Friday, May 25, 2012
Pre-Event Intensive Workshops (SEPARATE REGISTRATION REQUIRED)
10 am to 1 pm Classes
1:00pm General Folk College Registration, Ellis Hall
1:30, 2:30 & 5:30pm Newcomers’ Orientation & Walking Tour
3:00-4:00pm Workshops
Music Games – Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly
(no experience needed)
Get into the action with fun singing and dancing games. This is a great way to get to know your fellow Folk College attendees, gather ideas for community events, or just kick back and have a blast!
Bodhran, Bones & Spoons – Four Shillings Short
(no experience needed)
Have some fun with three easy-to-learn percussion instruments!
Old Time Songs – The Twilite Broadcasters
(all levels singers; instruments beyond beginner)
Come and learn a few great old-time songs.
Singing the Blues – Richard Sleigh
(all levels singers; instruments beyond beginner)
We’ll focus on making your blues singing sound more authentic, looking at phrasing, rhythm, chord choice,, vocal range, and improvisation.
Easy Swedish Tunes – Rachel Hall of Simple Gifts
(advanced beginner)
We will learn some easy Swedish tunes, with harmony parts. Sheet music with chords and harmony parts will be provide..
How to Jam – Karen Hirshon & Linda Littleton of Simple Gifts
(advanced beginner)
If you’ve sat quietly at jams wishing you knew how to jump into the music, this session is for you!
Contradance Tunes – Henry Koretzky & Kathy Selby
(intermediate)
We'll learn some great tunes that highlight the wide variety of music that is played for contradancing. There'll be some old "standards" and some recently composed tunes in the mix. We'll work by ear, but also have the music available.
Transitioning to Folk – Mary Roth & Judy Minot
(intermediate)
Never played with a group before? Never learned a tune by ear? You play music but not folk music? Many people who attend Folk College are confident, competent musicians, but feel a little "at sea" with folk music. Mary and Judy were in your shoes once and will offer tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the next three days! We'll spend some time talking but do bring your instrument!
Unusual Old Time Tunes – The Horse Flies
(advanced)
Southern old time tunes can have odd-length phrases and can be in odd fiddle or banjo tunings. We’ll teach one or more (by ear) and play a few for you to take home.
4:15-5:15pm Workshops
Getting Started with Music – Tish & Greg Westman
(no experience needed)
For beginners and total non-musicians, you’ll get a firm footing for the weekend.
Beginning Harmonica – Richard Sleigh
(no experience needed)
We’ll work on how to breathe and then progress to other techniques. Bring a harmonica in the key of G, or you can buy one at the workshop.
Sephardic Percussion – Polly Tapia Ferber
(no experience needed)
We’ll join the Sephardic Tunes workshop to add an exotic percussion sound to these beautiful tunes of Mediterranean Jewish origin.
Vocal Techniques – Jerry Trusty
Jerry will share exercises and tips that will help you to maintain a healthy voice and have more fun singing.
New Songs with Traditional Roots – Jeff Claus and Richie Stearns of The Horse Flies
Reworking traditional songs in new ways and writing new songs using elements of tradition are both exciting ways to get creative while embracing the roots you love. Jeff and Richie will present a few examples, explaining and teaching the process.
Easy Irish Tunes – Kathy Selby
(advanced beginner)
Come learn some easy but wonderful Irish tunes, absorbing the style elements as we figure out the notes. You’ll also learn some of the chord choices and rhythm grooves that are appropriate for accompanying Irish tunes. We’ll work by ear with music provided at the end.
How to Play by Ear – Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly
(advanced beginner) Learn to work out melodies, harmonies, and simple chords by ear.
Old Time Tunes – The Twilite Broadcasters
(intermediate)
We’ll take a look at several tunes in the old time string band repertoire. We’ll work by ear with music provided at the end of the workshop.
Sephardic Tunes – Tomas Lozano & Polly Tapia Ferber
(intermediate)
You’ll learn beautiful and exotic tunes of Mediterranean Jewish origin.
International Tunes – Debbie Rifkin & Gordon Bonnet
(advanced)
Learn a sampling of tunes from around the world! We’ll work by ear, with music and chords provided at the end of the workshop.
