Technique is important but joy and sensitivity is where it's at!
I assist my students with not just how to play the notes but also how to listen and how to groove. |
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Photo by Juan Luís Jiménez
Music has always been a joyful thread running through my life — and I love helping others weave it into theirs. I'm Colleen Freeman, a traditional fiddle player, music educator, and cultural advocate, passionate about connecting technique with creativity, groove, and heart. I specialize in classical and folk fiddle styles, offering supportive, personalized instruction in person and online. I work with learners of all ages and backgrounds who are ready to explore, grow, and find their own musical voice. Let's make music a lifelong source of joy and connection!
"Colleen is amazing. I am a new adult violin player and she is the most patient and observant instructor. I would highly recommend her!!"
-Lisa M.
"I love working with Colleen Freeman! She's a fantastic musician and teacher. She knows so much about Irish tradition, technique, musicality, and the whole package."
-Diane H.
"I can’t say enough good things about Colleen! She is a talented musician who writes and performs her own music, and she is a phenomenal instructor – patient, responsive, and kind. She has a soft-spoken, gentle manner, yet she is persistent in her efforts to get the most out of her students; she won’t let them settle for mediocrity. I have lessons with Colleen once a week, but I’m in touch with her throughout the week. She sends me sheet music, recordings of her playing, anything that she thinks will help me practice. On top of being a great instructor, Colleen helps her students connect with the fiddle community in Bellingham. She frequently invites me to local events, and she makes sure I know about festivals and workshops in the area. I feel very lucky to have found Colleen and I highly recommend her!"
-Annie K.
"Colleen brings a contagious joy to her teaching sessions. It’s hard not to have fun!"
-Bill D.
-Lisa M.
"I love working with Colleen Freeman! She's a fantastic musician and teacher. She knows so much about Irish tradition, technique, musicality, and the whole package."
-Diane H.
"I can’t say enough good things about Colleen! She is a talented musician who writes and performs her own music, and she is a phenomenal instructor – patient, responsive, and kind. She has a soft-spoken, gentle manner, yet she is persistent in her efforts to get the most out of her students; she won’t let them settle for mediocrity. I have lessons with Colleen once a week, but I’m in touch with her throughout the week. She sends me sheet music, recordings of her playing, anything that she thinks will help me practice. On top of being a great instructor, Colleen helps her students connect with the fiddle community in Bellingham. She frequently invites me to local events, and she makes sure I know about festivals and workshops in the area. I feel very lucky to have found Colleen and I highly recommend her!"
-Annie K.
"Colleen brings a contagious joy to her teaching sessions. It’s hard not to have fun!"
-Bill D.
Questions and Answers
What are your rates?
My rates are $40 for 30 minutes, $50 for 45 minutes, and $65 for 1 hour. Add $10 per additional student (up to 2 extra students per lesson). Add $10 if I travel to you.
What education and/or training do you have?
I started learning violin just before I turned 6, studying classical technique through the Suzuki Method. Around age 9, I discovered my Irish roots and became deeply enthralled with Celtic fiddle music. For the next 8 years, I studied both classical violin and fiddle styles with local teacher/musician Anna Schaad before moving to Virginia for school, where I launched my teaching career and became a three-time consecutive winner of the State Fiddle Competition.
Today, I play a wide range of folk music — from Swedish to Brazilian to Old Time — and regularly attend camps and workshops as both a student and an instructor.
In 2018, I self-released an EP of original songs composed while traveling by bicycle across Europe (Horse Without Wings). In 2021, I released Pleasant Bay with my band The Wandering Seas (mostly original instrumental compositions), and in 2022, an EP of all original songs and tunes with my band Marie, The Band, Where I Wanna Be. We’re currently recording a full-length album — album pre-sale available here!
How did you get started with teaching?
I began teaching violin lessons as a way to pay my way through college — it was a flexible job that fit around my school schedule and something I genuinely enjoyed from the start.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with total beginners through advanced intermediate players, ages 5 to 65+.
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The first thing I like to learn is what the student's ideal learning process looks like. Not everyone can easily express this, but they can often describe a violinist or fiddler who inspired them, or (if they’ve been playing a while) talk about the challenges they’re facing and what they dream of being able to do.
If a student is brand new, I jump right into how to hold the instrument and some basic bowing. If they're not totally new, I have them show me what they know — usually while they're playing, I spot a few key things that tell me where to begin. From there, my goal is to keep them excited and challenged, helping them build confidence as they grow their technique and sensitivity.
My rates are $40 for 30 minutes, $50 for 45 minutes, and $65 for 1 hour. Add $10 per additional student (up to 2 extra students per lesson). Add $10 if I travel to you.
What education and/or training do you have?
I started learning violin just before I turned 6, studying classical technique through the Suzuki Method. Around age 9, I discovered my Irish roots and became deeply enthralled with Celtic fiddle music. For the next 8 years, I studied both classical violin and fiddle styles with local teacher/musician Anna Schaad before moving to Virginia for school, where I launched my teaching career and became a three-time consecutive winner of the State Fiddle Competition.
Today, I play a wide range of folk music — from Swedish to Brazilian to Old Time — and regularly attend camps and workshops as both a student and an instructor.
In 2018, I self-released an EP of original songs composed while traveling by bicycle across Europe (Horse Without Wings). In 2021, I released Pleasant Bay with my band The Wandering Seas (mostly original instrumental compositions), and in 2022, an EP of all original songs and tunes with my band Marie, The Band, Where I Wanna Be. We’re currently recording a full-length album — album pre-sale available here!
How did you get started with teaching?
I began teaching violin lessons as a way to pay my way through college — it was a flexible job that fit around my school schedule and something I genuinely enjoyed from the start.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with total beginners through advanced intermediate players, ages 5 to 65+.
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The first thing I like to learn is what the student's ideal learning process looks like. Not everyone can easily express this, but they can often describe a violinist or fiddler who inspired them, or (if they’ve been playing a while) talk about the challenges they’re facing and what they dream of being able to do.
If a student is brand new, I jump right into how to hold the instrument and some basic bowing. If they're not totally new, I have them show me what they know — usually while they're playing, I spot a few key things that tell me where to begin. From there, my goal is to keep them excited and challenged, helping them build confidence as they grow their technique and sensitivity.