In 1863, Ole Bull got the idea to start an academy based on Norwegian folk music, and a ballet inspired by Norwegian rural dances. More than a century later, Sigbjørn Bernhoft Osa revived this idea, and in 1977 Ole Bull Akademiet (OBA) started its courses for violin students from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo and the Bergen Conservatory of Music. The students learned slåttespel, the traditional Norwegian violin or fiddle music. Activities have stadily increased, and by the end of 2003, more than 9.000 students from Norwegian colleges and universities had attended courses in folk music and folk dance at Ole Bull Akademiet. The instruction is organized through short courses, usually in a week. The actual teaching is a mix of lectures, listening and active participation. It will be given an introduction to vocal folk music, various folk instruments, rhythm, form and style analysis of the proposed music, and the students get to meet some of our leading practitioners of fiddling, dancing and kveding.