2019 Class Titles and Descriptions

Transcription

1 2019 Class Titles and Descriptions Here you will find the class titles for each of the instructors we are having this year and a short description of each. Please be aware that some of these may change as we get closer to our fete. Therefore, check back on our site as we approach the date and check your schedules and any updates when you arrive. We are looking forward to seeing each of you and sharing in this wonderful gift of music. Rob Angus Hammered Dulcimer and Mountain Dulcimer Introduction to the Hammered Dulcimer Level: Beginner Topics will include: Should I play sitting or standing? How to hold the hammers, where and how to hit the strings, the layout of the notes, a few simple tunes to get you started. Ability to read musical notation is not required. Care and Maintenance of the Hammered Dulcimer Level: All levels We'll go over ways to ensure that your hammered dulcimer stays in good condition and provides you with many years of enjoyable music. Topics will include: tuning, choosing hammers, general maintenance, temperature, humidity, transporting your dulcimer, how to change a string. You will have the opportunity to practice changing a string on a hammered dulcimer I will provide. If you don't know the string gauges on your dulcimer, I will have a micrometer and we can measure them. Sue Carpenter Mountain Dulcimer (all tuning DAD) Beginning Fingerpicking Level: Advanced Beginner Discover a little bit of dulcimer heaven. Learn right hand technique and basic fingerpicking patterns through a step-by-step approach using simple exercises to get you started and ending with an easy arrangement of House of the Rising Sun. And the Beat Goes On Level: Beginner Strumming creates the heartbeat of your music. Learn good heart healthy techniques to smooth out your strums and make them pulsate with various rhythms. Exercises and music will keep the left hand simple so you can concentrate on your right hand. You may even learn a thing or two about music theory along the way. Heavenly Harmonics Level: Advanced Beginner and up Learn how to play harmonics all over the fretboard, both natural and artificial, and how to use them in your music. Discover the zen-like magic of playing Westminster Chimes and Amazing Grace using all harmonics.

2 Sue Carpenter (continued) Barre Essentials for the Left Hand Level: Intermediate Everything you need to develop your left hand begins with fingering a barre chord. We ll examine several chord shapes as well as the barre chord and learn a mystery tune that surprisingly puts it all into practice. Chord charts provided. Jazzing It Up With Chords Level: Intermediate to Advanced Take an ordinary tune and spice it up by substituting some jazzy sounding chords. Focus will be on the structure of chords triads, sixths, sevenths, and major sevenths how to build them, find them on your dulcimer, and how to use them in an arrangement of Home on the Range. Chop Chords Level: Intermediate to Advanced A chop chord is simply a muted chord, one that doesn t sound the notes of the chord. A mix of sounded and chopped chords along with a steady strum can produce some interesting rhythmic effects and even make your dulcimer sound like a mandolin in a jam session. We ll examine how to use this technique as a back-up tool and as a way to spice up any strummed piece you play. Matthew Dickerson Hammered Dulcimer Navigate the Dulcimer like a pro Level: Beginner Description: Learn the ins and outs of the where and how's of the Hammered Dulcimer. In this series, we will be finding scales and chords all over the instrument and how to use them in our music. -Fishers Hornpipe Level: Novice/Intermediate Learn to play the fast and fun Fishers Hornpipe. Everybody wear Irish green to the workshop! -Crossing the Bridge Level: Intermediate Many HD players tend to associate themselves as a right hand or left hand lead player. In this class I will teach the importance of equally learning and using both with hands-on examples demonstrating how crossing the bridge plays a key role in choosing our lead. -Hammers & Hammering (instruments optional, bring hammers) Level: All Levels In this lesson I will cover hammer selection, grip, accuracy, dynamic abilities, and how to get a clean pop out of the hammer action.