5:30-6:30pm Dinner
7:00pm Faculty Concert:
Adjunct Faculty; Four Shillings Short; Tomás Lozano & Polly Ferber; Simple Gifts
After the Concert
Slow Jam; Old Time Tunes & Singing; Blues Jam; Sheet Music Read-through
11:00pm Late jam at the dorm
Saturday, May 26, 2012
7:30-8:30am Breakfast
8:45-9:15am Orientation, Ellis Hall
9:30-10:45am Workshops
Try a Bowed Psaltery –
Tish & Greg Westman
(no experience needed)
The bowed psaltery is an easy multi-stringed instrument played with a bow. Tish and Greg are two of the most highly-skilled builders and players of this instrument and will bring psalteries for you to use. Join us and give it a try!
Beginning Whistle –
Aodh Óg Ó Tuama of Four Shillings Short
(no experience needed)
What else costs so little, does so much, and is so easy to carry? Learn the basics of playing this fun and easy instrument, including fingering, breathing and techniques for good tone quality. Whistles will be available for $10, or bring your own penny whistle in the key of D.
Catalan Folk Songs & Percussion – Tomas Lozano & Polly Tapia Ferber
Join us as we explore a few songs from the Catalan folk music tradition. Instruments are welcome.
Tunes that are Cooler than Hard – Debbie Rifkin & Gordon Bonnet
(advanced beginner)
Just because a tune is super cool doesn't mean it has to make your brain hurt. Working from sheet music (including chords), we’ll look at a few refreshing tunes that are manageable but full of zest and sparkle!
Best Known Jam Tunes – Jerry Trusty
Come learn some of the tunes you're likely to hear at jams throughout the weekend. We’ll work by ear, with music available if needed.
Playing the Blues – Richard Sleigh
(intermediate)
You don’t have to be blue to love the blues! We’ll look at elements such as phrasing, rhythm, chord choice and improvising over those chords in a blues style.
Backing up a Singer – Karen Hirshon & Jerry Trusty
(intermediate)
We’ll look at fills, rhythms, and other techniques that instrumentalists can use to make a singer sound wonderful!
Indian Ragas – Christy Martin
(advanced)
Let’s face it. You probably won’t have many opportunities in life to learn to play an Indian raga. Give it a try!
Sound Systems – Curtis Rockwell
(all levels)
You’ll learn about the components that make up the system, how to run it, and how to play into it.
Fiddle Techniques for Violinists – Judy Hyman
(intermediate/advanced)
A classical violin background is a wonderful first step toward playing folk fiddle. But there’s much more to making your playing compelling and having it sound “fiddley”. We’ll look at the physical side of making a fiddle sound and talk about “making time” as opposed to playing in time.
11:00-12:15 Workshops
Ethnic Hand Percussion – Polly Tapia Ferber
(no experience needed)
Rhythms and percussion techniques for music from the Middle East, Turkey, North Africa, the Balkans, and Spanish Andalusia.
How to Contradance – Bob Nicholson
(no experience needed)
Contradancing is easy enough that you’ll be fine at the evening dance even if you’ve never tried it before. But you’ll have a better time if you come to this workshop to learn the basics.
Introduction to Shape Note Singing – Rachel Hall of Simple Gifts
Shape Note Singing, also called Sacred Harp Singing is a 200-year-old American tradition of singing 4-part harmony by following music with shaped notes. The music is sung loud with strong rhythms, simple open harmonies, and a strong sense of community. It’s easier than it sounds!
Easy New England Tunes – Kathy Selby
(advanced beginner)
We’ll learn a march, a jig and a reel from the New England contradance repertoire (with attention to both melody players and rhythm players) and talk about resources for learning more tunes. Tunes will be taught by ear with music provided at the end of the workshop.
Rhythm Exercises – Richard Sleigh
(advanced beginner)
Richard has developed a unique approach to strengthening your sense of rhythm. This is for all instruments, not just backup instruments.
Rags & Blues – The Twilite Broadcasters
(intermediate)
The Twilite Broadcasters play a variety of really cool rags and blues. Working by ear, they’ll teach you a few of their favorites.
Old Time Tunes – Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly
(intermediate)
Working from both music and ear, we’ll look at some tunes and how to make them sound old-timey. The focus will be on melody, but chords will be provided and backup players are welcome.
