Beginning Fiddle – Leah Brass – AM Class

Let’s learn to LOVE the fiddle!

We will cover correct right and left hand posture to get the most tone we can out of those little fiddles.

Simple tunes will be taught as stepping stones to bigger and better tunes.

Tunes will be given in tablature. A recording of tunes taught will also be given to students.

Advanced Beginning – Emilie Miller – AM Class

Hey everyone, let’s play some awesome tunes and make friends! I will be covering proper technique when playing and some fun fiddle tunes. I will also be giving tips on how to make practicing at home fun. My materials will be tablature.

Advanced Beginning Fiddle – Leah Brass – PM Class

I like to teach tunes that highlight techniques that need to be learned. Playing on your finger tips, right arm levels, correct left and right hand positions are needed to make tunes sound the best they can. I will also cover tips on how to practice to get the most out of time spent.

Tunes will be given in both tab and notation. A recording of tunes taught will also be given to students.

Lower Intermediate Fiddle – Sheila Wright – AM Class

Student should have a basic understanding of common fiddle tunes; like or similar to Tennessee Waltz, Swallowtail Jig, and Red Wing. I teach with notes, tab, and by ear. I will teach some really fun tunes that can be mastered quickly and played at jams, as well as tunes that will require a bit more practicing. We’ll learn how and what to practice, speedy playing, accurate fingering, bowing, and explore some new keys. If you have class-related questions, my email is fiddlegirl57@outlook.com

Students should bring a music stand, recording device (phones are ok), and a notebook for your own use. I will provide printed notes/tab/chords, a thumb drive for you to take home, and various other materials.

Lower Intermediate Fiddle – Emilie Miller – PM Class

This class we will be covering some more basic fiddle tunes. I will give tips on how to make playing fiddle more fun and a little bit of fiddle technique. I want to help you become an amazing sounding fiddler. My materials will be tablature.

Intermediate Fiddle – Louise Steinway – AM Class

This class is for students who feel comfortable playing a variety of basic fiddle tunes in a jam or on stage.

Style/tunes taught: Canadian and American Old-time, Scottish and Bluegrass.

Our objectives will be to help you expand your repertoire of standard fiddle tunes AND attempt a few challenge tunes. The repertoire of standard tunes are tunes that are played at jams and for dances; reels, jigs, waltzes, polkas and 2-steps. They are mostly in the keys of G, D, A and C. We will go a step beyond just playing the notes of these tunes by focusing on tempo, rhythm, timing and maybe adding a double stop or ornament to make the tunes more danceable and enjoyable to listen to. Bring a positive attitude, be prepared to work and have fun!

Materials provided: Music notation, and tab if needed, will be provided at the end of the week along with links to videos of myself playing the tunes.

Intermediate Fiddle – Mabel Vogt – AM Class

Students will learn tunes in a variety of keys and styles, reviewing scales and arpeggios based on the chord structure for each. Sound recordings with backup will be available, as well as transcribed sheet music. The written music won’t be used in class, since this is a valuable opportunity to practice learning “by ear”, the traditional way fiddle music has evolved and been passed down. I hope you’ll have fun, improve your fiddling skills, and gain confidence in playing by ear. Tunes learned by ear are retained better than music “memorized”. Music learned this way captures, not just the notes, but also the feel and style of the fiddler you learned from. You’ll be learning with your eyes, as well as ears.

Intermediate Fiddle – Louise Steinway PM

This class is for students who feel comfortable playing a variety of basic fiddle tunes in a jam or on stage.

Style/tunes taught: Canadian and American Old-time, Scottish and Bluegrass.

Materials provided: Music notation, and tab if needed, will be provided at the end of the week along with links to videos of myself playing the tunes.

Intermediate Fiddle – Sheila Wright – PM Class

Tunes will begin on a level comparable to Arkansas Traveler, Me & My Fiddle, Ramona Waltz, Dreamers Waltz, and Pig Ankle Rag.

In addition to some great new tunes, we’ll also be learning more about bowing, triplets, positions, double stops, and adding “pizzazz” to your playing. We’ll also touch on basic theory to help you learn how to change a tune to make it yours. Some tunes will be in Bb, and F. Learning will be from notes, tab, and by ear.

Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle – Isaac Callender – AM Class

Be comfortable leading tunes, have a basic understanding of scales and chords and be flexible in learning tunes by ear and a willingness/desire to improvise.

In this course we will be learning tunes mainly by ear with music available at the end of the week if requested. We’ll be covering some Bluegrass, Old-Time, Texas Style and Western swing melodies and how to develop them into your own version. We’ll also cover some different backup techniques for the various styles and work to incorporate those techniques into a class arrangement for the tunes. Lots of playing and lots of fun.