3 Matthew Dickerson (continued) How to write original music Level: Intermediate/Advanced This class will be a discussion and sharing time to talk about what inspires us to write music and my personal experience of what makes it a reality. I will also cover the technical side of how I develop a piece of music on the hammer dulcimer. Arranging For Solo Performance (2 part series) Level: Advanced Push your dulcimer skills to the next level by learning to turn the tunes you already know into solo masterpieces. I will introduce methods of developing chords, arpeggios, runs, and filler within any given melody. Gina Forsyth - Fiddle Cajun Fiddle from Scratch This class is for students who have either never or have barely--picked up the fiddle. We ll start with basic bowing patterns that are fundamental to the music, and simple fingerings for a few Cajun standards. (Recording devices are not required, but are recommended.) Beginning Cajun Fiddle This class is for students who have either never or have barely--picked up the fiddle, who have some basic familiarity with the fiddle, or who are intermediate players on another instrument. We ll start with basic bowing patterns that are fundamental to the music, simple fingerings for a few Cajun standards, and second fiddle techniques. (Recording devices are not required, but are recommended.) Intermediate Cajun Fiddle This class is for students who are comfortable with the fiddle (in Cajun or other styles), can play some basic rhythm, improvise bowing patterns and participate in a call-and-response method of teaching melodies and fingering techniques. This class will delve into a couple of standard two-step and waltzes, and bowing patterns essential to Cajun fiddling. (Recording devices are strongly recommended). Advanced Cajun Fiddle This class is for students who can learn quickly by watching and imitation. (Recording devices are strongly recommended). As in the Intermediate Cajun class, the call-and-response method will be used, along with a deeper exploration of Cajun repertoire as well as techniques most commonly used in playing the Cajun style. The Snap Beans Aren t Salty: Blues Licks and Slides on Fiddle This class is all about slides and bluesy licks on the fiddle, and how they re used in Cajun (and country) fiddle tunes. (Recording devices are recommended).

4 Gina Forsyth (continued) Old-Time Fiddle, Cross Tuning, and Alternate Tunings This class focuses on different ways to play some fiddle tunes Denise Guillory - Mountain Dulcimer Mountain Dulcimer Pachebel s Canon in D played as a round Level: Advanced You will learn how timing is key in playing a round. We will possibly play 9 parts if time allows. The song is based on a chord progression so even novice players can participate and gradually work on learning parts. This is a challenge for you to master as many parts over time and to play with all your friends. You may decide to start off learning just one part at a time. Talk to friends for them to learn other parts while you learn different parts when you take it home. It will be tabbed in DAD, and I will include suggested fingers to successfully play each part with the correct flow of the song. You are not expected to learn all parts. But I think that you probably will learn the first half and take the rest home to polish up. It s fun to play and worth the effort. Mountain Dulcimer How to Strum and keep time Level: Beginner We will learn the very basic music theory to help you to figure out how to strum a piece. I will give you tunes that are examples of different strumming patterns that everyone struggles with as a beginner. I will also have tips about good learning habits and how to start and stop a song etc. I hope to clear up any questions about rhythm from the beginning and not let you fall into bad habits when you leave. David Haas Rolling On The River Level: Novice-Intermediate Take the plunge with these wonderful rivers songs. Learn left and right hand techniques which facilitate smooth playing. Learn how to accompany others. Build your repertoire by incorporating these techniques to popular melodies you already know. DAD The Music of Turlough O'Carolan Level: Intermediate-Advanced Expand your repertoire with the music of this amazing 17 th century Irish harper. So many of his tunes are played today. Learn techniques and finger positions to ensure smooth play. DAD

5 David Hass (continued) Beautiful Melodies Level: Novice-Intermediate Learn how to play slow songs in a smooth and melodic style by picking the strings one at a time. Learn left and right hand techniques which facilitate smooth playing. Learn finger exercises to improve your play. Build your repertoire by incorporating these techniques to popular melodies you already know. DAD Just Fiddlin' Around Level: Novice-Intermediate Improve your playing of fiddle tunes and faster songs. Learn left and right hand techniques to facilitate smooth playing. Improve your backup technique by playing chords in multiple positions and putting a "chop" into your strum. A capo and smile are required! DAD Hymns of Faith Level: Novice-Intermediate Praise God with these popular hymns. Learn left and right hand techniques to improve your playing of both slow and fast songs. Learn chords and how to accompany others. Build your repertoire of popular hymns. DAD Easy as 1-2-3! Level: Beginner Get ready for some fun! Learn how to hold, tune, strum, fret the dulcimer, read dulcimer tab, play backup chords, and participate in a jam session - all while learning great songs you already know! Add the "big finish" and "big ending" to complete the experience! DAD Celtic Connection Level: Intermediate-Advanced Expand your repertoire with these popular jigs, reels, hornpipes, and airs. Both strumming and arpeggio skills will be used. Bring your capo, a four leaf clover, and a smile! DAD Pam Kaster - Pennywhistle Whistle and Fret 1 Musicians will learn the basic techniques of making sound on the whistle and finger the instrument to make music on the whistle. Whistle and Fret 2 We will collaborate with a lap dulcimer musician to learn how to read the way the frets of the lap dulcimer correspond with the fingering of the whistle.

