Top-rated fiddle lessons in Portland, Oregon and online.

Sound better, feel confident at jams,
and understand your fingerboard.

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About Me

Welcome! I’m Celeste, a five-time national fiddle champion and Portland fiddle teacher. I help fiddlers of all ages and levels achieve their musical goals and have fun doing it. Whether you’re a beginner fiddler or you have decades of advanced fiddle experience, I’ll give you the tools you need to level up.

My Story

Testimonials

  • "Celeste has a gift of honing in on exactly what I need, conveying these insights in a way that makes sense, and ultimately bringing out the best in me. I end up sounding better right then and there."

    Lisa P.

  • "Celeste has been instrumental in reminding me what I love about playing the fiddle and helping cultivate my continued love for the genre and instrument."

    Amaya B.

  • "It has been so fun and rewarding to work with Celeste. She is fun, supportive, and truly committed to teaching me how to play the fiddle! Best music teacher I have ever had."

    Matthew S.

  • "I highly recommend Celeste for anyone who wishes to improve their fiddling skills at whatever their level. She’s super fun, exceptionally attentive, as well as an extremely motivating instructor."

    Bev F.

  • "Celeste is always able to hear and see the areas in a song that need basics reinforced for me, and explains technique in a way that I totally understand. She is so calm and kind! I feel that my learning curve has accelerated with Celeste's help."

    Sharon W.

  • "Celeste is THE best teacher I’ve ever had for anything. She’s very calm, and lessons are relaxed, fun, productive and never boring. Her method is exceptionally effective, without stress or frustration. I HIGHLY recommend her for both people who have played music and those with absolutely no musical experience."

    Melissa M.

  • "Celeste has been teaching my son since he was 6 years old. He's now almost 16 and still excited to work with her every week. She's taught him how to be a well-rounded, independent learner and constantly develops his creativity. Celeste is kind, very patient, and knowledgeable with a lifetime of experience in fiddle music."

    Rachel Q.

  • "My son has studied with Celeste for many years and she is absolutely amazing! He has learned some amazing tunes from her that he has used for live performances with a band. She can bring a fiddle player to the next level. Highly recommend her!"

    Mora C.

Fiddle Lessons

I specialize in Bluegrass, Texas-style oldtime, country, and Western Swing fiddle lessons. My students learn primarily by ear with a focus on technique and authenticity.

More about lessons

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I teach many fiddling styles, including Texas-style, Bluegrass, Western swing, swing-era jazz, and more.

  • I teach fiddle to learners ages 4 and up.

  • I teach all levels from brand-new beginners to experienced, advanced players.

  • When you take lessons with me, you’ll receive:

    • personalized instruction on technique, practice skills, music theory, and level-appropriate repertoire

    • sequential learning objectives and accountability (if you’ve been languishing as a self-taught fiddler, this one’s for you)

    • connection with a supportive fiddle community through regular student gatherings (in person and online)

    • custom guitar tracks

    • instructional videos on tunes and technique

    • chord charts

    • sheet music when needed

    • listening tracks so you can learn by ear

    • encouraging, no-pressure performance opportunities

    • lesson notes

    • supplementary printable resources

  • I teach by ear, the way fiddle tunes have been passed down for hundreds of years. In lessons, I emphasize good technique, rhythmic groove, stylistic authenticity, and the most important thing: fun!

    By learning sequential fiddle tunes, each of my students builds skills that allow for jamming, performing, improvising, competing, and ensemble playing. Community is an essential piece of fiddling culture.

  • Weekly lessons are the best way to make consistent progress. Weekly students receive 42 lessons in the calendar year and pay a flat monthly fee as follows:

    30 mins ………. $175
    45 mins ………. $263
    60 mins ………. $350

    Your lesson rate includes more than just our weekly meeting. Weekly students receive:

    • 42 private lessons per year

    • Guitar tracks

    • Customized lesson recap videos

    • Tune-learning videos

    • Chord charts

    • Sheet music as needed

    • Supplemental learning materials & resources

    • Online and in-person jam sessions

    • Fiddle listening hours

    • Student showcases and performance opportunities

    • Access to previously recorded webinars through the online portal

    Every student gets these perks, whether you study online or in person. For in-person youth students, a monthly group class/fiddle social hour is included too.

    Lessons scheduled à la carte cost a bit more per lesson. À la carte lessons are as follows per lesson:

    30 mins ………. $53
    45 mins ………. $80
    60 mins ………. $106