Mastery 5:

The Refined Fiddler

Sessions 1-4 Certification Program 

January - December 2024

UPDATE: Mastery 5 2024 is now full.

We hope to see you next year!

"I'm a better player and I'm really understanding shifting and vibrato better."

-Louise Terpstra 

About Mastery 5

in Mastery 5 we'll take the time to

refine and internalize your repertoire,

develop your creative potential,

and play with more relaxation and ease!

NEW IN MASTERY 5 2024!

A CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM, BUILT FOR YOU!

MORE PERFORMANCE & COACHING 

SOLIDIFY & BUILD YOUR REPERTOIRE

BRAND NEW ONLINE PORTAL FOR STUDENTS (EASY TO NAVIGATE)

NEW SCHEDULE: A DEDICATED PERFORMANCE MASTERCLASS ON WEEK 3

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT:  JAMMING SKILLS & COMPOSITION WORKOUTS 

Why Our Students Love Mastery

I cannot believe the progress I'm making

and it's driving me to play my fiddle more and more…  I'm getting closer to being able to play the way I'd want to. 

You must [join Mastery]. 

It's the best way to improve.

-Judd P.

The Mastery program holds me accountable

for learning the tunes and the skills in Katie’s

brilliant step-by-step pedagogy, 

and does so in a fun way 

that encourages relationships 

with other students.

- Ingrid G.

“[I am] playing much more complex tunes, at much greater tempos, with ever-increasing confidence in my ability to comfortably do so. [Mastery] has made me a more disciplined learner. I am confident that would not have occurred had I not been a Mastery member.” 

-Bob D.

What You'll Get From Mastery 5

techniques & topics

Revisit Your Technique with National Fiddle Champions:

Lesson 24: Building & Maintaining Repertoire

Lessons 22, 31, & 32: Swing Improvisation

Lesson 28: Vibrato

Lesson 21: How to Build Speed

Lesson 10: Relax & Focus

Lesson 26: Shifting

Lesson 23: Intonation

Lesson 29: Combining Techniques - Vibrato, Shifting, Intonation

learn & perform

• Skill Building with Katie

Get a focused workout on the tune-based technique of the month plus a 15 minute jamming skills application that goes with the tune of the month. 

• Tune Workout with Celeste

Workouts will focus on the checkpoints and challenging areas of upcoming tunes. Listening examples will help you  plan ahead as you internalize the tune and prepare for the tricky spots. 

***NEW - Performance Masterclass

The third week of each month is dedicated to individual performances followed by coaching by Katie and Celeste, who will rotate monthly. 

***NEW - Three Certification Performances (instead of one) Hone your performance skills with three Certification Performances (2-3 tunes) throughout the year! 

• Video Showcase

Twice per year, you'll post a video showcase of a tune on our Circle Community, then receive Katie's comprehensive personal video feedback.

tunes

Refine Fiddle School Favorites

• 8th of January - Harmony • Cotton Eyed Joe - Variation 

• Tennessee Waltz - Variation • Home in San Antone (Licks)

• La Golondrina or Kentucky Waltz or Tennessee Variation or A & E Waltz

• Speed the Plow or Blackberry Rag or Ragtime Annie 

(or a song you're preparing for Weiser!)

• Clarinet Polka

• Moonlight on the River Colorado • Shenandoah

• Maiden's Prayer

• Tears on my Pillow or Peek-A-Boo Waltz

community & accountability

Jam Sessions & Coffeehouses

We'll host two virtual jams per year, included with your Mastery registration. Enjoy jamming on Fiddle School tunes with peers from all Mastery classes! We'll also host two Coffeehouses per year. Enjoy sharing your favorite tune(s) in a relaxed setting.

Practice Rooms

We'll open a monthly Zoom practice room for Mastery students of all levels to practice independently in a focused group environment.

Mastery Community Board

Enjoy communicating with your fellow Mastery peers through our private Mastery-only community board on Circle.

Plus, enjoy access to Fiddle School community perks!

By joining Mastery and keeping your Fiddle School membership current, you get access to weekly Office Hours and our whole vibrant fiddle community.