Balkan Tunes – Gordon Bonnet
(advanced)
We’ll work from sheet music to learn some enchanting tunes from the Balkan lands of Eastern Europe, including some in asymmetrical rhythms such as 7/8, 11/8, and 22/16. Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds!
Fiddle Bowing – Debbie Rifkin
(advanced beginner / intermediate)
While notes make the tune, bowing makes the fiddler! Debbie will show you various bow patterns used in Northern and Southern styles. We’ll practice the patterns slowly, then put them into musical context, with discussion of which melodic gestures and meters work well for each pattern.
Beyond Basic Rhythm Guitar – Jeff Claus of The Horse Flies
(all levels beyond beginner)
For guitar players adept at playing basic rhythmic backup, this workshop will show you bass runs, alternate rhythm patterns, and more to take your backup playing to the next level.
12:30-1:30pm Lunch
1:45-3:00 Workshops
Try a Mountain Dulcimer – Tish & Greg Westman
(no experience needed)
For the absolute beginner or total non-musician, c’mon in and we’ll get you going. You’ll be strumming along before you know it! Instruments lovingly hand-built by Tish and Greg will be provided.
Hurdy Gurdy Discussion & Demo – Tomas Lozano
(no experience needed)
The hurdy gurdy is a unique string instrument played by cranking a rosined wheel. Join us for a demonstration and discussion.
Songs of Rural Life – Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly
You’ll learn traditional folk songs depicting rural life on both sides of the Atlantic.
Indian Ragas for Voice – Christy Martin of Four Shillings Short
There’s a system to Indian ragas. You’ll learn about and explore it using your voice.
Phrasing and Dynamics – Jerry Trusty
(advanced beginner)
Phrasing and dynamics are two musical techniques that can make you sound more musical without requiring advanced chops!
Simplified Versions of Common Tunes – Karen & Linda of Simple Gifts
(adv. beginner)
By leaving notes out of a tune, you’re better able to play it up to speed. We’ll look at a few standard tunes and learn simple versions that will allow you to keep up in a jam. This workshop is for melody players only. Sheet music will be provided.
Scottish Tunes – Kathy Selby
(intermediate)
We’ll take a look at the different tune types in the Scottish repertoire–slow airs, marches, jigs, strathspeys and reels, and then we’ll learn a few tunes. We'll also learn some of the chord choices and rhythm grooves that are appropriate for accompanying Scottish tunes. We’ll work by ear with music provided at the end of the workshop.
Contradance Band – Rachel Hall & Bob Nicholson
(intermediate)
We’ll play through the music planned for this evening’s contradance and learn arrangements and approaches that make them come alive! Music and chords will be provided.
Bluegrass Tunes – Henry Koretzky
(advanced)
We'll learn some great bluegrass tunes and look at nuances of how to make them sound like bluegrass. We’ll work by ear with music provided at the end of the workshop.
Old Time Backup Guitar – Adam Tanner of Twilite Broadcasters
(intermediate/advanced)
Tips and techniques for playing solid, rhythmic backup on your guitar. This workshop is best for guitar players who can switch chords fairly rapidly.r
3:15-4:45pm Folk Band Rehearsal
Small groups will be coached by a professional musician to work toward performing in the Sunday concert.
5:00-6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Faculty Concert
Twilite Broadcasters; Atwater-Donnelly; The Horse Flies
After the Concert
Contradance with open band; Mixed Styles Jam; Celtic Jam; Old Time Tunes & Singing Jam; Slow Jam
11:00pm Late jam at the dorm
Sunday, May 27, 2012
7:30-8:30am Breakfast
8:45-10:00am Workshops
Hand Percussion for Contra and Old Time Music – Taki Masuko
(no experience needed)
Bring any object that can be used to make a percussive sound, and you’ll learn to use it in old time and contradance music.
What is the Mark O'Conner Method? –
Pam Wiley
(for all)
A group of violin/fiddle players has joined us for the weekend to become certified to teach the Mark O'Conner Method of string instruction. This workshop fill focus on fiddle but is for all who are curious about this method and philosophy.
Making a Song Your Own – Four Shillings Short
We’ll look at how to arrange a song in your own unique, personal way.
