Education
My teaching, ethos & qualifications
My World of Teaching
As a passionate educator, I dedicate a fair chunk of my time to nurturing other's experience of music and learning. I was lucky to be given the opportunity to teach from a young age and it is still something I get a lot of enjoyment from. I work with children, music students, professionals and adult learners, and believe everybody deserves a tailored and bespoke learning experience.
Mull Music Makers
Lucky to be lead tutor - developing the curriculum, booking world class tutors and creating video content & materials to aid learning between workshops.
Find out more
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
I'm the fiddle/violin technique specialist for the BMus in Traditional Music Degree and Masters programme.
Mull Fiddle Week
Curator and organiser of this intensive week-long fiddle course on the Isle of Mull.
Visit website
Perth Fiddle Workshop
Regular group workshops for fiddle players of intermediate level and above, held in Perth, Scotland.
Find out more
1:1 Lessons
Private tuition is currently at capacity. Get in touch to join the waiting list.
Join waiting list
Patreon
Video lessons and resources available through Patreon, plus a growing library on YouTube.
Visit PatreonAs a bi-lingual player and teacher - essentially a fluent fiddler come classically trained violinist - I am constantly researching and developing ways to teach fiddle music in a more structured and accessible format. On one side, I love to help fiddle players reach their full technical potential by assisting them with the pedagogical aspects that will lift their playing to another level. At the other end of the spectrum, I also work with immense violinists who could outplay me any day of the week, but who have a longing to play in a more sensitive, creative idiom such as folk music.
Many do not have the luxury of a childhood steeped in celtic culture and I am fascinated in exploring whether or not it is possible to learn to 'sound like a real fiddler' from a technical and pedagogical approach. I endeavour to provide a practical toolkit needed for getting knee deep in a new style of music.
Qualifications
- • BA Applied Music (1st class Hons) - Strathclyde University
- • PGCE Specialist Strings - Manchester Metropolitan University / RNCM
- • PG Dip in Violin Performance - RNCM
What Students Say
"Patsy's teaching is transformative. There's no other word for it. I came to Patsy as a competent player with a strong background in Scottish fiddle traditions but knowing that to improve any further I needed to work hard at technique. In less than two years, Patsy has completely transformed my playing, taking it to an entirely different level. It's not just me who can hear this; everyone else says it too! The secret is in the thought she's given over many years to the importance of the right hand, and how to translate that thinking into a programme of embodied learning for students.
Patsy has been the right teacher at the right time for me. Like all great teachers, she adjusts her approach to suit the person and their level. Whatever that level is, expect to be challenged. Expect the unexpected – and, above all, trust! Patsy has thought about fiddle teaching in ways that are absolutely unique. Her teaching takes you to places you'd never imagine possible."
"I feel incredibly lucky to have online lessons with Patsy! Her attention to tuning, bowing and phrasing are very thorough. I welcome the variety of technology used to support her teaching methods such as 3 way cameras, accessing and marking written music and providing detailed support notes online. Lessons are always focused with attention given to skills and identified areas to improve such as bowing - which is one of her specialties. This is often achieved through the focus of learning a tune.
Her expertise and experience as a musician is always positively shared and her enthusiasm has certainly inspired and supported me to continue to improve my playing."
"Patsy pays fantastic attention to technique while jumping right into the making of music! Every lesson helps me expand my playing, and every lesson is eye-opening - sometimes for both of us, as we collaborate on building my skill. And Perth Fiddle Workshop that Patsy runs is welcoming, fun, and immersive, even for a beginner like me."