6 John Keane Mountain Dulcimer; Native American Flute; Percussion Messin with The Saints! (Mountain Dulcimer-Advanced beginner and up) Learn some creative ways to take this wonderful basic tune and form your own dynamic arrangement with techniques that will transfer from song to song in the future! Baby Blues (Mountain Dulcimer-Advanced beginner and up) We ll cover the basics of blues including the 12-bar pattern and how to shuffle. Crazy Awesome Strumming! (Mountain Dulcimer-Upper Intermediate to Advanced) The right hand is where it is at! We will work on rhythms and patterns that will leave your strumming worries behind. It s not for the weak at heart, but this class will benefit you greatly! Blues for Native American-Style Flute (Native American Flute-All Levels) This is indeed a non-traditional approach to a very traditional instrument, but a super fun and easy way to get your blues fix! We will be playing dulcimer friendly D minor flutes. If you don t have one, flutes will be available for purchase at the festival. Let s Finger Dance! (Mountain Dulcimer-All Levels) Come learn traditional and progressive approaches for the timeless style of melody string playing. Teaching the Mountain Dulcimer to Others (Mountain Dulcimer-All Levels) Sometimes the only way to have a playing partner on the mountain dulcimer is to teach a friend or family member how to play the instrument. We will discuss a very methodical approach to teaching others the skills necessary to become that playing partner (and eventually another dulcimer teacher as well). Approaching an Unknown Tune (Mountain Dulcimer-beginner to early intermediate) It can be intimidating for mountain dulcimer players to tackle a new to them tune with no one around to help. We will cover some strategies to make the process more FUN and less stressful! Karen Keane Mountain Dulcimer; Native American Flute; Ukulele Hammer Jammer (Mountain Dulcimer-Advanced Beginner and Up) We ll you ve got the basics, now what? Hammer ons and pulloffs are the next essential step to improve your playing techniques. In this class, we will learn some exercises to practice and some ways to add hammer ons and pull offs to your music. Rhythmic Counting and Strumming (Mountain Dulcimer-All Levels) Let s uncover the basics of rhythmic counting and how it relates to strumming. We will cover the basic in and out strum as well as percussive strumming and rhythm reading. In the Groove (Mountain Dulcimer-All Levels) If you ve mastered the techniques in the Rhythmic Counting and Strumming class, come learn how to put them to good use and put your music in the groove! Cajun Music for the Mountain Dulcimer (Mountain Dulcimer-Intermediate and Up) Aiyee! Let s learn some Cajun songs from the swamps of Louisiana. A capo is needed for this class.

7 Karen Keane (continued) Native American Flute Part 1 (Beginners) From proper breathing to articulation and tab reading, we ll get you off to a great start. We will be playing dulcimer friendly B minor flutes. If you don t have one, flutes will be available for purchase at the festival. Terry McCafferty - Dulcimer Doctor How to Build a Dulcimer and Other Cool Stuff! Ann Norris BEGINNER CLASSSES: 1. Embryo Autoharp: How to Hold the Autoharp Tuning the Autoharp Circle of Fifths the EASY WAY Types of Strokes Playing Accompaniment to Amazing Grace Learning to Jam 2. Basics for picking a Melody: Finding the Melody Picking the Melody Hearing the Key without written score Hearing Chord Changes in a jam INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED CLASSES: 1. Do I Want Diminished Chords on my Chromatic Harp? Explanation of what diminished chords do and WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. Can I have Diminished Chords on a Diatonic Harp? What can I use instead for color? How do I know which diminished chord to use in a tune? 2. Arranging Tunes for Performance: How to keep the ear entertained by changing keys, changing speeds or rhythms, adding different strokes, adding emotion to your playing, and using alternate chords that tweak the ear and create interest. 3. Changing from Major to Minor the EASY WAY! You don t need music to do this! Simply done by a simple method. ADVANCED CLASSES: Faking Fast Fiddle Tunes: Learn to cross pick and open chord to play fiddle tunes faster than you ever have before. This is not difficult, but LOTS of fun. ALL LEVELS: Fun class for all: Hot Licks for the Autoharp : Learn how to do stops, drag notes, patting, single string picking, open chording, and other such spice in your playing and when to use them.

