Historically Informed Summer School, Aug 2015, Scarborough

Stewart is renowned as one of the top fiddle tutors in the UK. He is both classically trained and steeped in the traditional music of Northumberland & Scotland, which is reflected in his approach to teaching. In great demand as both a private tutor, and as a workshop leader, Stewart can be found teaching across the UK and beyond, leading regular and one-off workshops, tutoring on Summer Schools and leading projects in schools.

In 2018 Stewart created the North East Fiddle School. Weekly classes for adults in Fiddle Technique and Style were held in Gosforth, Newcastle on Wednesday evenings. NEFS moved onto Zoom during lockdown, and was so successful, allowing access for fiddle players from all over the country to join, that Wednesday evenings are now entirely on Zoom. Additional video tutorials and all Zoom call recordings are also available on-demand, and a full Saturday in-person workshop is held every block. Directed and taught by Stewart Hardy, alongside other inspirational tutors.

Regular residential weekend courses are taught through JSArts in Fiddle Technique (Standard and Advanced Level), Arrangement Techniques for Mixed Instruments, and Ensemble Playing workshops for Mixed Instruments. Stewart also founded and is a leader of Tyneside Fiddle Alliance, and works as a guest tutor for other groups and events around the UK.

For many years Stewart was a core instrumental tutor and lecturer on the Folk Degree at Newcastle University. He also directed the Folkworks Adult Summer School for three years as well as several award winning European projects for young musicians.

JSArts Music Workshops Residential weekend workshops in Fiddle Technique, Arrangement Techniques and Style & Repertoire
North East Fiddle School Weekly group classes in Fiddle Technique and Style & Repertoire
Private Tuition One to one private lessons
Workshops by arrangement Fiddle workshops

Mixed Instrument workshops

Ensembles

One-day workouts
Community Projects  Tyneside Fiddle Alliance
School Presentations The Holly and The Ivy Winter Roadshow

Fiddles in Harmony

Winter Warmers

“Thank you, you were brilliant! You started promptly, supported us right through to the end of the session, gave extra help during your lunch-break, socialised and made every single person feel they had a contribution to make. You gave 150% throughout the whole High Energy weekend.”

Kitty Greenwood
Wisewood Folk, Workshop Organiser, Shropshire

“I was really impressed by Stewart – he clearly knows his stuff and is a stunning player, but I haven’t come across such a good teacher before who was able to break everything down so clearly and to build it back up again so successfully. I do hope that you will be able to invite him down again, I wouldn’t want to miss it.”

Charlotte Berry
Course participant

“Stewart Hardy is pre-eminent among the many fine fiddle tutors with whom I’ve worked. His teaching is characterised by meticulous, clearly-focused preparation, effective structure, attention to detail, rigour, positive encouragement, good humour, patience, kindness and care. He has demanding yet reasonable expectations of his students, and makes sure his workshops are enjoyable, purposeful and productive. Thus his students, at all levels, become better and more confident players. He is the complete professional.”

David Oliver
Folkworks Education Director (1993-2007)
Lecturer in Folk Music Education, Newcastle University and Durham University
Chair of FolkArts England (2003-2009)
Director Folkworks Summer Schools

rothbury18

Rothbury Traditional Music Festival, Fiddle Workshop, July 2014