Bluegrass festival - July 19 - Des Moines, IA - https://www.beaverdalebluegrass.com
RecFest - July 23-26- Milaca, MN - http://milacarecfest.com
Lake Itasca Family Music Fesitival - Aug 1-2-3 Lake Itasca MN http://familybluegrass.com
Bluegrass Festival - July 24-27 Manitowish, Wisconsin - https://midsummerbluegrass.com
Backbone Bluegrass Festival - Jay 25-27 - Strawberry Point, IA - https://backbonebluegrass.com
Sugar Maple Music Festival - Aug 1-2 Madison WI https://sugarmaplefest.org
Lake Itasca Family Music Festival - Aug 1-3 - Lake Itasca, MN - http://familybluegrass.com
Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival - August 7-10, 2024 - Richmond MN https://www.minnesotabluegrass.org/mn-bluegrass-festival
SEMBA August Festival - Aug 14-17 - Houston, MN - https://www.sembabluegrass.com/august-festival
Lakes Bluegrass Festival - Aug 22-24 Pine River MN https://www.lakesbluegrassfestival.com
Cameron annual Bluegrass Festival- September 5-7 Cameron Wisconsin - https://cameronbluegrass.com
East Troy Bluegrass Festival - September 13-14 - East Troy, WI - http://www.easttroybluegrass.com
Boats and Bluegrass - Sept 25-28- Winona, MN https://www.boatsandbluegrass.com
Minnesota Bluegrass Fall Jam - November 7-9 - Plymouth, MN - https://minnesotabluegrass.org

For Beginners

American Fiddle method-https://americanfiddlemethod.com/
Fiddlehed - https://fiddlehed.com/
Introduction to Traditional Music PowerPoint

Instructors-

MSFA MEMBER INSTRUCTORS
AJ Srubas (Minneapolis, Minnesota) - https://ajsrubasmusic.com/
Debbie Greenblatt (Avoca, Nebraska and Online) - debby@greenblattandseay.com - https://www.greenblattandseay.com/schoolhouse_lessons.shtml
Kailyn Pelerin (Duluth, Minnesota) - KailynPelerin.com or kailynpelerin@gmail.com
Karen Stiles (Apple Valley, Minnesota) - karenstiles3@gmail.com - Beginning/early Intermediate Suzuki Violin
John Wallace (Minnetonka, Minnesota) and Homestead Pickin Parlor - 612-861-3308
Eliza Wilson (Duluth, Minnesota) elizaaverywilson@gmail.com - eawviolin.com
Eric Christopher (St. Paul, Minnesota) https://ericchristopher.net/lessons/

OTHERS
Christina Seaborn (St. Cloud, Minnesota)- https://cristinaseaborn.com/

this list is for information only and MSFA does not endorse individual instructors.

Sheet Music

Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Tune book - clawhammermike.com
The Complete Fiddle Tunes I Either Did or Did Not Learn At The Tractor Tavern - Gene Silberberg
The American Fiddle Method books 1 & 2 - Brian Wicklund
The Fiddlers Fake Book - David Brody
Montana State Tune Books Vol I, II, III About A Hundred Fiddle Tunes - Montana State Old-Time Diddlers Association
The Waltz Book - Bill Matthiesen
Learn to Play Irish Trad Fiddle - Tom Morley

MSFA Member Band List

American Swedish Institute Spelmanslag (Traditional Swedish Fiddle Music) https://www.asispelmanslag.org/

Bundle and Go (Celtic, French Canadian) https://bundleandgo.com/about/

Down Home and Friends (old time, gospel, bluegrass) https://www.facebook.com/DownHomeBluegrassBand/

Farmers Market Ramblers (Bluegrass) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550698781235

The Foot-Notes (Norwegian American Old Time Dance Band) https://www.facebook.com/groups/footnotesfans/

The Gritpickers (Old Time, Appalachian) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063588486578

Hoof on the Roof (Scandinavian-American and traditional) - https://roadfarming.com/hoof-on-the-roof/

Jivin' Ivan and the Kings of Swing (Mostly acoustic Great American Songbook Swing tunes with vocals--and dancing!) http://www.jivinivanandthekingsofswing.com

Long Time Gone (Old Time, classic bluegrass) https://www.longtimegoneband.com/

Longtine-America and Platt (Scandinavian and French Canadian) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063806063248

Relativity ( Crowd favorite top 40-ish tunes from the 50's to today, that work for an acoustic trio. Our focus is FUN!) http://www.relativitytheband.com

Rosie Daze Band (High Energy Contemporary Bluegrass) https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rosie-Daze-Band-61550594451332/

St. Paul Mudsteppers (country blues from the early 1900’s) https://www.facebook.com/saintpaulmudsteppers

The Stringbeans (Old Time, Appalachian) - https://youtu.be/0UN0KQ6rxjI

Twin Cities Hardingfelelag (traditional Norwegian Hardanger fiddle group based in Minneapolis, MN) https://tchardingfelelag.org/

Two Tap Trio (Irish Band) https://twotaptrio.com/

Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers (Scandinavian-American from Minnesota and Wisconsin) https://www.facebook.com/uppermidwestfolkfiddlers

Suggestions

To report bad link or to offer a suggested addition send us an email Attn Dan McMahon