SATURDAY, MAY 31st

12:00pm
Oldtime Fiddle with Brain Slattery​

Pour The Tune into the Rhythm

The rhythmic system of Appalachian bowing patterns can be thought of as an alphabet that lets you make words and sentences out of rhythms. (Those interested in getting a jump on this can check out a video I made, up for free on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__fT_P0Zp74) In this workshop, using a few patterns and a basic tune, we'll talk about strategies for varying the rhythms throughout every tune you play, to make the tunes you already know say different things every time you play them and keep dancers moving.  

 

12:00pm

Bass Workshop with Charlie Shaw​

We'll briefly discuss left and right hand techniques for the beginner bass players in the workshop. Then we'll focus on finding and creating groove in Old Time, and options beyond doing the "1-5-1-5" of the chord, particularly when moving from one chord to another. Questions and suggestions are absolutely encouraged.

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12:00pm
Oldtime Guitar with Molly Merrit

In this beginning/intermediate level workshop we’ll cover the basics of old time guitar, including navigating the chords and keys most frequently encountered in old time fiddle tunes. We’ll go over the boom/chuck strumming pattern and look at bass notes and walk ups. We will practice accompanying a fiddle tune and listening for chord changes. ​​

1:30pm

 

Oldtime Fiddle with Jenny Monfore​

'Short, Sweet and a Little Bit Squirrely'​​

Everyone should have a few short, easy, slightly funky tunes in their repertoire to bust out at jams! 

In this workshop, we'll learn a couple simple--and tad squirrely--little tunes that are jam-friendly

yet not commonly played in the old time scene.  At the end of class, I'll play a bonus tune slowly

for folks to record and learn on their own at home. 

Skill level: folks should feel comfortable cross-tuning their fiddle.
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1:30pm

Oldtime Banjo with Maggie Shar

Sawmill Licks & Tricks 

Learn the important hotspots using the pentatonic scale to make playing in modal tuning (gDGCD) easier.  This workshop will focus on the traditional tune Little Sadie (as sung by Doc Watson),  paired with some hot licks you can squeeze into any modal tune.  

1:30pm
Mandolin 101 with Matt Flinner​​​​

This course will start at a beginning/intermediate level and progress to a solidly intermediate level.  This course will introduce students to the use of double stops and various positions on the neck, as well as various picking and fingerboard exercises to help develop good mandolin technique and knowledge of the fretboard.  Each week, students are given two standard bluegrass tunes (and encouraged to learn at least one of them); that week’s exercises are correlated to the tunes during the week’s practice session so that students find practical ways of using the exercises in their playing.

3:00pm
Oldtime Banjo with with Brian Slattery​​​

Beyond the Bum Ditty

Clawhammer banjo is a much more versatile technique than it's usually given credit for. In this workshop, we'll explore how it can be used to play a multiplicity of rhythms, some of which reach back into the banjo's 400-year history, some of which are drawn from other places, and all of

which can be used to vary up your playing and open up new possibilities.

 

3:00pm
Cajun Tunes with Karen Taylor (and bring a guitar!)

Immerse yourself in the rhythm and melodic traditions of Southwest Louisiana!

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This fiddle workshop will focus on learning techniques like double-stops, drones, and the signature "swing" of Cajun two-steps and waltzes.​ Karen will teach a tune (or two if there's time) then follow that up by teaching a backup, harmony fiddle part to achieve the classic "two-fiddle" Cajun style. 

Karen will be accompanied by Grant Marolf on guitar, so bring your guitar and we'll cover guitar accompaniment for Cajun tunes as well!!

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3:00pm

Oldtime Fiddle with Nate Paine

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Nate Paine is widely considered the primary protege and the "closest living source" of the late Jon Bekoff’s fiddle style. Like Bekoff, Paine’s playing is noted for its "easy-paced" yet slow, driving delivery. This rhythm is often achieved through a combination of saw strokes and a "Georgia shuffle" pattern, creating a constant, dancing pulse. Nate says, “In this workshop we’ll break down a few tunes, and talk about tools and mantras that can get us out of those slumps and back into that sweet, everlasting flow.”

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4:30pm

Oldtime Fiddle with Laura Marawski​​

Exploring Rhythmic Ideas in Old Time Fiddle
We all find ourselves drawn to particular fiddle tunes and particular players. We love hearing that rhythmic thing that makes us want to dance or, alternatively, stand and stare at what the players are doing to get that sound. In this workshop we will be exploring how to put those bowing patterns into a couple of Tommy Jarrell tunes. Simple practices to develop that muscle memory. 

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4:30pm
Harmony Singing with Brendan Taaffe

Classic Brother Harmony Duets

The Delmore Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, The Stanley Brothers—these classic brother duets were very important in the shaping of early country music. We’ll create a foundation for understanding their approach to harmony and then look at some examples, learning both parts from some classic cuts. All levels of experience welcome, all parts taught by ear.

4:30pm

Advanced Mandolin soloing with Matt Flinner​​​

We’ll examine the mandolin styles of many of the bluegrass masters: Bill Monroe, Tim O’Brien, Ronnie McCoury and many others, and we’ll try incorporating and expanding on various aspects of  their playing on a couple of bluegrass standard songs (or sometimes not-so-standard, but great tunes!). Each week, students will look at two recorded solos by one of the greats, along with some related exercises to help both improve technique and find ways of using melodic ideas in other solos.

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