Intermediate/Advanced Fiddle – Mabel Vogt – PM Class

Fiddlers with considerable experience and familiar with many jam tunes will practice techniques for playing tunes with less common chords, more advanced bowing patterns, double stops, 2nd or 3rd position, double shuffle or variations on the melodies. Sound recordings will be downloadable and transcriptions will be handed out, but not used in class. I’ll show you the bowings and embellishments that give the tunes rhythm and expression. I love sharing our cultural heritage of fiddle music.

Beginning Guitar – Shawn Hughes – AM Class

Necessities: Guitar and picks, tuner, pen or pencil, recording device (phone works), notebook.

In this class we will learn the basics of the guitar as well as learning basic chords to play fiddle and bluegrass tunes. We will also learn how to play and jam when you’re first learning to play guitar. This is a beginning class so no pressure to have knowledge of guitar prior to this class. This will be a patient class and we will go at a pace that the majority of the class is comfortable with.

Chord forms and chord charts will be provided. I will also provide an online drive with songs to play chords to at your own pace.

Intermediate Guitar – Pam Borso – AM Class

Prerequisites: Ability to play basic chord formations in A, C, D, E, & G comfortably.

Styles/tunes taught: Most fiddle tunes: Hoedowns, Jigs, Waltzes, Rags, and others.

Course objectives: We will learn bass runs from the beginning including 1,2,3,4, & 5 note runs into other chords in all the basic keys. We will explore dynamics of what makes a good back up musician, including chord positions and substitutions, and rhythm styles. We will learn basic music theory. Explore how to play in a jam and figure out what the next chord is likely to be even if you don’t know the tune.

Materials provided: Numerous printed tunes and practice CD.

Beginning Swing Guitar – Pam Borso – PM Class

Prerequisites: Some familiarity with playing chords smoothly. You will be learning all new chords if you have never played closed, swing chords before.

Styles/tunes taught: Traditional swing tunes, Western swing tunes, some rags, blues and country tunes

Course objectives: Want to unravel the circle of 4ths and 5ths? This introduction to Swing Guitar will teach basic theory as applied to standard swing, western sing and blues tunes. It is primarily a rhythm guitar class. We will start with basic open chords, learn some closed and moveable chords and even passing chords. We will learn key, chord and tune structure. You do not have to read music. We will be using chord charts.

Materials provided: Music for tunes covered in class, including chord diagrams, and a practice and source material CD.

Beginning Mandolin – Shawn Hughes – PM Class

Necessities: Mandolin and picks, tuner, pen or pencil, recording device (phone works), notebook.

In this class we will learn the basics of the mandolin as well as learning basic chords and melodies to play fiddle and bluegrass tunes. We will also learn how to play and jam when you’re first learning to play mandolin. This is a beginning class so no pressure to have knowledge of mandolin prior to this class. This will be a patient class and we will go at a pace that the majority of the class is comfortable with.

Chord forms and chord charts and mandolin will be provided. I will also provide an online drive with songs to play chords to at your own pace.

Intermediate Mandolin – Tom Moran – AM Class

For this class, be able to comfortably play the melody and the backup rhythm to several fiddle tunes that occur in different keys.

After a review of the basic techniques, the emphasis will be on (1) adding to your repertoire of tunes from the old time and bluegrass traditions and (2) exploring ideas that will enhance your playing, including double stops, soloing, backup rhythm, chord formation, etc.

Our objective will be to provide a solid background for intermediate players to raise their playing to the next level.

CD and musical notation/tablature will be provided.

Intermediate Mandolin – Isaac Callender – PM Class

Knowledge of basic chord shapes and simple melodies.

In this course we will explore moveable chord shapes, some common bluegrass and old time melodies and how to take your backup and lead playing to the next level. We will cover right and left hand techniques and how to apply those to your existing repertoire. Tunes will be selected based on class requests and prior knowledge. We will focus on learning chord progressions and tunes by ear. Music and TAB with chords, along with video and audio recording, will be available at the end of the course.

Advanced Mandolin – Tom Moran – PM Class

Be able to comfortably play the melody to several fiddle tunes that occur in different keys. Basic understanding of chord progressions, chords and rhythm playing. A rudimentary knowledge of music theory is helpful but not required.

The emphasis will be on (1) adding to your repertoire of tunes from old time, bluegrass, and other traditions and (2) exploring musical ideas that will help you to create interesting solos for both instrumental and vocal accompaniments.

The objective will be to provide resources and ideas that will enhance your playing.

CD and musical notation/tablature will be provided