Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - December 23, 2024 - There is a new Métis fiddling class at the University of Manitoba's Desautels Faculty of Music, taught by Patti Kusturok (pictured), who is in the North American Fiddlers‘ Hall of Fame.

There is a plan to include Indigenous knowledge in the university's program outside of Indigenous Studies.

This course is part of that plan and is meant to introduce students to the music and culture of traditional fiddling.

There will be playing lessons for credit in the course during the 2024–2025 school year.

No experience is needed because students are given instruments while they are registered.

There will be 10 spots for students in the course during the 2024–2025 school year.

People learn to play the fiddle by ear and learn it by listening. Native American studies graduate student Krysta Alexon signed up for the fiddle class even though she had never played before and said it made her feel like she belonged and was part of a group.