Founded in 1984, the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in the northern California redwoods invites you to a week of intensive study, recreation, and good times with people who share an interest in the music and dance traditions of Scotland and beyond. Directed by Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser in the beautiful setting of Camp Campbell in the Santa Cruz mountains, string players and other musicians of all ages and abilities are encouraged to explore their own musical expression and potential in a supportive, non-competitive environment. The camp provides a total immersion experience, with participants and instructors living, learning, jamming and playing together in community. The main teaching focus is on the fiddle, featuring Scottish and related fiddle styles; there are also guitar, cello, keyboard, dance and song classes. All classes are taught by ear without written music. Evening activities feature jamming, dancing, singing and generally uproarious fun; recreational opportunities include swimming, hiking, and exploring the redwood trails. Cello, piano, mandolin and guitar classes are designed for intermediate to advanced level players.

Alasdair Fraser, director of the camp, excels in expressing the beauty and energy of traditional Scottish fiddling and in creating exciting new music informed by that tradition. A gifted teacher, Alasdair has inspired legions of accomplished and aspiring musicians through his concerts, recordings, and workshops. At his influential summer camps – the renowned Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in California, his fiddle course at Sabhal mor Ostaig Gaelic College on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, Sierra Fiddle Camp, and most recently, Crisol de Cuerda in Spain – Fraser uses the power of music and dance to create and enhance community.