Welcome friends, I'm Ida Mae!

Welcome to our new online community!

Here you will find three distinct subscription offerings tailored to different needs and interests. All subscribers will receive a monthly email newsletter which will include an update on my music, alerts for new releases, and behind-the-scenes content. I invite you to join this community of music lovers and learners and look forward to getting to know you. Thank you so much for your support. Let the music play!

1. Backstage Guest

Welcome to the Green Room!

For $5 a month, you can become a "Backstage Guest." Every month, I will record a special performance of a song or a tune just for subscribers! These videos will be posted on the Subscriber page (this page) on my website, which will only be accessible to you and other Backstage Guests. They will also be emailed to you along with my newsletter. Feel free to request covers of your favorite songs! With exclusive access to a chat forum on the Subscriber page, this option is suited for everyone. Since I collaborate with multiple artists and perform with a variety of bands, the musical menu will change every month. In addition to solo performance videos, expect to hear from Terrible Mountain Stringband, John Specker, and good friends old and new!

2. Everyone Plays! (Fiddle Lessons for Beginners)

Interested in playing the fiddle? Start or continue your journey as a beginning fiddle student. 

Learn real traditional tunes right from the start with my no-fail teaching method I have honed for the past 13 years. Every month, one 30-minute pre-recorded fiddle lesson will be delivered straight to your inbox. The video will be accompanied by an email containing extra listening content and background information on the tune. Additionally, this subscription comes with access to ALL content from the Backstage Guest tier, so you can enjoy exclusive performance videos and connect with like-minded folks. The lessons will be tunes mostly from the Appalachian tradition, interspersed with Irish, Bluegrass and French Canadian tunes!

In each fiddle lesson video, I will:

• Go over instrument basics, including how to properly hold the fiddle and bow
• Introduce the tune, with some basic background information including where I learned to play it
• Play the tune a couple of times through up to tempo
• Lead a scale in the key of the tune
• Go through some bowing exercises to get our rhythm sections warmed up
• Teach the tune phrase by phrase, slowly working up to playing a whole section
• Play the whole tune slowly
• Go over variations and give suggestions for how to make the tune your own

3. Intermediate Fiddle Student

Dive deeper into building your repertoire as an intermediate fiddle student.

Every month, one 30-minute pre-recorded fiddle lesson geared towards more experienced fiddlers will be delivered straight to your inbox. The video will be accompanied by an email containing extra listening content and background information on the tune. Additionally, this subscription comes with access to ALL content from the Backstage Guest tier, so you can enjoy exclusive performance videos and connect with like-minded folks. The lessons will be tunes mostly from the Appalachian tradition, interspersed with Irish, Bluegrass and French Canadian tunes! Expect special guest appearances by John Specker and more guidance on bowing and stylistic variations. Plus, you get access to the beginner level fiddle lesson video too! 

In each fiddle lesson video, I will:

• Introduce the tune, with some basic background information including where I learned to play it
• Play the tune a couple of times through up to tempo
• Lead a scale in the key of the tune
• Go through some bowing exercises to get our rhythm sections warmed up
• Teach the tune phrase by phrase, slowly working up to playing a whole section
• Play the whole tune slowly, then up-to-tempo
• Go over variations and give suggestions for how to make the tune your own