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NOTE: This page describes a typical program for our annual in-person summer workshop. The program for the current year may differ.
For information on our online programs including the Open Hearth Winter Workshop, please see the web page for that specific program.
All activities take place at Folklore Village, located in a peaceful, rural setting about seven miles east of Dodgeville, WI and about a 35-minute drive west of Madison, WI. The beautiful, air-conditioned main hall includes a spacious sprung wooden dance floor and separate classrooms for fiddle instruction.
General schedule
Instruction begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon and ends with lunch on Sunday after a morning review session. Part-timers are welcome. See the registration form for options.
Hardingfele: The HFAA welcomes hardingfele students at all skill levels, from complete beginner to serious amateur to the professional player. No prior experience playing hardingfele is required. We offer four concurrent classes--one Beginner level, two Intermediate level, and one Advanced level, with special Beginner Mentoring available on request to those who have never played a bowed stringed instrument before. Here is a more detailed description of our classes:
Beginner level: Beginner level students should have at least 3 months' experience with a bowed stringed instrument. However, if you have never played a bowed stringed instrument before, we offer beginner mentoring to bring you up to speed in basic bowed string-playing techniques so that you can join the beginner class; please contact the hardingfele instruction coordinator at fiddle_coord@hfaa.org for more information. The Beginner level class starts with an in-depth review of the basics; tuning, holding the fiddle and bow, proper instrument setup, and bowing and fingering notes on the hardingfele. Students learn a couple of simple tunes by ear, broken down into small phrases. Exercises in fiddle technique are provided including simple bowing patterns, basic dance rhythms, tone production and intonation. At the completion of the class students will be able to tune their fiddles, play a couple of simple tunes, understand fiddle technique and know the basics to be able to practice at home.
Intermediate I level: Intermediate I level students should have 1-2 years experience playing a bowed string instrument. Students should be able to tune their fiddles and have a good understanding of the techniques required to play and be able to learn tunes by ear. Four to five tunes will be taught slowly, broken down into phrases. Examples of tunes taught in this class might be: one to two beginner-level springars/gangars and/or three to four low-intermediate-level gamaldans tunes. Students are taught the basics of techniques for playing double stops (playing on two strings), and rhythmic patterns and how they apply to dance tunes.
Intermediate II level: Intermediate level students should have 2-3 years experience playing a bowed string instrument. Students should have a good understanding of the techniques required to play and be able to learn tunes by ear. Four to five more complex tunes will be taught at a good pace, broken down into phrases. Examples of tunes taught in this class might be: two to three intermediate-level springars/gangars and/or three to four advanced-level gamaldans tunes. Students are taught hardingfele ornamentation, styling, techniques for playing double stops, and rhythmic patterns and how they apply to dance tunes, and can expect at the completion of the class to be able to play at least one tune at dance tempo together with the class group.
Advanced level: Advanced students should have at least one year of experience playing different hardingfele bygdedans (springar, gangar, rull, halling) tunes, and be able to learn tunes by ear (note that learning by ear is a requirement for participation in this class). This class is led by a master teacher from Norway specializing in a particular regional tradition, and the teaching proceeds at an intensive pace. Students can expect to learn five to six advanced-level bygdedans tunes. Students are taught the details of authentic styling, ornamentation and rhythm appropriate to the teacher's tradition, and can expect at the completion of the class to be able to play at least one bygdedans tune from the teacher's tradition at dance tempo together with the class group.
Sample Schedule (subject to change)
Thursday
12:00 - 1:00 - Registration
1:00 - 5:00 - Dance and hardingfele classes
6:00 - 7:30 - Dinner
7:30 on - Dance party
Friday
8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast and registration
9:00 - 9:30 - Orientation
9:30 - 12:30 - Dance and hardingfele classes
12:30 - 1:15 - Lunch
2:00 - 5:00 - Dance and hardingfele classes
6:00 - 7:00 - Dinner
7:15 - 8:15 - Talent Showcase concert
8:30 on - Dance party
Saturday
8:00 - 9:00 - Breakfast and registration
9:00 - 12:30 - Dance and hardingfele classes
12:30 - 1:15 - Lunch
1:15 - 2:15 - HFAA Annual Business Meeting and election of officers
2:15- 5:30 - Dance and hardingfele classes
6:30 - 8:00 - Banquet
8:00 - 9:30 - Gala Staff Concert
9:30 on - Dance party
Sunday
9:00 - 10:00 - Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 - Review of dance and hardingfele classes
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 - Pack, farewells
We encourage you to study these class descriptions to help you find the class that is best for you. However, if at any time you feel your selected class does not meet your needs, you are welcome to switch to any other class.