Inside a year in Mastery 5

Refine/internalize tunes and techniques while adding variations

Monthly & Quarterly Performances to help you pause and go deep

Deepen your understanding of vibrato and shifting

Build jamming skills and incorporate fiddle tune language

build memorization skills via understanding tunes and dexterity

MONTHS 1-4

LEARN & MASTER

-

Months 1-3: 

Learn tunes/refine techniques

Monthly performances

Month 4: 

Mastery Certification Performance #1  (2-3 tunes)

Refine and review your tunes

Jam Session (All Mastery)

MONTHS 5-8

REINFORCE & MASTER

-

Months 5-7: 

Learn tunes/refine techniques

Monthly performances

Coffeehouse (All Mastery)

Video showcase #1 & Feedback

Month 8: 

Mastery Certification Performance #2 (2-3 tunes)

MONTHS 9-12

LEVEL UP, MASTER, GRADUATE!

-

Months 9-11: 

Learn tunes/refine techniques

Monthly performances

Coffeehouse & Jam Session

Video showcase #2 & Feedback

Month 12: 

 Mastery Certification Performance #3 (2-3 tunes)

Inside a Month in Mastery 5

Weekly Schedule

Mondays • 4 PM MT

week 1

SKILL BUILDING CLASS

Katie Glassman

-

In-depth teaching on the Lesson of the month. This skill-building class is your opportunity to improve your playing on the spot!

WEEK 2

TUNE WORKOUT

Celeste Johnson

-

Work out on the "checkpoints" of each tune and measure your progress. Fiddle School's sequential tunes method gives a new technique each month. 

WEEK 3

PERFORMANCE MASTERCLASS 

Katie or Celeste

(Rotates Monthly)

-

A class dedicated to performances and deeper coaching.

Five students get to perform each month – just like it is now.

WEEK 4

PRACTICE ROOM

Katie & Celeste

(OPTIONAL)

-

A focused monthly practice session  for all fiddlers to practice independently.

 *Meets Monday at 5 PM MT.

Jams and Coffeehouses will take this slot when scheduled.

Worried that you'll have to miss some classes? 

Don't worry - you'll never miss a thing.

While we want to see you at as many classes as possible, there will always be a video replay for you to watch later.

Class Schedule/Structure

Classes begin in January 2024 and meet on Mondays at 4 PM MT (and one Monday per month at 5 PM MT).

• 1st Mondays - Skill Building Class with Katie Glassman

• 2nd Mondays - Fiddle Tune Study & Workout with Celeste Johnson

• 3rd Mondays - Performance Masterclass with Katie or Celeste (Rotates monthly)

• 4th Mondays - Practice Room at 5 PM MT (Virtual Jam Sessions and Coffeehouses will take this slot when scheduled)

Mastery Video Posts

Twice a year, you get to post a video of yourself playing one fiddle tune in the Fiddle School Private Online Community. This is Katie's favorite way to coach you -- she'll then post an in-depth video response for each student with her feedback. We encourage every student to watch the other performances videos, comment on each other's posts, and take advantage of the amount of instruction in Katie's feedback videos.

Jam Sessions

Twice a year, all Mastery students will be invited to attend a Zoom jam session. It's a great opportunity to maintain your repertoire, play for fun, and see how well you know your tunes. Extra bonus points if you set up a live jam session in your area.

Coffeehouse

Mastery fiddlers are invited to participate in two Coffeehouses per year. This is a casual (online) performance environment for you to share a tune of your choice. Plus, it's a great opportunity to get to know one another!

***NEW***

In addition to your bi-monthly performances, enjoy getting feedback at multiple checkpoints throughout the year by playing 3 Certification Performances! You get to play two performances (of 2-3 tunes) during the year, and our last class of the year is your Final Certification Performance.

MAY: Certification Performance #1 includes 2-3 tunes from Jan - April

SEP: CertificationPerformance #2 includes 2-3 tunes from Jan -Aug

DEC: Certification Performance #3 includes 2-3 tunes from the year 

We ask that you perform your tunes with guitar backup tracks, without sheet music (memorized). After demonstrating proficiency with refining repertoire from Sessions 1-4, you will receive a personalized and signed Fiddle School Mastery 5 Certificate.

Pricing

Mastery gives you a full year of personalized support at less than half the cost of weekly private lessons. Pay for the year up front or take advantage of a monthly payment plan. 

Early Bird Discount!

opens September 18 to current students

$1375/year 

***Best value: get two months free***

-or- 

$125/monthly (Save $20/month)

Full Price

Effective october 16

$1625 / year 

**(save $115/year) **

or

$145 / monthly

*If you enroll in Mastery, you will need to maintain an active Fiddle Annual membership in order to access the class materials. (This is not included in the price of Mastery.)

i can't wait to work with you in mastery 5!