8 Lisa Oivanki Folk Orchestra Workshop Level: Intermediate and Advanced The folk orchestra this year will perform be the beautiful Natalie MacMaster tune Farewell to Peter. I know all of you fiddle players will go crazy over this beautiful haunting instrumental, but there will also be parts for mountain dulcimer, bass mountain dulcimer, fiddle, bowed dulcimer, bass and other acoustic folk instruments. Anyone who is a registered participant is welcome to attend the Thursday workshop. However, you must attend both the Thursday and Friday class in order to perform onstage. This class is for intermediate to advanced players. Debbie Porter Beginning Dulcimer with Deb Join the fun, relax, no pressure. Learn what you need to know from the Absolute Beginning or fill in the gaps in your confidence along with your dulcimer skills fretting, strumming techniques, chords and more. Build your repertoire with fun tunes, learn how to use a capo (optional) and to play in other keys. Come enjoy sing a bit DAD tuning. Swing a Little Southern Dulcimer Level: Intermediate/Advanced Vamp a beautiful New Orleans swing dulcimer tune in DAC tuning. Use that 1+ (or not, it s optional). Deb will teach various swing chords and using these in other tunes. Swing a Southern Ukulele Level: Advanced Beginning/Intermediate. All sizes of ukuleles welcomed to learn some swingin jazz tunes All songs arranged for tenor and baritone tunings. Everybody s welcome, but focus will be on those who already know a few chords. Learn to find best voicings for your playing ability. Add a bit of melody picking as well as chord accompaniments. You ll have fun, I promise Singin for your Southern Ukulele Soul Level: All levels. Whether or not you are comfortable with your own singing, come on in and strum along. Beginners, fear not! No uke will be left behind. Lots of songs, techniques, and information to locate free tablature for both tenor and baritone tunings.

9 Jak Stallings Introduction to TablEdit - Computer Notation Software TablEdit - Introduction to TablEdit A getting started class using the TablEdit tablature program. This session will cover program startup and setup (program setup and setting up titles, keys, key signatures, etc.), basic note entry, entering text (both lyrics and chord names) and an overview of printing your work. If time permits, we will add additional topics of general interest to TablEdit users. This will be an interactive class, so bring a laptop computer if you have it, but it is not required (those who have computers usually share with those who do not). The FREE demo version of TablEdit is available at: TablEdit Q&A If you have questions about the use of the TabEdit tablature program or if you are having problems, bring them to this class. We will answer as many of these as time allows. If we have more time than questions, we will look at some ways you may not have thought of to do things like including chord names and fingerings in your tab or getting tab from one key to another. A very basic knowledge of the program is needed for participants of this class. This will be an interactive class, so bring a laptop computer if you have it, but it is not required (those who have computers usually share with those who do not). If you have a specific example of your problem or question feel free to bring a copy of the TablEdit file on a memory key or other portable media. The FREE demo version of TablEdit is available at: Margaret Wright - Mountain Dulcimer & Sacred Harp BEGINNER: Boldness as a Beginner, Building Confidence in DAD. This class will focus on simple, fun tunes that you will enjoy playing after the class is over. Through these tunes we will be building on your strumming with rhythm and energy, fretting the notes with clarity and improving on your overall sound. Fretboard Familiarity (subtitle: Familiarity Breeds Attempt.) In this class, we will pull out patterns that are found in so many tunes and learn to see those in certain places on the fretboard of the dulcimer. By doing this, you will become more free from reliance upon tablature and more apt to play smoothly and even be creative. INTERMEDIATE: Chords in the Tunes; Taking Clues from the Tune in DAD and DGD. The chordal-melodic playing style, while not a necessity, does come in handy from time to time. By learning the key notes of certain chords, you will be able to spot by sight and hear by ear the places where a touch of chordal playing would be a nice addition.

10 Margaret Wright (continued) Patterns in the Tunes that take you Forward. There are certain patterns that seem to repeat in many fiddle tunes. By singling these out and training muscle memory to carry them out, your playing will be more fluid. Noticing these patterns will also take the mystery out of the tablature. ADVANCED: From D to G to A and Back Again, Ways to get out of "D." There are good tunes which are traditionally played in D, G and A. Also, there are some tunes, that are often played in the Key of D in the dulcimer world, which are considered proper in other keys, and there are good reasons for all. This class is designed to get you very comfortable with all three keys.