All hardingfele classes are taught in the traditional manner by ear; students are allowed and encouraged to use audio recording equipment in the classes. Upon registration, students are given access to download mp3 files of all tunes to be taught for study in advance of the workshop. In addition, we provide written transcriptions of all tunes to be taught, to be used for reference after learning the tune by ear. These will be available at no cost as a downloadable pdf file beginning on the Monday before the workshop begins. It will also be possible to download the file on wifi-equipped devices via the wifi network at Folklore Village during the workshop. Students who wish to receive a paper copy of the transcriptions at the workshop must request one on the registration form by the deadline specified on the form; a fee applies.
Students without a hardingfele are welcome to attend; just sign up for our Workshop Hardingfele Loan Program.
Four to five hours of instruction are provided each day on Friday and Saturday, and 3 hours each day on Thursday and Sunday. Additionally 2 to 4 hours during the weekend are devoted to lecture/demonstrations and group playing practice.
Dance: The HFAA does not set any gender limitations or experience prerequisites for our dance classes; all are welcome. Instruction is tailored to both beginning and experienced dancers. Morning classes focus on the featured dance tradition. In the afternoon, instruction in the featured tradition continues, and we may also offer lectures on other hardingfele-related dance traditions, question-and-answer sessions, and an opportunity to view and discuss Norwegian dance videos. Dancing in classes and at parties is to live hardingfele music.
NEW! Contemporary Explorations of the Hardanger Fiddle with Dan Trueman: Participants will explore new creative possibilities with the Hardanger fiddle. This might include: making tunes (traditional or otherwise) or compositions, exploring improvisation, learning about tunings and tuning systems, considering ensemble settings for the instrument along with notational possibilities, and collaborative approaches. Experience composing or improvising is not required, though experienced musicians/composers/improvisors are welcome. The class will be tailored as much as possible to the interests and levels of the participants, though experience playing a bowed stringed instrument is expected (this will not be a technique-teaching class, though techniques will be discussed for taking advantage of the special characteristics of the Hardanger fiddle and Hardanger d’Amore). Participants with interests in closely related instruments, like the Hardanger d’Amore, are welcome. This class is offered for 2025 only.
Music in Motion: Norwegian Dance Basics: Two one-hour classes in popular Norwegian dances such as vals and reinlender may be offered. These classes are suitable both for anyone with no prior dance experience and for experienced dancers who want to polish their skills. These classes will provide students with more exposure to the dances that are commonly done during our evening parties, and allow anyone, both fiddlers and dancers, to join in.
Hardanger Fiddle Construction: We occasionally offer a four-day, full-time course in the basics of hardingfele construction. Detailed information will be available on the registration form.
Note to all students: Dance and hardingfele classes are taught concurrently. If a student wishes to take full-day classes in both, we recommend signing up for hardingfele on Friday and dance on Saturday. Saturday-only enrollees should be aware that classes on Saturday build partially on the work done on Friday. Beginner mentoring on hardingfele is offered on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning only.
And more . . .
Singing: In some years our workshop may include two one-hour classes in kveding (Norwegian traditional singing) (check the registration form).
Dance parties each evening feature a variety of fiddlers, including faculty members and the student lagspel (group playing) ensemble. Fiddlers perform music for dances from different regions of Norway, which offers attendees a chance to practice dances taught at previous HFAA workshops as well as the dance(s) being currently taught.
Talent Showcase: Our Talent Showcase, held on Friday night, is an opportunity for workshop participants to display their talents, regardless of musical or dance genre. Performance slots are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up at check-in on Thursday.
Festive Saturday evening includes a traditional Norwegian dinner (many choose to wear bunad—traditional dress), a parade of all fiddlers, and a concert featuring our workshop staff. The general public may purchase tickets for the concert at the door. Those not already participating in the workshop who wish to attend the dinner must make reservations in advance using the workshop registration form.
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