Hymn Singing – Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly
(all levels singers; instruments beyond beginner)
We’ll sing hymns in a variety of American traditions including Shaker, Shape Note, Baptist, and African American camp meeting traditions. Ends at 9:45. This workshop is free and open to the public.
Building Skills Through Practice – Jerry Trusty
(advanced beginner)
We all know that practice makes perfect, but Jerry will help you learn how to practice so that you make the best use of your practice time.
Easy Swing Tunes – Henry Koretzky
(advanced beginner)
You’ll learn some easy swing tunes by ear, and you’ll also learn how to make it swing. Remember, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!”
Dirtball Old Time Tunes – The Horse Flies
(intermediate)
Sometimes the simplest tunes with minimal chords and not many notes are the best tunes. Come learn a few fun tunes!
Modal Tunes – Rachel Hall of Simple Gifts
(intermediate)
Modal tunes are tunes that don't follow the common major and minor scales used in most western music, and as a result they sound wonderfully exotic and fresh. Come to this workshop to learn a few modal tunes, and break free of the straight and narrow!
Creating Instrumental Harmonies – Kathy Selby & Gordon Bonnet
(advanced)
Using well-known traditional tunes as examples, we'll explore several different approaches to creating instrumental harmonies, including "second melody" lines and chordal/rhythmic parts. We'll invent harmonies together on-the-fly by ear, and we'll also show you how to compose harmonies using written melody as a guide.
Intermediate/Advanced Harmonica – Richard Sleigh
We’ll look at tongue-blocking, bending and position playing. Bring your G and A harmonicas.
10:15-11:30am Workshops
Clog & Jam – Aubrey & Elwood
(all levels)
You’ll learn basic clogging steps and a couple of short dances and games to the accompaniment of the Old Time Jam workshop. This is incredibly fun and reminds us of the function of the tunes we often play in jam sessions. Lots of laughing with the dancing and games!
Medieval Percussion – Polly Tapia Ferber
We’ll add a percussion sound to the Medieval Tunes workshop.
Duet Singing – The Twilite Broadcasters
Learn to make your voices blend in beautiful harmony! For singers who can easily carry a tune.
Old Time Tunes with Words – Jerry Trusty
From “Liza Jane” to “Cluck Old Hen,” we’ll get into some great old-time tunes that have fun verses to sing.
Becoming a Musician! – Tish & Greg Westman
Are you feeling overwhelmed? As a beginning player, it is often difficult to know what it is you should know and what you should learn next. Let's sort it out, smooth it out, cry over it a bit, but most of all play it to figure out the best next steps for you to take.
English Country Dance Tunes – Debbie Rifkin & Rachel Hall
(advanced beginner)
These are beautiful, flowing tunes. We’ll work from sheet music and play through three or four different types of ECD tunes. There will also be tips for on to harmonize.
Old Time Jam & Clog – Aubrey & Elwood
(intermediate)
Put your old-time music into action by playing some peppy tunes for the clogging workshop!
Judy's Original Waltzes – Judy Hyman & Jeff Claus of The Horse Flies
(intermediate)
Judy just released an album of original waltzes with her dad, renowned pianist Dick Hyman. She’ll teach a few of these beautiful pieces, and Jeff will work with backup players. Printed music with chords will be available.
Backup Techniques – Karen Hirshon & Linda Littleton of Simple Gifts
(intermediate)
What’s backup? Everything that isn’t the melody! So even if you don’t think of your instrument as a backup instrument, there will be something here for you, including tips for making your backup playing strong, supportive, and interesting.
Medieval Tunes – Tomas, Polly, & Aodh Óg
(advanced instruments; drummers beyond beginner)
Three experts on early music share some of their favorite medieval tunes.
Clawhammer Banjo – Richie Stearns of The Horse Flies
(all levels beyond beginner)
We will explore several tunings, double thumbing technique, hammer-on and pull-offs, and learn a tune or two using these techniques.
Mandolin – Henry Koretzky
(all levels beyond beginner)
Tips and techniques for playing the mandolin. “Mandolin-like” instruments such as bouzouki and tenor banjo are welcome.
11:45am Group Photo
12:00-1:00pm Lunch
1:15-2:15pm Band Rehearsal
More coaching with the same groups as yesterday
2:30-4:30pm Student Concert
4:30pm Jamming